The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-12-30
sleep in corner, blinking here eyes at the
cheerful blaze.

leep in corner, blinking hereyes at the
cheerful blaze.
Margaret read little, and dreamed a
great deal, as girls of her age are prone
20 do when left to themselves. She made
4 very pretty picture, if only there had
been some one to see her. her soit
brown hair was unbound, and fell rip
pling to her waist; her fair round face
was tinted as delicately pink as the in
side of a sea-shell; her brown eyes were
dreamy and full of languOr; and her red
Inns were sweet and wOmanly enough for
any true lover to find his rarest happi-
ness in kissing.
Slowly, at length, the coffin-shaped
clock in the corner struck ten. Mar
garet started up. She had not
Thought it was 80 late. The evening had
zone off much quicker than she expected
It would. 1t was not so dreadful to stay
alone, after all, she said to herself.
She opened a shutter and peered out
into the night. 1t was dark as Erebus,
and the wind and rain beat against the
pane in a perfect torrent. The Judge
would not think of returning on SUCH
HWell. Tommy" she said to the cat,
Il guess you and and Kitty will 60 to
bed. We must be up betines in the
morning, you know, since there Is none
but us to do the chores"
As she spoke, she stopped to stroke
Tommy, but to her infinite surprise, she
saw that the animals back and tail were
erect-his eyes had changed to GLOSSY
green, and, with panther-like tread ne
was making his way toward the door
| which opened upon the cellar stairway.
And while she gazed, Margaret saw
with horror that the latch was slowly
rising. and the next moment the door
swung open with an Ominous creak, ana
a man stepped into the room. He was
short, thick.set fellow, with sandy hair
and whiskers, a pale, ferOcious'lo0king
blue eve set far back in his head.
"So.ho, my DEAR" said he, "you are
sole proprietor, it appears? Z?
Fer moment Margarets heart stood
still: but she was naturally brave, and
She was proud as we'll, and would not
let this man see that she feared him.
II have that honor" she said, coolly
"who are YOU, and what do you want 2
az trust you will excuse me If
neglect to introduce myself, sald tne
: man, with much courtesy. "As ior my
business, 1 am quite happy to INFORM
YOU about that. want the eight tnou
. sand dollars that the judge brought iron
Ridgeby last night, and depend on yo'
to point it out to me-" ,
: fhe indignant blood rushed to Mar
3 garet's face, and she answered him
9 sharply: =,
e askw
|, "You shall have your choice!"
He produced pistol, which he cooke
{. deliberately, and pointed it at her heao
"Show me where the tin is, or wi
q blow your brains out"
:. Like lightning, a varied train
n thought passed through the head OF tn
% girl: in that one instant of time 50
10 Thought of a score of plans to evade tn
a rascal, and, as soon as entertained, al
d carded them as impracticable..
There she was, alone and helpless,
Nv weak girl almost mile from any 9th
- human habitatiOn; and in a storm, 1T w
e, q by no means likely that any one wou
,'s be passing by from whom she cou
to claim assistance.
IN For moment the thought Of riskil
everything to escape by the outer dot
10. and. trusting to the darkness and h
,;s knowledge OF the way, to attempt
Id reach Mr.. Turner'S protection.
to But the man seemed to divine
" thought, for he stepped between her a
he the door. =,
as "No. nv beauty, you can't play Il
I oI game on me p he said, with a sardO
smile. "And now III give you J
rec three minutes to decide what your
md If you show me where the money
raw swear not to harm you; II you reius'
the swear to kill you, and trust to luck
md finding it out without your help"
' of He took out his watch, and stood
parding it and Margaret alternately.
,ep. she stvod there, faint and giddy "
sly. fear. a new idea penetrated her br
ace. and she was Just in that state OF desp
q il tion which stops at no sacrifice, howe
great. Come life or death, she n
the save the money for which her friends
toiled so leng and earnestly, and the
oak of which would involve them in
,uld As she thought, she saw way To
cam though it would compass her dest
that ton. .,
the "You may put up your pistol"
said, calmly. "I will show you W
vent the money is concealed" -,
"That's sensible, my dear. It's
arm often that sense and pretty face s
con- gether. But you're an exception. u
card be lively nOw." -,
iced, She took candle from 'ne ,ap.'
item. lected one of bunch OF keys from
haskell hanging on the wall, and
tho him follow her. She led him up s
e XI,<< al thG
sided and, opening the door, pointed TO
as it box in the further corner OF the c
were She stepped back for him to enter, o
Mon. seized her by the wrist and pulle'
along with him.
out :" know your game" said he; i,
n the would get me into that close hol
q was then lock the door on me. Iak'
thout that key and fling it down stairs
eight then come in with me. l shan
st no you." ru , =,
, took the obeyed MIN iiveIaii! anu ~
rparet stood together in the stifiing
which was scarcely large enough Z
that tain them, Margaret, with hand
mnch the man had left free seized on th'
sbail and pulled it To. II shut with a
d bet click-shut and locked at the
h you time. =,
A fierce oath BURT from the lips
have burglar. -,
she at "Wbat 40 you mean civ s
,allie's He'll ana iuries! ! snau gu,
along, Open the door, OF l VIII i snoos yWSu yWu
Turner DO rs you P'sase, sau ;a
lie was de6antly.. Inc uool mas III, ~
W, and and can be opened on.y Ollie On .ne
mirer; And unless s9me ono Iuu L'o ~
of her release we snail Iemain "1:o r,v = !,
at WAS die. which Will pc o''1 -"
the most" 60,
avay. "You she devil, why did you dc
d few he demanded, hoarse wl'n laso. 4,
played you know that yon WIN ele' S,, Dv
Id the Certainly; but prefer uea'i !
4 sleepy ruin of my best iriends. ~ WI !,
unset and we shall without u oo"o'' WV
he barn will be saved"
i - a. L. mil