Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-01


She had expected it would. Il was not go
dreadful to stay alone, after all She said 10
herself
She opened shutter, and poered out into
the night. 70 was dark "a Erebus. and the
wind and rain beat against the pane in
perfect torrent The Judge would not think
of returning on such a night
Well, Tommy" she said 60 the cat. d"
guess You and I and kitty will 70 To bed.
We must be up betimcs in the morning, You
know, since therell be noue but MS to DO the
chores"
Asshe spoke, Margaret stopped 10 stroke old
Tommy, but, 10 her infinite surprise. she saw
that the animals tail was erect his eyes had
changed to a glossy green Of rage aud terror,
and with slow, pouther-ike tread, be was
making his way toward the doorway which
opened upon the cellar stairs
And while she gazcd, Margaret saw with
terror that The latch was sloWly lifting, aud
the next moment the door swung open with
an omiuous creak, and q man stepped into
the room. lie was a short, thick-sct fellow,
with sandy hair and whiskers, aud pale,
ierocious looking blue eye, set far back 10
his head
SO, no, my dear," he said, You are sole
proprietor, it appears
still but she was naturally brave and she
was proud as well, and would not allow the
man to see that she feared him.
"Ihave that honor" She said, coolly, Who
are yon, and what dQyou want r.
II trust yod viii @Xtusc IN. IL neglect to
introduce myself said the man. with mock
courtesy; Gas for my business, am quite
happy 10 inform You about that. I want
the eight thousand dollars that the Judge
brought from Ridgely bank last night, and ]
depend on you to point it out TO me-.
The indignant blood rushed into Marca-
rct'a face, aud she answered, sharply
" will die before do as you ask"
" You shall have your choice
lie produced pistol which he cooked de-
libamtely and pointed az her head.
Show me the place where the tin Is hid.
den, or will blow your brains out"
Like lightning varied train Of thought
rushed through the head OF the girl and 10
that one instant Of time she thought of
score of plans to evaie the rascal, and stimuli
taneously discarded them as impracticablc.
There she was alone, helpless, weak girl,
almost mile from any other habitatiou, and
in storm it was by no means likely that
any one would be passing by Of whom she
could claim assistance.
erything to escape by the outer door aud
trusting to the darkness and her knowing
the way to attempt 10 reach Mr.. Turner's
and seek protection.
But the man seemed 10 divine her thought.
for he instantly stepped between her and the
door.
" No, my beauty, you don't play that game
on met he said with sardonic smile.
" Aud now, IN give You just three minutes
to decide what You viii do. II YOU viii show
me the money swear not to do You any
harm; if you refuse, | swear 10 kill you, and
trust to luck for finding il without your
help"
lie tool, out his watch and stood regard
ing IL and Margaret alternately As she
stood there, fantand gidly with fear, new
idea penetrated Margaret's brain. and she
was Just in the state of desperation which
stops at no sacrifice, however great Come
life or death, she must save the money for
which her friends had toiled SO long and
earnestly, and the loss Of which would in
volye them in ruin As she thought, she
saw way to do it, though it would compass
her destruction.
You may put up your pistol" she said.
calmly 81 viii show You where the money Is
concealed"
" II amt often that sense auda pretty face 90
together. But you're an exception. Come,
be lively now
She took n candle from the table. selected
one from a bunch Of keys from a basket
hanging on the wall, and badc him follow her.
She led him mp the stairs to the door OF
the oak closet applied the key, opening the
door, pointed to the black box IN the farther
end of the closet
You will find what You seek in there"
She stepped back for him to enter, hut he
seized her by the wrist and dragged her
along with him.
81 know your game, said he you would
/ get me into that cursed hole, and then lock
the door upon me. Take out the key and
fling it down stairs and come in with me.
| shan't eat YOU
She obeyed him literally, and as they
stood together in the sitting place. which
was scarcely large enough to contain them,
Margaret, with the hand which had been left
| free, seized the door and pulled it to.
/ II shut with a sharp click-shut and locked
I at the same time.
4 fierce oath burst forth from the burglar.
What do You mean he cried. Hell and
Furies. shall suliocate Open the door, or
| III shoot YOU"
antly the door has a spring lock, and can
only be opened from the outside And unless
some one comes to our release, we shall re-
main here until we die, which will be only a
few hours at the most"
"You she monsterl Why have you done
this 2" lac demanded, hoarse with rage
" Don't you know that you will die, too '
Certainly, but prefer death TO the ruin
of my best friends If we die hcre-as wc
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 sus
tanned her, and She was happy in the con
sciousness that her life would purchase the
old home for her kind benciactors.
The close, torpid air weighed upon hel
like lead--aready had the man who was hei
companion sunk stupehed to the floor Al
her past life came up before her--she re
membered things long ago forgotten she
saw faces dead and buried she heard voice
long mute beneath the grave clods and theI
life aud sense faded out, and she knew nc
{ more.
Judge Wallace found his sister better, bu
the storm coming on, il was deemed best tC
lHAilNAH hlA hAHiiAf NtAN ~ ft.N 'Ai'it'tAi
g he set out for home.
Arrived in sight of The house, he was sur
3 prsed to see the shutters still closed, an,
! The chimney giving ont no smoke of wei
b come.
At the gate young mau was tying
horse, aud the Judge exclaimed to his wife
Bless my life, Annie, that's Algernon
! There's no mistaking him. Hes home
h month earlier than we expected him. Bu
=, greatly fear something is amiss with Mag
! She's an early riser and the shutters are yc
O. closed"
5 lie whipped up his horse, and soon ha'
g his loug-absuut son 10y the hand.
q The first warm greeting over the Judg
y raped at the fastened door, but eliciting N
response, his alarm increased, and after shout
, ing for Margaret at the top of his voice, an'
, receiving no response, with Algenon's he'll
=, he burst open the door and entered thu
kitchen.
, An was as she had left it the prayiou
night-tho fire had burned down, the blaol
brands covered the hearth, the chamber doc
stood suggestiyely open. Father and son as
cendcd the stairs, and half way up the -Iudg
: stumbled over the key of the oak closet
" Good heavens 20 he exclaimed, " the Ike,
, of the closet whore | left that money.
greatly fear something has beiallen Mar
I garet'
a