The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-08-19

do the chores"
AS she spoke she stopped to stroke old
Tommy, but, to her infinite surprise, she
saw that the animals paw and tail were
erect-her eyes had changed to CLASSY
green Of rage and terror, and with slow
panther-like tread she was making her
way toward the door which opened upon
the cellar stairway.
And while she gazed Margaret saw
with horror that the latch was slowly
lifting, and the next moment the door
swung open with an ominous creak, and a
man stepped into the room. He was a
short, thick-set fellow, with sandy hail
and whiskers, and pale, ferocious-look
ing blue eye, set far back in his head.
Soho, my DEAR" said he, "you are
sole proprietor, it appears ?"
For a moment Margarets heart stood
still, but she was naturally brave, and
she was proud as well, and would not
allow this man to see that she feared him
L have that honor" she said, cOolly
"who are you and what do you want?"
Il trust you will excuse me if neglect
to introduce myself" said the man, with
much courtesy; "as for my business,
am quite happy to inform you about that
l want the $4,000 that the Judge brought
from Ridgeby Bank last night, and de
pend upon you to point it out to me-"
The indignant blood rushed TO Marga
ret's face, and she answered him sharply
81 will die before Twill do as you ask y
You shall have your choicem
He produced pistol, which he cooked
deliberately, and pointed it at her head.
"Show me the place where the tin Is
hidden, or III blow your brains out"
Like lightning varied train Of thought
passed through the head of the girl; il
that one instant of time she thought of {
score of plans to evade the rascal, and as
soon as entertained discarded them as i'm
practicable.
There she was, alone and helpless, {
weak girl, almost mile from any Other
human habitation, and in a storm it was
by no means likely that anyone would be
passing by from whom she could claim
any assistance.
For moment she thought of risking
everything to escape by the outer door
and, trusting to the darkness and hel
knowledge of the way, to attempt to reach
Mr.. Turner's and seek protection.
But the man seemed to divine hel
thought, for he stepped between her and
the door.
"No, my beauty, you can't play that
game on mer' he said, with a sardonic
smile. "And now I'll give you just three
minutes to decide what you'll do, If you
show me where the money is swear not
to harm you; if you refuse I swear to kill
YOU, and trust to luck for finding it with
out your help"
He took out his watch and stood regard
ing it and Margaret alternately. As she
stood there, faint and giddy with fear, a
new idea penetrated Margaret's brain, and
she was just in a 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 involve them in ruin. As she
thought, she saw q way to it, though it
would compass her destruction.
"You may put up your pistol" she
said calmly. 81 will show you where
the money is concealed"
"That's sensible, my dear" said the
man. ats not often that sense and a
pretty face go together. But you're an
exception. Come, be lively now."
She took a candle from the table, Sc
lected one of bunch of keys from a bas-
ket hanging from the wall, and bade him
follow her.
She led him upstairs to the door of the
oak closet, applied the key, and, opening
the door, pointed to the black box in the
farther corner of the closet.
"You will find what you seek there"
She stepped back for him to enter, but
he seized her by the wrist and pulled her
along with him.
Il know your game" said he; "you
would get me into that cussed close hole
and then lock the door upon me. Take
out that key and fling it downstairs and
then come in with me shant eat you"
She obeyed him literally, and, as they
stood together in the sitting place-whioh
was scarcely large enough to contain them
Margaret, with the hand which the man
had left free, seized on the door and pulled
it to.
1t shut with sharp click-shut and
locked at the same time.
A fierce oath burst from the lips of the
burglar. 49,.
"What do you mean ?" he cried. O. Hell
and furies! / shall suffocate here! Open
the door, or III shoot you"
"Do as you please" said Margaret, de-
family; "the door has spring lock and
can be opened only from the outside. And
unless some one comes to our release we
shall remain here until we die, which will
be only few hours at the most"
"You she devil! Why did you do this ?"
he demanded, hoarse with rage. Don't
you know that you will die, too?"
"Certainly; but l prefer death to the
ruin of my best friends. If we die here
and we 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 her
self sustained her, and she was happy in
the consciousness that her life would pur-
chase the old home for her kind benefac-
tors.
The close, torpid air weighed upon her
like lead-already had the wretch who
was her companion sunk stupefied to the
floor. All her past life came up before
her-she remembered things long forgot
ten, she saw faces dead and buried, she
heard voices long mute beneath the grave
clods, and then life and sense faded out
and she knew no more.
I,,Ir.a VVolIana fo,,I lso ,.c+or l,ot+o,