Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-05-06

the darkness Of the night, would make it
hazardous undertaking to set out for his
house before dawn. She did not dare to
let the strangers know how utterly defence
less they were.
A few moments afterwards as she passed
by them, with noiseless tread to attend TO
some household duty, she heard one of the
visitors ask of the other, in low tone evil
dently not intended for her ears, !" What
shall we do with these women, If they hap
pen to become troublesome =
ooh this will be the best way to silence
them" returned the other, drawing his
hand significantly across his throat.
Kate shuddered and for the moment
deathly faintness came over her. She knew
then that all the fears she had entertained
were not groundless. But, with the know
ledge of her own and Mary's peril, came
the resolution to meet it bravely. She pos
sessed more than ordinary nerve and cour-
age under her quiet demeanor; and mas
tering her momentary fear, she crossed to
where Mary was preparing repast FOR
their unwelcome guests.
"Iet me make the coffee, Mary, she
said, aloud then, in an undertone, added,
I" Be on your guard: these villains mean TO
| murder us Do not betray sign that we
are aware of their purpose. have plan
by which, if you are brave, we shall es-
cape"
Mary, by gesture signiied that she COM
nrehended what WAS required of her and
4 the heroic women assumed their employ
ment with beating hearts though outwardly
| calm and unconcerned.
The rude pine table was covered with
snowy cloth, the plates laid, and IN rev
moments tempting repast was placed be-
fore the two men, to which they did ample
Justice. When the meal was concluded, one
| of the men leaned over to the other and
whispered few words, to which his asso-
cate added sffirmatively. The former then
arose. and expressed wish to retire.
This was what Kate was expecting and
placing a lamp in his hand, she directed
him to the adjoining apartment Ihe rut-
fans wished their entertainers friendly
goodnight, and passing into the room,
closed the door.
II don't see what can have come over me
Bill, exclaimed one of them when they were
alone. t'I'm uncommonly sleepy J!
II feel rather dozy myself, said the 9TH
er. "S'posing we rest awhile before pro.
ceeding to business There's time enough.
An hours snooze will do us good, after our
long tramp.
daylight, anyway. He'll never suspec CT any
thing, for he II find Sutton dying just as he
was told. They'll keep him there as long
as possible"
The room was furnished with two good
beds. in opposite corners. Each of the
rufians staggered to one, and threw him
self upon it and soon they were both
sleeping heavily.
Kate and Mary Ellis, who we're listening
with anxious hearts in the outer room, at
, length heard the deep breathing of their
guests, which told them they were buried
in slumber.
fThank heaven y exclaimed Kate. ."Now
we are SAFE"
az cannot feel safe while they are in the
house," responded Mary. "Let us hy at
, once, Kate. The darkness and storm are
safer to encounter than these wretchea
when they awake" :,
nI have a better plan than that, said
! Kate Ellis, going to closet and taking out
: a long clothes line. Let us bind them while
: : they sleep Do not fear, sister; we can
! do it easily enough. / emptled the con
= tents of the little bottle which Robert
brought home last week foryour toothache
into their coffee. 1t was pretty strong
dose. too. and may kill them, but it was tC
|, save our lives"
"The laudanum |" exclaimed Mary
''Thapk Heaven then we are indeed safe
But how came you to think of it? neve
! should have dared such thing, for fear O.
y their detecting the taste.
. "Fortunately they did not" said Kate
~ "Bnt we must secure them at once, whll'
the drug is operating"
4 The brave girl handed Mary portion
!, the rope, rope, which she had divided an
y followed by the other, entered the apart
ment tenanted by their would-be murder
ers.
The rufians were completely overpoweI
y | ed bv the potent drug which they had un
D. consciously imbibed, and the task Of bind
y ing them was a comparatively easy one
Assured now Of their escape from the dead
= ly peril which had menaced them, the III
y usual strength and resolution OF the heroi
a. women entirely deserted them, and the
~ sank upon the floor, weak and helpless, br
'' with happy and thankful hearts.
a The hours dragged slowly away. At las
the ruffians began to recover from the O.
a fects of the narcotic. Great was their su
" 20 prise and fury when they discovered no
~ completely they had been outwiTted-an
an that by couple OF weak women The
- threats and entreates were alike unheede
~ ~ The captors had no faith in their protest
IN tions of innocence OF any premeditate
~ crime and they at length were forced
he become resigned to their fate.
~ At daybreak, Robert Ellis returned. 81
indignation and establishment on learniI
of the events OF the night, knew no bound
: He grasped the two loved ones to his heal
and silently vowed never to leave them
,js such q fearful risk again. f'Wi no,
lgs u The dikcomfted ruffians were removed
w the nearest Jail. They we're discovered
be old offenders, and soon afterwards met
Vt Just punishment. 1t appeared that th
= had stopped the preceding day at the hou
= a OF Ellis' dying friend and had undertake
M : to deliver the message to Robert which b
occasioned his departure. Learning.
". some means, that the latter had lar
~, y, sum of money at his house, the villai
he conceived the plan of taking advantage
m. his absence, and robbing the farm, viii
he plan happily mit itcarried, to the great d