St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-10

said. calmly: Il will show you wher'
the money is concealed"
"That'S sensible. my dear" said til,
man. 1T ain'i often that sense and ;
pretty face go together. But you're al
exception. Come. he lively now"
She took IL candle from the table. Sc
lected one from Il bunch of keys from ;
basket hanging on the wall. and bad,
him follow her.
She led him up the stairs to the doc
of the oak closet, applied the key
opening the door. pointed to the blacl
box in the farther end of the closet.
"lou will find what YOU seek il
there"
She stepped back fni him to enter
but he seized her 10y the wrist and drag
ged her along with him.
Il know Your game said he ''yor
would get me into that cursed hole
and then lock the door upon me TAX,
ont the key and fling it down stairs
and come i'll with me. | shan't eat
YOU"
She ohcyrd him literally. and a,
they stood together in the sitting place
which was scarcely large enough :.
contain them. Margaret, with the hamt
which had been left free, seized the
door and pulled it to.
1t shut with IL sharp click shut anC
locked at the same time
y fierce oath burst from the burglar
What d" You mean, ," he cried. "HeI
and Furic>, shall sutfocate Opel
the door. or I'll shoot YOU"
-. ln t,1...,.., - sail
dctiamtIy the door has spring lock
and can only he opened from the out
side. And unless some one comes I,
our release, we shall remain here unit
We die. which will be only few hour,
ut the most
"lou she monster, Why have yor
done this ," he demanded. hoarsc Will
rage. Don't You know that y"u vii
die too?
''Ccrtaiull. hut prefer death to tn,
ruin of my best friends. If we die
here as we shall. without Il doubt
the money will hr saved"
The oath> and threats and curses ot
the man were fearful. hut Margaret fell
no fear. Something above and beyond
herself sustained her and she was hap,
would purchase the old home for hel
kind hcnetactorS.
The close. torpid air weighed upon
hrr like lead already had the MAI
Who WAS her companion sunk stupcticd
t" the floor. All her past life came ny
before her she remembered thing
long aC" forgotten she SAW faces dea,
aud buried: she heard voices long mute
h"ncath the grave clods. and then lii,
and >cnSc faded out. and she knew II,
more.
Judge Wallace. found his sister bet
ter. but the storm comm" on. it Wa
deemed best To remain all night. hu
early the next morning he set ont to
homc.
Arrived in sight of the house. he wa
surprised To see the shutters still close,
and The chimney giving out no >mok
of welcome.
At the gate Il Young man was tying
horse. and the Judge exclaimed To hi
wife:
''BlesS my life. Annie. that's Algcr
non, There's no miStaking him. He
nome Il month earlier than We expected
him. But ! greatly fear something
ami>S with Mag. She's IN early IiSe
and the shutters are Yet closed.
He whipped up his hof>e. and 500
had his lnng-ahScnt son 10y the hand.
The iii>t warm greeting over. tn
Judge raped at the fastened door. hu
clcIting no response. his alarm in
cIca>rd.and after shouting for Margarr
AT the top of his voice. and receiving
II" response. with Algcrnon'> help h
burst open the door and entered tn
Kitchen.
All wa> aS She had left it the previou
might the fire had burned down. tn
black brands covered the hearth. tn
chamber door stood suggc>tivcly open
Father aud son asccmdcd the stairs. an,
half way mp the Judge stumbled owe
the key of the closet.
Good heavens, '" he exclaimed, "th
key of the closet where left that mon
rN. greatly fear something has Ice
fallen MlIg gIrct.
They found the closet door locked
and Ia their repeated knocking thrr
came no response. Algrrmnm then ap
piled the key and the opened door re
vcaled Il flighttul sight.
With frighttulN distorted, purpl
face. the r"hhcr lay on the floor, stnn
dead. and Il little removed from him
pale and quiet. lay Margaret.
Algcrnon bore her down stairs int
the open air. but it WAS long before sh
gave any sign or token of life. And
WAS Il week before She WAS able to Civ
Il detailed account of what had happen
ed durin" that night of horror i'll til
oak closet.
But she had saved the money. an
the son undertake to pay the debt
gratitude owed 10y his father. And b,
fore the winter was over AlgernOn MAJ
Iicd Margaret, und together they dive
in the old homestead. and on storm
nights they tell the children the story
the oak closet.