The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-11-26

| ~ Onc alOn9, Inen, ana leau MS IA
round. The d. trust your ladies of
rank, but we will venture Tor once
But let me tell you, If you were twice
as handsome as you are, this weapon
should cleave your skull the moment
saw the least disposition to betray us ?'
.sThen it will be safe enough; as If
this were the only condition OF my be-
ing put to death, should outlive you
all, and even the wandering Jew HIM
self"
The baroness smiled when she pro-
nourced these words, and h asti y
caught he nearest lamp as if she were
as eageras any OF them to collect the
plumber and be gone. She conducted
the company through every apartment
| opened every door, every drawer. and
every chest. assisted in packing mp the
valuables, looking with the utmost IN
| difference at the mangied bodies; speak
ing with the familiarity OF an old ae-
| quaihtance to each one OF the h0rrid
troup, and assisting with her delicate
| hands in the most laborious occupation.
Plate, money. jewels, were collected
| together, and the captain oil the BAN
| ditti was about giving the order for
marching, wnen his destined bride
caught him by the arm, Ibid not tell
yoll,r said she, 'that you should not re-
| pent making friend of me and spar
ing my life You may, Indeed, have
everything in places you find open; but
it is pity that, you cannot come at
places concealed. ,Whatl do you sup
pose that among Golfers SO full there are
no secret places Loo k here. anG then
| you will be convinced TO the contrary"
She pointed to a secret spring in the
| baron's desk. They pressed upon it
and out fell five bags of gold coin.
Wounds !" cried the leader of the
robbers; "now see you a~e an incom-
parable woman. and will keep you for
| this as a duchess !"
"And perhaps, better still" said she,
laughing, sswhen | show you ons thing
more. / am we'll aware that you must
have spies who Informed you OF the a6-
sence OF my tyrant. but they did moi
tell YOU of the fIty thousand francs he
received yesterday.
Where a!e they?"
~, safe enough under half dozen OF
locks and bolts. You would certainly
not have found them and the iron chest
fhad il not beel for me. Come along.
comrades; we have finished above stairs.
now We will see what can be done ln-
dcrneath. Come along with ne l say,
into :hc cellar"
The robbers followed but not without
| precautIon. At the entrance OF the cel-
lar, secured by strong trap door,
man was posted as II sentinel. She con-
ducted the whole troop to y vault at the
farther end OF the cellar. She unlock
ed it. and in the corner OF this recess
stood the chest she had described.-
"lIere," said she giving the captain u
bunch of keys, "unle ok it and take ont
what you find as II wedding gift, it yoli
can gain the consent of your comrades
a. readily as you obtained mine.'
The robber tried one key alter a. o IL
er but none would fit. He grew impa-
tient, aud the baroness seemed still
more so.
"Lend me Them" said she. 81 Will
I find the way sooner. Indeed, If you
do not make haste. the morning may
overtake us. Ha! the reason why
neither of lis could unlock it, Is because
| have the wrong bunch of keys, l will
obtain another"
She went up stairs. and presently
they heard Ter coming down, but she
came slowly, rs Il out OF breath with the
haste She had made.
"I've found Them" cried she at Gis-
tance, Then coming up to him within
about three PAGES of the man at the en-
trance of the cellar, she sprang sudden
ly at Che wretch, who was totally un-
prepared for such move from such a
quarter, and pushing him with all her
miglI., sent him tumbling to the bot
tom of the stairs. This accomplished
she closed the trapdoor, '5olted it, and
thus had the whole company secured IL
the cellar. This was the work Oh sim
7 gle moment. In the next she flew a.
cross the court yard. and with candle
in her hand set fiie to detached pis
sty. The watchmen in the heighbor'
ing village, perceiving the flames, in
stantly gave the alarm. In lew min
ures the Inhabitants were ont of theil
!. beds, and crowd offariners, with theil
servants, fastened to the mansion.-
The baroness waited for them at th'
!, gate of the court yard.
"A few of YOU" said she, "will h
sufficient to put ant this fire aud to pre-
vent from spreading; but now provid
: Yourselves with arms. which YOU vii
: ! find in abundanco in my husbands ar
/, ! mory. Post y yourselves at the avenue
!. of 2the cellar, and suffer not one o
i the robbers aud mn derers to escape.
Her directions were obeyed, and nc
i one of them escaped tlle punsshmer
due to his crimes.