The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-09-14

| France or Italy, never, perhaps, to return. Do
not shed tears at this, dear madam, for where
ever my footsteps tend, your image-ruffled
night-cap and all-wlll remain forever i'm
printed upon my heart"
"You old goose !" said.
"Please do not interrupt me. madam have
but few moments longer to stay, and must
to business at once. have learned that you
have 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 The eighty cents
| do not care anything about. You can retain
that as trlf1ing evidence of my generosity in
this great emergency of my life"
"lOu are robber, a thief, then Z" l said
spitefully.
EITHER at your service, madam" rising and
making bow for all the world like French
dancing-master. "Now, the money, If you
please"
He wasn't joking now. There was q very
determined look IN his eyes, and about his
mouth.
che that giveth to the poor lendeth to the
Lord" ne said, speaking just like preacher
would.
"And he that steals from the poor, what of
him r.
my Bible does not dispose of his case es.
pecially, madame"
"And you came here to rob meme, poor
woman p
II came to borrow of you for an uncertain
length of time"
l saw it was useless to waste words with
him, besides didn't altogether like the looks
OF his eyes. l closed my lips tightly, resolv-
ing that would not speak again.
.tIf vou'ye No ohection Ina,am Tll lool,
around bit" he said, taking up the lamp as
he spoke "IfI hear any noise from YOU nv
dear, or if see that in way you are becoming
nervous, l shall be obliged to quiet you by the
use Of"
He held up small vial.
"Ctloroform!' gasped.
AT your service, madame"
ut wourd be the very death of me-"
raoaned.
Il should be sorry to bring such loss up
ca the world, but, believe me, all that rests In
your own hands. THIS door leads into the
closet where the trunk is, believe" he said,
making straight for the closet where nv forty
dollars were put away for safekeeping.
did not say word. To tell the truth, the
chlorotorm had scared me nearly GU. of my
wits. He turned the key in the door Il had
always kept it locked,) and glanced into the
closet. 1t was large, and the trunk was at the
further end OF 1t. Let me say here that the
closet or st0re.rOom was In the ~ part of the
house. fully foot lower than my room. Mr..
Burglar was not acquainted with this fact,
CHANGING towards me with his sharp eyes, to
see II was quiet, he took step forward and
sprawled upon all tours. l do not know to
this day how he managed to save the lamp
as he did, but it was not broken in the fall,
and burned as brightly as ever. My wits came
to me here. lsprang as lightly as cat out
OF bed, and before he could get upon his feet,
had the door Of the closet shut and locked
upon him. He grew very lamb-like in mo.
mcnt.
You've done it now, haven't YOU, nv
charming creatures swear I'm in love with
you from tins hour to the end of time. You've
come splendid dodge! You've got me tight
and fast. What's the use of money, now
/ will take the eighty cents, and you may
have the forty dollars if you will only let me
OUT
''No, sir; am going to cali the neighbors,'
! SAID, resolutely.
Going with that nightcap on? You'll
make your fortune But do not hurry, that's
dear. Let's have a little friendly talk. Saw.
I'll give you hundred dollars if you will let
me out"
eyes, and leave you free to scare some 9th
er woman nearly to death-no, sir!''
well, then, will give you two hundred
dollars"
mo, sir"
"Name your price then, dear girl. sup.
pose every woman has her price-they saw
every man has"
"No, it wouldn't not be right" said hest
tatingly.
heard him chuckle:
First step toward it she begins to talk of
what is right"
thought of my poor girl out to work by
the week, and so anxious to get an education,
and I'm sure it is not to be wondered at if
did begin to think of setting price, But
said not word.
Look here. Twill put five hundred dollars
in good sound gold under the door, and YOU
can count it as put it through piece by piece,
If you will only let me out of this cursed hole.
nm smotherlug.'
TRY some chloroform,' whispered through
the keyhole.
Curse the chloroform! VIII you lie, me
out.'
l had light by tins time, and had slipped
into Gallo wrapper and my slippers.
III got the money, how conld | let him out
Of the closet q should not dare to meet HIM I:
he would rob me again, and perhaps murder |
me. But said, 4 will take the gold, resoly-
ing that would try to get out of 1t some way,
just tor the sake of poor Rebecca, who SO much |
wanted to 60 to school.
Your heart is in the right place. he SAID
and the next moment big round gold piece
came Sliding through the wide crack under
the door.