The Lincoln County herald., 1872-08-07

And pray, madam, what is there to
hinder you from getting out, Id like to
know"
"Do you intend to insult me, you
good for nothing creature2 Oh, if the
wind only would blow you away"
"lf one goes, the other is sure to 60
tso." he said srolidly.
"lf brother Jse would only waken,"
I said
He cooked his eye knowingly.
You want TO make mo believe that
he 10 in this house somewhere, eh? My
dear madam, you are as transparent as
air. Had he been under this roof, you
would have screamed blue murder long
before this time"
"Oh, oh, you varmentl' groaucd,
10 pure agony of spirit. "What do you
want?"
"Well, ma'am, since that 10 a fair,
honest question, will attempt to answer
it. To begin with, my financial affairs
are in a complicated condition. Money
| have but little of-crsdit, none; SO I
am forced to levy trfing tax upon my
friends in this and other neighborhoods,
to extsieate me from my disastrous con
dltion. As soon as collect q certain
amount | intend leaving this country for
France or Italy, never, perhaps, to return.
Do not shed tears at this, dear madam,
for wherever my footsteps tend, your
imasc--ruffled night cap and all-will
remain forever imprinted upon my
heart"
"You old goose! r. said
"Pleaso do not interrupt me, madam
| have but few moments to stay, and
| must be to business at once. have
learned that you deposited in a trunk in
an adjoining closet forty dollars and
eighty cents. The forty dollars | would
like to borrow Of you for an indefinite
length Of time. Tie eighty cents dc
not care anything about. You can re
tain that as q trifing evidence of my
generosity 10 this great emergency oil
my lifs."
"You are robber, and thief, then I
said spitefully.
Either, at your service, madam,
rising and making q bow for all the
world like q French dancing master
Now, the money if you please"
He wasn't joking now. There was q
determined look 10 his eyes and about
his mouth.
"He that glveth to the poor lendeth tc
the Lord" he said, speaking just like Q
preacher.
"And he that steals from tho poor
what Of him ?"
my Bible docs not dispose Of hi'
case especially, madam"
"And you came here to rob meme, .
poor woman?'
ri came to borrow Of you for an uucer
tain length of time"
| saw it was useless to waste word
with him, besides didn't ultogher like
the look in his eyes. closed my lip
tightly together, resolving that | woulc
not speak again.
"lf you've no objection ma am III lool
, around a bit," he said, taking up th
lamp as he spoke. "lf hea- any nols'
from you, my dear, or if ! see in an.
, way that you are becoming nervous,
shall be obliged to quiet you by th
use Of"
lie held up small vial
"Chloroform T. gsspod.
"At your service. madam"
at would be the death Of me,
moansd.
II should be sorry to bring such los
to tho worll. but, believe INC. all tina
. rests in your own hauis. This leads int
! the closet where the trunk is, | believe,
he said, making straight for tho close
where my forty dollars WAS put away 10
E safe keeping.
/. | didn't coy q word. To tell th
y truth, the chloroform had scared %
l nearly out Of my wits. He turned tn
1 key in the door { always kept 1t locked,
and the trunk was at the further end O
!, it, Let me say here that this closet o
store room was in the ~" part Of th
0 house. fully foot lower than my room
Mr. Burglar was not acquainted with thi
y fact. Glancing toward me with hi
!, sharp eyes, to sec il was quiet, be tool
}. a step forward and went sprawling on o.
o tours. l don't know to this day how h
q managed to save the lamp as he did, bu
o it was not broken in the fall, and burne
# as brightly as ever. MY wits camo t.
me here. l sprang out Of bed. and be
y fore he could get upon his feet l had tn
0 door Of the closet shut and looked upo
him. He grew lamb like in a momen
+. you've done it now, haven't you. N
. charming oreaturep Iswesr I'm In low
with you from this hour to the end @
II time. You've got me tight and fast
What's the use Of money now2 I'll tax
. the eighty cents and you may have th
!. forty dollars, If you will let me out"
L mo, sir; I'm going to call the neigh
bors," l said, rssolutely.
"Goiug with that night cap on
o You'll make your fortune. Bnt don
!, hurry. that's dear. Lst's have q littl
& friendly talk. Say, III give you a hSu
y drsd dollars II you'll let me OUT"
A "Yss, end leave you fsse 70 scsrs SON
K other woman TO Asath-no, sir p
"wsn thss, III give yos twe hun