Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-12-17

danger about II or, IL YOU don't think
so, you may deposit IL yourself"
My husband took little thought of re-
sponsibiliiies, and presume that he new
er once thought OF the money from the
time he lett the house until he returned.
Us for myself, / wac not so easily salts.
fed. had heard enough Of house plum
derings aud outragcs of that kind to
make me afraid TO keep This large amount
with me. My uneasincss increased as
the day wore on aud, about three
o'clock the same afternoon, took the
money aud went To the bank, determined
TO deposit it, The bank was closed.
took the package home again, aud
replaced il in the bureau drawer, locked
it, placed the key in my pocket, and re-
solved that | would not worry any more
about it. Emily called me to tea in a
little while, and though not hungry, l
went into the dining room and sat with
her while she drank her tea, and laughed
and chatted in her vivacious way.
The enevings were rather long, and
Emily aud sat together in the dining
room after the table was cleared, she
reading alold, and listening, as was
our custom. When the clock struck ten
she laid down her book, and took my
lamp, aud bidding her good night, went
up 10 my room.
My chamber occupied the whole front
of the second story, aud Emi,y had n
back room Oh the same floor. A bell
wire ran from my room to hers, SO that
| could summon her az pleasure.
| | nlnnn1 tbu l.pin unnn Tho huroau
shaded it, and returned and locked the
door. Then drew my easy chair to the
middle of the room, put Oh my slippers,
and sat down for few minutes before
retiring. And Immediately | became
vexed at myself to find that was look
ing at the drawer hat held the money,
and that | was feeling in my pocket to
zee that the key was safe. felt no
kaia'm ; | hal almost cured myself Of my
uneasiness but it seemed as if that
money and the danger OF its custody,
would ob'rude upon me. In the impa-
thence of the moment turned MY chair
half around, and looked towards the OPP
positc wall. The shade that l placed
over the lamp confined its rays within Il
small circle, beyond which the bed, the
furniture, the carpe', and the wall paper
were obscure. In the corner, 10 the
right Of the door, was an antique, high
backed chair, favorite piece of turni-
ture. AS turned my own chair from
the bureau, my eyes rested on this OBJ
ject, and | saw by the same glance that
human figure was sitting in it !
coul1 not at first make out whether
! 1 m a / n11,
conscious, and sat in bewidering, dumb
terror, that / was confronted by stran-
ger there in that semi-darkness--by some
one who had hidden in the room for
some object {; and what that object was
| we'll knew. No person who has never
been placed in such a terrifying situation
as that, caL describe the sickening feel
ing which for moment takes possession
of the heart and only say ior myself,
that | sat motIonlcss for n time-I knew
not how long-thinKing of WY helpless
situation. There / was, locked up in a
room alone with rutfian, waiting, ,trelnb
ling, and expecting to hear him speak
or to become the object of some violence
For although, as have said, could not
distinguish whether it was man or wo
man, l did not doubt that it was the
former, and one of the most desperate OF
his kind. And presently, as my eyes
fell TO the floor, / saw a great pair OF
boots thrust out upon the carpet, within
the radius of the light.
/ do not know how long we sat there
in the semi-daI kness of the room, facing
each other, bnt motienless and silent il
might have been three minutes or thirty
The thought of alarming Emily sudden
the bell-cord. 1t should have been with
in easy reach of the spot where | sat
but my hand failed to find it.
A low chuckle came from the occupant
of the chair.
"'rhat was a clever thought of you
missus," came forth in deep, rough
voice, and in a tone of easy insolence
"Clever thought, marin but bless YOU
simple soul, do you think was a going
to leave that ere cord there for you to
make noise with Not by no means
It's well TO be careful when you're il
this kind of business. marin and st
when you left me alone here, before dari
Il then being under the bed, you see
crawled out and took survey of the
place"
My strength was returning became
reassurcd as saw that the man intend
ed no violence to myself
"What do you want ?" i asked.
He chuckled again and replied, Snow
that's good you're business woman
marin you come right TO the poin
without any nonsense. I'm going Il
tell you what want"
He rose from the chair as he spoke
and crossed the room 10 the bureau
passing so close TO me that his boot
brushed the skirts of my dress.
shuddered and threw my chair back
could not help betraying my fear.
"Be quiet, marm, he said, Il dom
mean to hurt you, if can help it. KeeI
still, and Iwon't. Let's have look at
each other"
He removed the shade, aud looked a
me for full half moment as sat in The
glare of the lamp. He was large
brawny fellow, full six feet high, anC
dressed in an old suit of iustian cloth
His face was entirely concealed by 4
Grape mask not feature OF it could
see, from his neck to the crown of hi'
head. He leaned one arm upon the bu
4 IL.