The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-08

Margaret read little, and dreamed
great deal, as girls of her age are prone
to do at times. She made very pretty
picture, if emily there nad been some one
TO see her.
Her soft brown hair was unbound and
fell ripling to her waist; her fair round
face was tinted as delicately pink as the
inside of a sea shell her brown eyes
were dreamy and full of langor AMI her
red lips were sweet and womanly enough
for any true lover to find his rarest hap
piness in kissing.
Slowly, at length, the old cofhn-shaped
clock in the corner truck ten. Margaret
started up. She had not thought it was
so late. The evening had gone off much
more quickly than she expected it would.
It was not SO dreadful to stay alone after
all. she said to herself.
She opened l shutter ana reered out
into the darkness. Jt was as dark as
Erebos, and the wind and rain beat
against the pane in a perfect torrent
The Judge would not think Of return
ing on such night.
well, Tommy" said she to the cat,
Il guess you and l will go to bed. We
must get UP betimes in the morning,
you know, since there'll be none but us
to do the chores
As she spoke, Margaret stopped to
stroke old Tommy, but to her infinite
surprise, she saw that the animals paw
and tail were nervous-her eyes had
changed to glossy green of rage and ter
| roT, aud with slow panther like tread
she was making her way toward the
door which opened upon the cellar stair
way.
And while she gazed, Margaret saw
with horror that the latch was slowly
lifting, and the next moment the door
opened with an ominous creak, and a
man stepped into the room He was a
hort, thick set fellow, with sandy hair
and whiskers, and pale, ferocious-look
ing eye, set far back in his head.
"Ho, no, my dear" said he, you are
sole proprietor, it seems"
For an instant Margaret's heart stool
still, but she was naturally brave girl,
and she was proud as well, and would
not allow this man to see that she feared
him.
Il have that honor" she replied cool
ly. who are you? And what do you
want?"
L trust you will excuse me if I neg
lect to introduce myself" said the man
with much courtesy-''as for my bust
ness, l am quite happy to inform you
| about that. | want that eight thousand
dollars that the Judge brought from
Ridgely bank last mig hit, and l depend on
you to point it out to me"
The indignant blood rushed to Mar
garet's face, and she sharply answered ::
u will die before I will do what y GU
ask -
He produced a revolver, which he
cooked deliberately, and pointed at her
| head
Now show me the place where the
case is hidden. or I'll blow your brains
| out p"
Like lightning varied train of thought
rushed into the head of the girl in that
one instant of time she thought of a
score of plans TO evade the rascal, and
simultaneously discarded them as i'm
practibe.
There she was alone, weak and help
less girl, almost a mile from any other
hannah habitation, and in such storm
it was by no means likely that any one
would be passing by from whom she
could claim assistance.
For a second the thought of risking
everything to escape by the other door,
and trusting to the darkness and her in
innate knowledge of the way, to attempt
to reach Mr.. Turner's and seek protec-
ton.
But the man seemed to divine her
thoughts, for he stepped between her
and the door. No, my beauty, you
don't play that game On me" he said
with a sardonic grin. And now III
give you Just three minutes to decide
what you'll do. If you will show me
only where the money is, Ill swear to
DO you no harm if you refuse | swear
to kill you. and trust to luck to finding it
without your help.
lie took out his watch and stood re-
garding it and Margaret alternately.
As she stood there, faint and giddy with
fear, new idea penetrated Margaret
brain aud she was just in that state of
desperation which stops at no sacrifice,
however great. Come life or death, she
must save the money which her kind
friends had toiled 50 long aud earnestly
for, and the loss Of which would involve
them In ruin. And she thought she saw
way to DO it, although it would com
pass her destruction.
GU may PIT, ZIP your pistol" she
said, calmy. L viii show you where
the money is concealed -
That's sensible, my dear said the
man. 1T ain t often that sense and a
pretty face so together. But you re an
exception. Come, you must be lively
now"
She took a candle from the table, Sc
lected one key from bunch in the bask
ct hanging from the wall, and babe him
follow her.
She led him up the stairs to the door
OF the oak closet, applied the key, aud