The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-05-10

ribly Imminent Very soon the steps
and voices came my way. could dis
tinguish plainly the words that were
spoken: - sAa go 5@ sag fy.~ta ~
ssDrat her! she must have seen you.,'
..No matter; we'll split the box open
with this Az '4sso7esEs $500.
knew the AK was in the little porch. !.
. Thomas had set it in when he had done
chopping the brush, as it looked. like I
rain. - t@'
[ heard the steps and voices move
away, a dull, crashing sound, and sti-
fled, angry tones. | knew they had
opened the box, and found nothing but
the papers, knew they would now,
search for me. | heard them as they
looked into every room and closet, and
came up the stairs separate They all
met at the foot of The garret stairs A
thick board was between us I thanked
God that the panel was close shut. i
knew it, for no ray of light came
through. aif Jns .ra.Eaf} has aldui1
",She must be up here,'' said the Ra-
ven, 6 and We'll soon have her. .'''',.,;.,.3 - !.
"I'H warrant she is here, and I'll
wiring her neck if she makes a noise
about il. ~ asa 5't t'.'A4'~ Sft1 8 I
But the thorough search was ended,
and the voices grew very angry and full
of frightful oaths and threatenings \
They sat down on the garret stairs to,
hold 4 parley. A spider ran across my
face. A spider puts me in mortal fear.
1t was with great effort that [ kept
from screaming. % ''1
"Come," cfoaked the Raven, "let MS
90 and get the silver; that will be some-
thing-that will be something ''.9taI = VI
Course the silver It's the gold I've
come for, and IN -burn the. house if
don't find the girl! SO let her look
out!'' s.- -.-.s. =. -.
A cold per.ssp5irationl.l Would they per-
form their threat meas -s.'@'-l " W III
&C Good! then the rats will squeak.
Down drop the money bags, and wen
choke the girl to make her dumb - ll!
''Hold your noise. The old man will
be coming home. We'll be caught here.
Be quick, re,..t ..,.,i ,,a3 ;. sotl,.f
"Who cares for him? He's only one.
a blutlgeon viii give him a handy little.
headache as he comes in''s tii5as ls5s'o!'i
@ And his wife?'' go aiEs 9<2li
They spoke low hideous words that
made my flesh creep. 1 almost was
ready to call aloud to open thespanel, to
give, them the gold, and bid them go.
They got up, and the steps and voices
went down. 1t was horrible there in
the 81 Z. was sitting, moved the
panel slightly. No light entered. 4
slid it softly back, My resolution was
taken. would get out of the house,
run down the road, and meet my father.
| would save him. / left the gold in
the closet, shutting it in close. Il stole
down two steps into the chamber below.
Iknew there was a window open there.
Icrept across the room, listening keenly.
/ lifted myself cautiously ON the window
ledge, and caught branch of the cherry
tree which grew close to- the house.
Swinging myself lightly out, / hastily
decended the trunk of the tree, and
found myself on the ground, safe. =. :.
No The lightning flash betrayed me.
The Ravens voice slirieked hoarsely: .
+ ''There she goes Catch her! Quick!
This way!"{ sEw IT'D 3.jt SHidi s. a
Ont at the front.door- came the pur-
suers, hardly ten steps from me. /
dashed toward the thick shrubbery to
throw them off the track. Fortunately
| knew the. way, every step Of it., They
were guided Slowly by the sound and
4 flashing light ,DAR 15iII 49t g f"+
"shoot her by the next fashP' cried
one. aid .j!beF9@lH 1aE u g9 3IBfEc
"a. MY flying feet struck loose boards. ) i
was passing directly oyeran old, unused
well, very deep, and it gave back a ihol-
low, resonant sound. Almost. the next
| momentI heard crash, the report of a
/ pistol, a heavy fall, soaths, and a deep
groan.i Shuddering, sped on through
the garden, up toward the eider-press,
over the stone wall, down the, hollow,
up the hillside, over the fields. Nosteps
followed; no voices shouted after me.
Iran down to the second bars and let
them down. 1t began to rain a few
great drops, then fast, then it poured.
1 I was wet to the skin. I ran on, for I
heard advancing wheels coiliing rapidly !;
+ | stood in theroad and cried tsFather!
father! -" The chaise stopped. Another
chaise stopped Also. 1t was our next
neighbor's, who lived a quarter OF "a
i mile, further on, .,t;es htsaasffses f,t FE5J.
{ gi'sAnn,. my my child, "a - Good heavens !,
What is the mattereA What has hap
prened a,,iin s3iiAjesa u2ts3 sif5 baiiijs
I told the whole in a few words, amid
eager rexelamaions of joy at my safety,
/. of surprise, even of anger, because
Thomas had left me Alone
! no. Ipnit blame him, father, I insisted
ON his going
I A hurried consultation took place.
My father was very brave. Our neigh
| Dor was very timid :, He proposed going
| on TO. his house and returning with
| weapons In the meantime, I had got
into the eliaise and crouched down al