Middletown transcript., 1871-04-22

10
and she was in just that state Of dcspcra-
ton which stops at no sacrifice however
great. Come life or death, she must save
the money for which her kind friends had
toiled so long and earnestly, and the loss
Of which would involve them in ruin
And she thought she saw a way to do it,
though il would compass her destruction
=" You may put up your pistol !" she
said calmly. " ! will show you were the
the money is concealed"
That's sensible, my dear" said the
man. "a Il aint often that sense and n
pretty face goes together But you re an
exception. Come be lively. now"
She took candle from the table, Sc
lccted one from bunch Of keys in a bas.
ket hanging from the wall, aud babe him
follow her
She led him up the stairs 10 the door Of
the oak closet, applied the key, aud. open
ing the door, pointed to the black box in
the farther corner Of the closet
- You will find what yan seek there"
She stepped back far him to enter, but
he seized her by the wris, and pulled her
along with him
" know your game" said he. "you
would ept mc into the cursed close hole
and then lock the door upon mo Take
out the key and ding il down the stairs
ard come in with me, | shnn't eat you y
She oheycl him literally. and as they
stood together in the stiiling place, which
was scarcely large enough to contain
them, Margaret with thr hand which the
latter had left ftea. seizci on the door
aud pulled it TO-
II shut with sharp click shut and
locked Al the SANE time.
\ Ii rec oath broke from the burglar
=" What 10 son mean 7" he cried
" Hell anl furics shall ,ulocate here /,
Opau that door, or viii boo' you,"
lln A. you please -pil Margaret,
ifiilUily /" the door has spring lock
mi can l., opened only from the outside
.Ani unless sa,nc oue comcs 10 our release
w. shall ramau here un;il SO die. which
will anly lie lrw hours At most
Non She devil, Wig have you done
this = hc demanded hoar-r with rage
" !1on't y0a know that You Will Die, toof'
. Certainty, tu' rrtr dlHth to thc
ruin af ny hsst frir'rt. II So die hcre j
A. We shall without doubt the money
will he saved.
The o1ihs. aud threat. and curses oi
til man @sfe fs6ffal tn Margaret fit
no fear Something ab5ye a6l beyond
sustained her. She WI, happy in tn eea-
sepusness that her liz waall purchase
tho old home far her kiai heneflctars
The elosa tarfil air weighed upon her
ike nj already hal tie wretch. phe
was her companion. sank stnpaiiel II the
llonr. All her pasi liz, came up before
haf Ia remembered things ling aeo,
forgotten she saw faces dead anl buried
,he hearl voices long mute bHnoath
tn grave el9ds, aua then life and >eust
ftifa out. anl shf knew no mafa
lnige Wallace found his sister better.
but this >tarm coming on it WIS deemed
bet 10 remain all night. hnt carly the
naAt morning h. set oni for lame accom-
panied hs his wifi
Arrived in sight Of his house he was
surprised t1 see tic shutters still closed
and the chimney giving out ~ smoke Of
welcome
Al the gate i ,aane MN was tying 4
horse, and the jalge exclaimed 10 hi.
wifi.
Bless M lie. Amin, hat's Aleer.
non : There's no msiaking him lies
hamt a month earlier tban W. expected
him. But ! greatly fear something Is
amiss with Mug Shes M .arly tiser.
and the shutters are yet elosel "
lie whipped up his harsn, and soon had
hi. long absent son by tha hand
The first warm greeting ayer, the
jnlee rarped at the fastened der. but
rlieitiug m response his alarm increased
aud after shouting far Margaret Mt the
top Of his yoice ani receiving NJ reply
with Algeruan's help. BE- bnrsiel open
the dor, and entered the kitchen
All wa. as Size hal left i, The previous
night the fire had burned down. and
black brands covered the hearth the
chamber ,.9ar stoed .aessstsely open.
Father and son ascfndci tine stairs. ani
half way up the .jnlst stumbled over the
key ei the oak elasei
!" Good Heavens lie exclaimed. = the
key Il the eleset were left that money
| greatly fear that some evil has hefallen
Mnearrt
They fannl til aset door lacked. aud
to their repeated knockings their came no
response from within
Algernun applied tie key. and the
opened door revealed a frightful sight.
With fearfaly distorted. purple face the
robber lay on the fonr--stone iead-and
n little removed from him-rsle and quiet
lay Magaret.
Algernon bore her down stairs into
the open mir, but il was very long before
she gave any sign or token of life. And
il was week before she was able to give
detailed account Of whit had happened
during that night Of horror, IL TIC oak
closet
But she hal saved the money and the son
undertook TO pay the debt of gratitude
owed her by the fnthnr And hpfnre the