Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-09

tne mouse, whose business nau neCessl-
tated his being absent from home all
day. Mr.. Jacobs was the tax-collector
of the township, and consequently
could not wait the return Of pleasant
Weather before pursuing his journey.
Therefore he had equipped himself in
his india-rubber over-garment in the
morning and had gone about his bust
ness, leavieg his wife the promise OF an
early return in the evening. But the
supper-hour had come and gone without
his making an appearance. Mrs. Ja-
cobs, however, was not anxious as yet.
Such delays were too frequent to cause
this one to give her any uneasiness of
mind.
She fitted about the house, busy with
her evening duties, singing a gay song
as she went She was a bright little
woman, with world Of courage written
in her dark, sparkling eyes, and on the
firm, red lips. tts.l 1Ae.
Anon she disrobed her two little ones,
aud put them to bed, and when! the night
shadows turned into an inky blackness
she seated herself by the lamp and be-
gan to sew, still leaving the supper table
spread, and the food on the stove keep
ling warm fofthe return Of her husband,
But the little clock on the maitel-sheif
had told the hour of ten before his step
was heard at the door he came in hur-
riedly, and strobe to seat without re-
moving his. dripping garments ior tF hls
muddy boots. ~ eve
"Was detained Am in an awful
hurry. Going to Winchester tonight,
diving his hand into a pocket of his in
ner coat, and glancing anxiously around
theiroom. i.sl lHAD o3Gliv4s1 2
"To Winchester" repeated his wife
in dismay Twenty miles in this
Storm NrafaAu gs.L1.E
4 + Can'tbe helped" he returned, Bus
iness is business, you know. fg.E .q .n
He removed his hand from hispocket,
took OF his hat, and brushed back his fair
hair, revealing the rather handsome face
of light-eomplexioned, middle-aged
man. He had large gray eyes, but they
wore On anxious expression, and their
glance wandered restlessly about the
apartment. 800.
- Jane y he said suddenly, again div
ing his hand into the troublesome pock-
et :" do you suppose you could take care arc,
of large saal Of money till to.morrowf
"Why, yes" she answered, looking
up in surprise.
i"I have collected FIVE thousand dol
lars" he continued, and it is too late
TO get ii into the bank, end do not dare
TO carry so much with me.
"Well. you can leave it here as well as
not No one would think of my having
such sum Ct money -.
He drew a large wallet from bis
pocket and placed il in her hands.
MT belongs to the Government, and if
you let it pass from your hands ] am
I ruined, he commented And he arose
as if to depart. -,
"You are going to eat some supperP"
she ,queried. rq. engaGuhsa-
| sNo. | have no time TO lose. j
must make Winchester by midnight.
Goodbye. Take good care of the money,
and fasten all the doors y
He gave her hurried kiss, and the
next moment be was gone.
But the sound Of his footsteps had
scarcely died away before Mrs. Jacobs
began to feel o strange fear creeping
over her. Why it was she knew not.
She had lived there seven years, and
slept in the house many q night without
the doors being even shut. Now they
were locked and bolted, she could not
think of going to bed. She was too
nervous for that She was likewise too
! nrrvous to work. She put the money in
her dress pocket, and olasplng beth
tightly in her hands, sS> sat very sun,
gazing anxiously into uothingness and
| listening SO intently that silence becamd
fearful miugling of discordant sounds
in her ears.
An h6hr PASSED. Fehdd been an age
to her.
81 am glad that | am not rich," " she
whispered as the clock struck eleven.
. What q task il mustbe to watch ones
gold "
Presently she heard a sound TWAS
not he rain, for there was perfect lull
in The sto-m. 1t could not be neigh
bor for she nsed in the outskirts of the
village, several blocks from any one. and
she was not likely to be called in cases
of sickness tIl.tt I-4'L f.i.
Again she heard It. It seemed as II a
window-sash was being slowly raised.
Strange that she should have forgotten
to fasten them down th
"Why didn't John leave me his re-
volver3l' she mnsed. 9" / have nothing
with which to protect myself in case
that / should be molested tonight. 1t
was really an oversight in him"
Again she heard the sound. Itseemed
to come from the bed room, II was
surely the raising of sash. Then there
was the sound of movement as though
some one was entering that way. sls
Fear nearly paralyzed her for a mo-
meat. but she quickly rallied, and taking
up the lamp, proceeded TO investigate
the matter She had scarcely opened
the bedroom door wheu she staggered
backward with a half-suppressed scream
Two men in hideous disguises were
already in the room and a third ruffian
was in the act Of crawling through the
window Involuntarily she olutehed the
pocket which contained the money,
thinking meanwhile how she should
:. -otect herself and t. Alasl she had
Pr ing hut her own weaSt hands With
,rb;cb 70 fight the battle, and she well
Inew how n. .9werless they were compared
With the strength of the enemy;rt. ,
What do You wan here. 2 she asked
in a fallering voice. ttt
1--WE want the Eve Thousand dollars
which you have in keeping for yoSr nus
band, said one Of them 80,
They knew then that she had i IN her
possession.
You can get no money from me,
she said decisively. Il have no money
a A pretty little 6b,' he responded,
with Il rough laugh. 1--WE will just look
into your pocket and see.
In her eagerness to preserve her treas
ure she clutehed the pockets Of her dress
in both hands, thus nnconsciously be-
traying its whereabouts. ~.
She turned pale when the knowledge
OF her thourhilessness was revealed %
You cant have itl you shaa't have
IL she cried, knowing we'll all the while
that they would have Il in spite Of her
We will seei exclaimed one Of the
men. grabbing her in his arms tr-s
.-...-----..-=9