The Republican journal., 1873-03-13

never, perhaps to return. Do not shed
any tears at this dear madam; for where
ever my footsteps tend, your image
ruffled night cap and all-wll remain
forever imprinted upon my heart
You old goose ~ | said
''Please do not interrupt me madam; L
have but few moments longer to stay,
and must be 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 y trtling evidence of my gen
erosity in this great emergency of my life.
'You are a rubber, a thief, then ~ |
said, spitetulIy.
EITHER, at yonr service, madam" ris-
ing and making bow for all tho world
like a French dancing master. "Now
the money. it you please"
He wasn't joking now. There was a
determined look in his eyes and about his
mouth.
"fie that giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord he said, speaking Just like a
preacher.
"And he that steals from the poor, what
of him %
MY Bible does not dispose Of his case,
especially madam"
"And you came here to rob meme,
a poor woman ?''
II came to borrow of you for an un-
certain length of time"
| saw it was useless to waste words
with him, besides | didn't altogether like
the look in his eyes. | closed my lips
tightly together resolving that | would
not speak again.
eff you've no objection, ma'am, I'll
look around a Bit" he said taking up the
lamp as he spoke. at | hear any noise
from you, my dear, or if | see that you
are in any way becoming nervous, | shall
be obliged to keep you quite by the use
| Of-n
He held up a small vial.
"Chloroform!' | gasped,
"At your service, madam
''It would be the death of me,'
moaned.
II should be sorry to bring such a loss
to the world, but, believe me. all that
rests in your own hands. This door leads
into the closet where the trunk is, be-
lieve," he said, making straight for the
closet where my forty dollars We're put
away for safe keeping.
| didn't say word. To tell the truth,
the chloroform had scared me nearly out
of my wits. He turned the key in the
door q had always kept it locked and
the trunk was at the further end of it. Let
me say here that this closet or store room
was in the 81" part of the house, fully a
foot lower than my room. Mr.. Burglar
was not acquainted with this fact. Glanc-
| ing toward me with his sharp eyes, to see
if | was quiet, he took a step forward
and went sprawling on all fours. | don't
know to this day how he managed to save
the lamp as he did, but it was not broken
in the fall. and burned rs brightly as ever.
My wits came to me here. | sprang
up as lightly as a cat out of bed and be
fore he could get upon his feet | had the
door of the closet shut and locked upon
him. He grew lamb-like in Il moment.
you've done it now. haven't yon, my
charming creature | swear Pm in love
with you from this hour to the end OF
time. You've got me tight and fast.
| Where's the use OF money nowp I'll take
the eighty cents and you may have the
forty dollars, if YOU will let me out"
''No, sir, Pm going to call the neigh
bors." [ said resolutely.
'Gong with that ight cap on You'll
make your fortune. But don't hurry.
that's a dear Let's have little friendly
talk. Say, I'll give you hundred dollars
if You'll let me out"
Eyes, and leave you free to scare some
other woman nearly to death-no, sir!"
''Well. then, I'll give YOU two hundred" )"
'No, sir"
"Name your price. then, dear girl
| la. bo ~
say every man has"
itatingly.
heard him chuckle:
First step toward it she begins to
talk of what is right
thought of my poor girl out to work
education, and I'm sure it isn't to be
wondered at if did begin to think of set
ting price But said not a word.
'Look here, I'll put five hundred dollars
in good sound gold under the door, and
you can count it as push it through piece
by piece, if you will only let me out Of
this cussed hole. Pm smothering."
''Try some chloroform," | whispered
through the keyhole.
Curse the chlorotorm Will you let
me out p''
had light by this time. and had slip
ped into calico wrapper and my slippers
"If got the money could let him out
of the closet ?" | wondered | shouldn't
dare to meet him; he'd rob me again, and
perhaps murder me- But | said, "rl
take the gold" resolved that | would try
to get out of it somehow, ust for the sake
of poor Rebecca, who so much wanted tc
60 to school.
'Your heart is in the right place." he
said and the next moment n big, round
gold piece came through the wide crack
under the door
| couldn't withhold an exclamation Of
delight
} "It's right enough now, isn't it?" he
sneered. .'There's nothing like gliding
over our sins little. Bah All the world
is alike! Here goes another, and another
} Count fast my precious damsel. I dare
say there is no professional in your
church."
''ls there in yours"
"Well, if there was, gold gets into thai
sometimes" they say. Hold fast there
you've got the last cinker, now set me
free"
"Wait minute
'tBut | won't wait. II swear WON'T
Cant you help yourself ?"
"Well, no, not much, but I'm smother
ing in here. Can't you take pity on s
poor fellow?"
"Set fiat on the floor" l said
l heard him plump down on the floor as
obedient as a school boy.
"What next ?"
l turned to the kitchen door to see if thu
lock was all right. Then I turned the
key with sharp click, which sounded
to me like the report of pistol.
"'There - I cried. and sprang into til,
kitchen, locking the door behind me-
He came out Of his prison, swearing
like a trooper.
"Shary oil Satan, she's locked herse.
up somewhere, " trying the kitchen doc
as he spoke. "Good nj ght, Madam Dell
Good night You've got the best of this
You have robbed me. Good night-ge
down and say your prayers
And did. What is more, cried like