The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-12-21
9nbersol1 ynteQiger}ter, !,
A STRANGE AND THRILLING STORY.
BY BELLA FRENCH.

been falling, sometimes lightly, sometimes IN
heavy showers. The roses and pinks IN the
garden had sickly look, for their petals hung
low and were heavy with water, and with tt the
mud which had splashed upon them. Inc
clouds were still dark and threatening, bespeak-
ipg<a- stormy night. The little town OF Ashton
was unusually quiet. The streets were too
muddy and the weather too inclement to entice
people from their homes. Only now and then
a SOLITARY traveller was to be seen. These, busl-
ness had driven forth and they walked with
rapid steps, anxious to again get under shelter.
In a vine -wreathed cottage on lower
springled lawn the supper had been waiting
over an hour for the master OF the mouse, whose
business; had necessitated his being absent from
home all day. Mr.. Jacobs was the tax-collec-
tor of the township, and consequently could
not wait the return Of pleasant weather before
pursuing his journey. Therefore he had equip
ped himself in his india-rubber oyer-garment
in the morning and had gone about his busi-
ness, leaving his wife the promise Of an early
return in the evening. But the supper hour
had come and gone without his making an ap-
pearance. Mrs. Jacobs, however, was not anx-
ious as, yet. Such delays were too frequent to
cause this one to give her any uneaslness OF
mind. -1st
=, She fitted about the house, busy with her
evening duties, singing gay song as she went.
-G0
courage written in her dark, sparkling eyes,
and on the firm, reol-lips.
Anon she disrobed her two little ones, and
put them to bed, and when the night-shadows
turned into an inky blackness she seated her
self by the lamp and began to sew, still leaving
the supper-table spread, and the food on the
stove keeping warm for the return of her hus-
band. But the little clock on the mantel-shelt
had told the hour of 10 before his step was
heard at the door. He came in hurrled!y, ana
str0deyt to seat without removing his dripping
outer-garments or his muddy boots.
aWas detained. Am in an awful hurry
SGoing to Winchester tonight" diving his hand
into o pocket Of his inner coat, and glancing
:aflxionsly around the room.
II ,seTo Winchester !" repeated his wife In dis
may. ''Twenty miles in this storm 7"
.iCan't be helped" he returned. Business is
business, you know"
He removed his hand from his pocket, took
eff his hat, and brushed back his fair hair, re-
vealing the rather handsome face OF light
csmplexioned, middle-aged man. He had large
gray eyes, but they wore an anxious expression,
and their glance wandered restlessly about the
apartment. 80.
"Jane,n y he said, suddenly, again diving his
,handi into the troublesome pocket, "do you sup
pose you could take care of large sum OF
money till tomorrow
'Why, yes" she answered, looking up in
:. sf.haye collected five thousand dollars" he
continued, Sand it is too late to get it into the
bank, and do not dare to carry so much with
me" e
swell, you can leave it here as we'll as not.
No one would think of my having such sum
-ofmoney."
= He drew q large wallet from his pocket and
placed it in her hands.
sIt belongs to the Government, and if you
letitpass from your hands / am ruined" he
commented. And he arose as if to depart:
-uiteYou are going to eat some supper?" she
queried.
Winchester by midnight. Goodbye. Take
good care of the money, and fasten all the
DOOM
~1He gave her hurried kiss, and the next mo-
-nlent he was gone.
:, But, the sound of his footsteps had scarcely
died away before Mrs. Jacobs began to feel
strange fear creeping over her. Why it was
She knew not. She had lived there seven years,
and slept in the house many night without
the doors being even shut. Now they were
locked and boleed, she could not think of going
to bed. She was too nervous for that. She
was likewise too nervous TO work. She put the
money in her dress pocket, and clasping both
tightly IN her hands, she sat still, gazing anx-
sioasIy into nothingness, and listening so in
etently that silence became fearful mlngllng OF
c1iscordant sounds in her ears.
An hour passed. 1t had been an age to her.
-'i' ~ @I am glad that am not rich" she whis-
'pered as the clock struck II. "What task it
must be to watch ones goldp'
Presently she heard sound. 1t was not the
rein,.for their was perfect lull in the storm.
Il eopld not be neighbor, for che lived in the
outskirts Of the village, several blocks from any
one, and she was not likely to be called in cases
of sickness
Again she heard it. 1t seemed as if win
-dow-,ash was being slowly raised. Strange that
she should have forgotten to fasten them down
f,-."Nhy didn't John leave me his revolyer?"
she mused. "I have nothing with which to
protect myself in case that should be molested
te-night It was really an oversight in him."
AGAIN she heard the sound. 1t seemed to
come from the bedroom. 1t was surely the
raising of SASH Then there was the sound
of movement as though some one was enter
ng'tliat way.
al Fear quickly paralyzel her for a moment
but she quickly rallied, and taking up the lamp
proceeded to investigate the matter. She had
scarcely opened the bedroom door when she
staggered backward with q half-suppressed
scream. Two men in hideous DISCUSSES were
already in the room and third ruffian was in
the act of crawling through the window. In
: voluntarily she clutched the pocket which con-
tanned the money, thinking meanwhile how she
would protect herself and it. Alas she had
nothing but her own weak hands with which to
fight the battle, and she well knew how power
{, less they were compared with the strength of
the enemy.
"What do you want here" she asked in
, faltering voice.
eve want the five thousand dollars which
you have in keeping for your husband" said
one of them.
They knew then she had it in her possession.
-:tystY6u. can't get any money from me-" she said
decisively. 81 have no money"
"a pretty little tib," he responded with