The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-02-09

porch, Thomas had set it in when he
had done cliopping tie brush, as it
looked like rain.
heard the steps and voices move
away, dull, crashing sound, and then
stified angry tones. knew they had
opened the box, and found nothing. bat
papers. knew they would now search
tor 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. < thick board
was between us. / thanked God that
the panel was close shut. I knew it,
for no ray of light came through.
''She must be up here said the Ra-
ven, sand Wen soon have herr
But the thorough search was ended,
and the voices grew very angry and
full OF frighttnl oaths and threateninos.
|, They sat down on the garnet stairs to
7 hold parley. a spider ran across my
! face. y spider puts me in mortal fear
1t was with great effort that I kept
from screaming.
"Come," croaked the raven, ''let rs
go and get the silver; that will be
something.
"Curse the silver It's the gold I've
como for, and I'll burn the house if I
don't find the girl! So let her look
out 20
i A cold perpiration came on my fore
head. Would they perform their
threat?
! "Goodi Then the rats will squeak,
Down drop the money bags" and we'll
choke tile girl to make her dumb"
"IIold your noise. The old man will
be coming home. We'Il be caught
here. Be quick
"Who cares for him? He's only
one. A blndgeon will give him a handy
little headache as he comes in.''
"And his wife ?''
They spoke low, hideous words that
made my flesh creep. l was almost
ready to call aloud, to open the panel,
to give tltem the gold and bid them 60.
They got up, and the steps ard
voices went down. 1t was horrible
sitting.
I moved the panel slightly; no light
entered. / sid it back softly. My res
olution was taken.
| would get out of the house, run
down the road and meet my father. I
would save him.
I left tic gold in the closet, shutting
it in close.
/ stole down two steps into the cham
Der below. knew there was window
there. | crept across the room, listen.
ing keenIy
lifted myself cautiously on the
window-ledge, and caught branch OF
the cherry tree which grew close to the
house.
Swinging myself out 1 hastily de-
scended tie trunk of the tree, and found
myself on the gronod in safety.
No. The lightning flash betrayed
ne.
The Ravens voice shrieked hoarsclv,
@'rhere she goes. Catch her! Quick !
| This way ~
/ Out at the front door came the pur-
suerS, hardly more than ten steps be-
bind me.
/ ! dashed toward the thick shrnbbery
! to put them off the track.
Fortunately knew the way-every
step OF it.
] They were cuided solely by the
3 Hot4tts anu iIStSItlil9 fiSSill-
/ s'Shoot her by the next flash 20 cried
the Ravon.
My flying Ieet struck some loose
! boards.
l was passing directly over an old,
/ unused well, very deep and gave back
! hollow. resonant sound.
Almost the next moment I heard a
crash, the report of a pistol, a heavy
fall, oaths and deep groan.
Shuddering, sped on through the
garden, up toward the cider press, over
the stone wall, down the hollow, up
The hillside, over the field.
No steps followed no voices shouted
after me-
I ran down to the bars, and let them
down.
1t began to rain a few great drops,
then fast, then it poured. l was wet
to the skin.
ran on, for I heard advancing
wheels coming rapidly. / stood in the
road and cried S'Father father n'
The chaise stopped. Another chaise
behind stopped also.
1t was our next neIghhor's, who lived
a quarter of mile further on.
Sam, my child. Good heavens
What Is the matter? What has hap
pened ?"
/ told the whole in a few words
amid eager exclamations of joy at my
safety, of surprise, even of anger because
Thomas had left me alone.
sDon't blame him, father / insisted
on bis going"
A hurried consultation took place.
i My father was very brave. Our
neighbor was very timid. He proposed
going on to his house and returning
with weapons.
In the meantime I had got into the
! chaise and crouched down at my moth
er's feet, who was half crying, and
wholly glad to have me there.
We rode on, and came to our gate
under the willows. There were lightl
in the house. but all seemed still
!, Nothing moved My father put tn,
, reins in my mothers hands and opened