The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-08
ich she had left free, seized ON the door

which she had left free, seized on the door
and closed it.
IT shut with a sharp click-shut and
locked at the same time
A fierce oath burst from the lips Of the
burglar.
''What do you mean 2" he cried =
Hell and furies | shall sufocate,
here Open that door or will shoot
you.
''Do as you please, said Margaret de-
inately; 1.-THE door has spring lock,
and can be opened only from the out
side, and unless some one comes to our
release, we shall remain here until we
die, which viii only be few hours at
most
You she-devil! Why have you done
this?" he demanded, hoarse with rage.
Don't you know that you will die
too p
Certainly; but I prefer death to the
ruin of my best friends. If we die here
az we shall without doubt-the money
will be saved
The oaths, and threats and curses of
the man were fearful, but Margaret felt
no fear, Something above and beyond
herself sustained her. and she was happy
in the consciousness that her life would
purchase the old home for her kind bene-
factors
The close. torpid air weighed upon
her like lead already had the wretch,
who was her companion, sank stupefed
to the floor. All her past life came up
b fore her; she remembered things long
ago forgotten-she saw faces dead and
buried-she heard voices long mute be-
ath the grave clods, and then life and
sense faded out and she knew no more.
Judge Wallace found his sister better,
bat ike storm coming on, it was deemed
best O remain all night; but early the
next morning he set out for home, accom-
panied by his wife.
Arriving in sight Of the house, he was
surprised to see the shutters still closed
and the chimney giving out no smoke of
welcome.
At the gate young man was tying a
horse, and the Judge exclaimed to his
| wife:
BLESS my life, Annie, that's Algernou!
Ihe'es no mistaking him. He's a month
earlier home than we expected him. But
L greatly fear something is amiss witt,
Maggie She's an early riser and the
shutters are yet closed
lie whipped up his horse, and very
soon he had his long absent sou by the
hand.
The first warm greetings over, the
Judge raped at the fastened door, but
ellclting no response, his alarm increased
and after shouting for Margaret at the
top OF his voice and receiving no reply,
with Algernon's aid he burst open the
door and entered the kitchen.
All was as she had left it the night
previous-the ire was burned down, and
black brands covered the hearth; the
chamber door stood suggestivey open.
Father and son assembled the stairs, and
halfway up the Judge hit his foot against
the key Of the oak closet.
Great Heavens he exclaimed "tbe
key Of the closet where l left that
money. l greatly fear that evil has be-
fallen Margaret
They found the closet door locked and
to their repeated knocking there came no
response from within.
Algernon then applied the key and the
opened door revealed fearful sight.
With fearfuily distorted, purple face,
the robber lay on the floor, stone dead.
and a little removed from him, pale and
quiet, lay Margaret.
Algernon bore her down stairs and into
the open air; but it was very long before
she was able to give a detailed account
of what had happened during the night
of horror in the oak closet.
But she had saved the money, as she
undertook, to pay the debt of gratitude
owed by her to the father. And before
the winter was over, Algernon married
Margaret, and together they dwell in the
old homestead, aud on stormy nights
| they tell their children the story of the
old oak closet.
| HE STREET School The street is a