The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-08-28

shut. Now they were locked and
boltcd, she could not think Ofgoing to
bed. She was too nervous for that
She was likewise too nervous to work
She put the money in her dress pock
ct, and clasping both tightly in hel
hands, she sat very still, l,.gazing anx
iously into nothingness, and listening
so intensely that silence became a
fearful mingling Of discordant sounds
in her ears.
An hour passed. 1t had been an
age to her.
Il am glad that am not rich," she
whispered, as the clock struck eleven
What task it must be to watch
ones gold p
Presently she heard a sound. II
was not the rain, for there was per.
feet lull in the storm 1t could not be
neighbor, for she lived in the out.
skirts of the village, several blocks
from any one, and she was not likely
to be called in case of sickness.
Again she heard it. 1t seemed as
if a window sash was being slowly
raised Strange that she could have
forgotten to fasten them down.
"Why didn't John leave me his re.
volver 7" she mused al have moth.
ing with which to protect myself in
case / should be molested tonight. II
was really an oversight in him."
Again she heard the: sound. 1t
seemed to come from her bed room.
1t was surely the raising of a sash.
Then there was the sound of a move,
ment as though some one was enter
ing that way.
Fear nearly paralyzed her for a
moment, but she quickly rallied, and
taking up the lamp proceeded to in
vestigate the matter. She had scarce
w opened the bed room door when
she staggered back with half sup
pressed scream. Two men in hide
Gus disguises were already in the
room, and third rufian was in the
act of crawling in through the win
dow. Involuntary she clutchcd the
pocket which contained the money,
thinking in the meanwhile how she
should protect herself and it. Alas
she had nothing but her own weak
hands with which to fight the battle,
and she well knew how powerless
they We're, compared with the strength
of the enemy.
.:What do you want here ?" she
asked in a faltering voice
1--WE want the FIVE thousand dol
lars which you have in keeping for
your husband" said one of them.
They knew then that she had it in
her possession.
you can get no money from me, +"
she said, decisively; 81 have no
money"
"a pretty little fib," he responed
with a laugh. We will look into your
pocket and see.,'
In her eagerness to preserve her
treasure, she clutched the pocket of
her dress with both hands, thus un-
consciously betraying its wherea-
bouts.
She turned pale when the knowl-
edge of her thoughtlessness was re-
vealed to her
you can't have it! you shan't
have it." she cried, knowing all the
while they would have it in spite of
her.
I'VE will see" exclaimed the man.
grasping her arms.
She struggled desperately, but was
soon Overpowered and the money TAX
en- from her.
Then, woman-like, she began to cry.
Let us go now," said one of the
robbers. "You take the money and |
will fix her tongue in way that it
will remain quiet for anhour at least"
Don't hurry" said another; II
am hungry, and we can just as well
take bite here as not
The other demurred, but he contin-
ued:
''Set to work and get some supper.
You've got fire and some boiling
water, and We want some tea"
Mrs. Jacobs knew that refusal
would only subject her TO more indig-
nifty, and she arose to do their bid
ding.
She put some more plates on the ta-
Bile, along with such food as she had
cooked, and then proceeded to make
the tea, wondering all the while if
there was any way to gain possession
of the money, and dreading her hus-
bands anger and dismsy, on his re-
turn, should she fail to do so.
As she took the tea canister from
the pantry shelf she caught sight of
bottle labelled strichnia. Her hus-
band had purchased it on the preced-
ing day, in order to destroy the rats,
which were becoming troublesome,
but as yet she had used no portion oft.
Here was the chance of relief, and
she seized it eagerly. Opening the
bottle, she put q few grains into the
teapot along with the tea, of which
she gave liberal quantity, in order
to destroy the taste of the poison.
A few minutes later the robbers
were sitting at the table unconscious
ly slipping their death.
"They may kill me,' unused the
faithful woman, "but the money will
be found and my husbands honor
saved.n
After few minutes, ole by one the
robbers complained of beng sick.
81 verify believe the jade has poi
soned u.s." said one, and the next mo-
ment he fell with a deepgroan on the
floor.
II know that she has poisoned US"
cried another, "and her own life shall
pay the forfeit"
lie sprang from his seat and star
ted toward her, revolver in hand, but |
he fell ere he had reached her.
Jane" exclaimed the third, "you
have saved the money, but you have
murdered me !"
How strangely familiar sounded
the voice! Forgetting all her old
ears in the new, Mrs. Jacobs sprang
and knelt by the side of the |
lying man.
She pulled the disguise, o hideous
negro face with large grinning mouth,
,.a,,, xbo foao zf xho n..o