Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-03-27

further end of it. Let me say here
that this closet or store room was in
the 81" part of the house, fully foot
lower than my room. Mr. Burglar
was not acquainted with this fact.
Glancing towards me with his sharp
eyes, to see if l was quiet, he took a
step forward and went sprawling on
all fours. l don't know to this day
how he managed to save the lamp as
he did, but il was not broken in the
fall, and burned as brightly as ever.
My wits came to me here. [ sprank
up as lightly as a cat cut of bed, and
before he could get upon his feet | had
the door of the closet shut and locked
upon him. He grew lamb-like in a
moment.
"You've done it now, haven't you,
my charming creature? l swear I'm
in love with you from this hour to the
end Of time. You've got me tight
and fast. Where's the use of mouey
now? III take the eighty cents and
you may have the forty dollars, if you
will let me out"
"No, sir, I'm going tocall the neigh
bors.' | said resolutely.
"Going with that night cap on?
You'll make your fortune. But don't
hurry, that's dear Let's have lit
tie friendly talk. Say, I'll give you a
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 hun
dred.'
"No, sir
"Name yur price, then, dearggirl.
suppose every woman has her price
they say every man has
"No; it wouldn't be right" said
hesitatingly.
| heard him chuckle:
First step towards it; she begins
to talk of what is right"
l thought of my poor girl out to
work by the week, and so anxious to
get an education, and I'm sure it isn't
to be wondered at if | did begin to
think of setting price. But | said
not a word
Look here, I'll put five hundred
dollars IN good sound gold under, and
you can count it as | push it through
piece by piece, if you will only let me
out Of this cussed hole. I'm smother,
ing"
"Try some chloroform," l whispered
through the keyhole.
Course the chloroform! Will you
} let me out 2
l had light by this time, and had
and had slipped into t calico wrapper
and my slippers,
: "If got the money, could I let
him out of the closet ?" | wondered.
shouldn't dare to meet him; he'd rol
me again, and perhaps murder me
| But l said, "Ill take the gold,' resol
we'd that | would dry to get out Of ii
} somehow, just for the sake of pool
; Rebecca, who so much wanted to &C
,, to school.
"Your heart is in the right place.
he said, and the next moment big
round gold piece came through thi
wide crack under the door.
; | couldn't Withhold an exclamation
of delight.
"It's right enough now, isn't ?" he
e sneered. "There's nothing like gid
t ing over our sins little Bah! al
e the world is alike! Here goes anoth
er, and another. Count fast my pre-
!. cious damsel | dare say there is III
: professional in your church"
''Is there in yours 81"
1 "Well, if there was, gold gets int,
), that sometimes" they say. Hold fas
there, you've got the last clinker, nov
;, set me free
"Wait minute"
"But | won't wait. II swear
: won't"
Cant you help yourself?'
) "Well, no, not much, but In
smothering in here. Can't you tax
pity on poor fellow?'
'Set flat on the foor," | said.
t | heard him plump down on tn
floor as obedent as a school boy.
> "What next?'
I turned to the kitchen door to SCI
S if the lock was all right. Then
turned the key with a sharp click
= which sounded to me like the repor
of a pistol.
l. "There" l cried, and sprang int
the kitchen, locking the door behin
: me.
:. . He came out of his prison, sweaun!
I like trooper.
"Shary old Satan, she's locked hel
!, self up somewhere" trying the kitche
II !, door as he spoke. "Good night, Mao
Z am Dell. Good night! You've go
y the best of this. You have robbie,
=, me. Good night-get down and sa
3 : your prayers.
7 And | did. What is more, crie'
like baby over my money, thinkin;
what it would bring to us.
l never saw the strange burgla
7 again, and in a few weeks Rebecc
was comfortably established at schoo
n No one ever knew where the none
i came from. An uncle died abou
IS that time, and some of my neighbor
e shrewdly suspected that he had LEI
@ us something but had nothing t
V say about the subject.
D About six months after my adver