The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-06-24

~ beIOre them DeioW ~ 1ollr uraWerS reach
ed down to tile floor dllIthe lowest Of these,
at the back of it, Mr.. Furgusson had laid the
key. '' Us
She pointed silently TO the drawer Wild,
they al once dragged out, with too much
strength, for they jerlsstl It quite the floor.
One of them suddenly turned, particular a.
bout making a noise, and babe their unwilling
helper shut the door" ~
AS she felt the spring catch securely be-
meath her hand there suddenly flashed upon
her a thought--a hope--a way of escape for
herself way of saving yet that fatal money.
The men knew nothing Of their whereabouts
ssShut the door, the man had said and
never so much as cast a glance towards where
was the other door, completely concealed in
the shadow of the recess
Every pulse beat wildly. She glanced fur
lively across the room through the clouds
she could see the moon, and quickcncd by the
peril of the moment, She could see faint
thread of light on one side which told her
that the further door stood unattached.
o, Heaven, help me, and give me time -
could scarcely obey her swift thought.
Another. moment, and she took in her
exact position; the men STOPPING over the
keys the lamp on the floor and the next she
had flung her shawl over the lamp, darted
across the floor, out into the room beyond,
and flung TO the door with force. s.
Yet more to be done. She drew the bolts
with frenzied speed, above, below--that way
was safe; then with the passionate strength
of moment, she sped through the room, out
on tho landing to the curtained door, and
made that fast from without, while the furi-
GUS captiycs beat it from within.
And then-ah, then, poor thing, her forth
tude forsook her, and a thousand fears she
had not counted ON, most cruelty beset her.
She slid down few stairs, clinging to the
rail then, losing her hold, fellheavily on the
stone floor OF the hall below. $
Mr.. Furgnsson had reached his nearest sta
ton in safety, had sent back the wraps his
careful wife had guarded him with, and start
ed by the ten o'clock train TO Fordham.
Two or three lamps ON the platform by
which they drew up showing some few pass
engers and couple Of sleepy porters.
Anotllcrtrai had just come in from the
opposite direction, from Fordham, now only
fifteen minutes distant and some of its pas
scngers had alighted and were making their
way past the line of carriages. n
Looking out upon his fellowrtrayellers,
without much curiosity or interest, Mr.. Fur
81.
little expected to see. Shouting To porter
to open the door of his own compartment, he
sprang out, and grasped the arm of a man
very much like himsclf-in fact his own
brother. n
George" he exclaimed were you going
for me? Is my father worse 9''
What on earth do you mean, and
wherever did you spring from2" was the
answer hcgot, accompanied by look of pro-
found amazemcnt.
80, George" he said, with gasp, "did
you nottelegraph to me this evening that my
father had another fit?p
i" Most certainly did not"
go, mywife, my wife /" said the clergy
man; and then he staggered up to heap of
luggage and sat down and hid his face in his
hands. fa var
His brother saw the matter was serious SO
he let hissown train pass without resuming
his journey, and was soon in possession of all
the explanation John Furgusscn could give
Porter, he asked, "wlat time does the
night mailgo through to Whcelborough
:" 1:25, SIR answered the man ; reach
Wheelborough 2:15."
The distance was Internationally miles :
the present time quarter, or, blythe time the
explanation was ended, half past eleven.
No help for it, John, we couldn't pick up
u horse, nor yet a pair, that would be ready to
start this time Of the nightg and get us to
Wheelborough before quarter past two.
Come, old fellow, cheer up it's no use TAX
ing for granted everything you dread.''
But George Furgusson thought in his own
mind that matters looked black enough, his
eyes peering up the line to catch the first
glimpse of the approaching train.
At last, the shrill whistle, the glaring lights
creeping nearer and nearer, the minutes stop
page, and then off again homewards, and he
began to dread the moment he logged for.
At Wheeelborough two brothers struck out
at once from the station on their fivc-mile
walk and as they left the outskirts of the
town, tie church clock chimed half past two
O'clock
George" cried the rector, pointing to his
own house, not stones throw distant, look
at that light Z"
And through the long narrow window of
the oratory light shone plainly.
"Good God, If we are too lateR'
The brothers scarcely knewsliow they COW
cred the short remaining distance. blow
at the hall window, and their united force at
the shutters within, and they made good their
entrance to see--Kate Furgusson lying sense
less on the floor, to hear the wailing and cry
ing Of children overhead, and astrange sound
Of low voices whispering and hands cutting
away the woodwork.
Late indeed they were, but not too late
An outdoor bell, set changing, soon called
ready help from the village, while Jane,
already aroused by the sounds, but too fright