The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-04-19


panel carefully into its place. 1 felt
cautiously to see if all was safe. l
pulled my dress close about me lest it
might be caught, and the door not
closed tightly. Then I waited. Il
heard steps coming up the stairs. l
heard a search through all the rooms
below. My heart beat till thought
that evory bound must be audible,
heard voices-one voice, the Ravens.
l knew that harsh crOak. It told me
nothing. The face had revealed all to
me. The man must have learned in
some unaccountable way of the bag of
gold, and learned, too, when here in
the morning, that was to be alone.
It was all plain to me now. He had re-
turned and had brought accomplices.
My peril was terribly imminent. Very
soon the steps and voices came my
way. could distinguish plainly the
words that were spoken:
"Drat her she must have seen
you.''
with this AK
I knew the AK was in the little porch.
Thomas had set it in when he had done
chopping the brush, as it looked like
rain.
I heard the steps and voices move
away, dull crashing sound and then
stiftled, angry tones. I knew that they
had opened the box, and found nothing
but the papers. l knew they would
now search for me. heard them as
they looked into every room and closet,
and came up the stairs separate. They
met at the foot Of the garrett stairs.
A thick board was between us. /
thanked God that the panel was close
shut. knew it, for no ray Of light
came through.
"She must be up here,' said the Ra-
ven, land We'll soon have her,
"1'll warrant she is here, and I'll
wiring her neck If she makes noise
about it.
But the thorough search was over,
and the voices grew very angry and
full of frightful oaths and threatenings.
They sat down on the garrett stairs to
hold parley. A spider ran across my
face. A spider puts me in mortal fear.
1t was with great effort that I kept
from screaming.
"Come," croaked the Raven. "let us
go and get the silver: that will be
Something"
course the silver. It's gold I've
come for, and I'll burn the house If I
don't find the girl! So let her look
out?"
A cold perspiration. Would they
perform their threat!
"Good! then the rats will squeak.
Down drop the money bags, and We'll
choke the girl to make her dumb"
''Hold your noise. The old man will
be coming home. Wen be caught here.
Be quick"
"Who cares for him? He's only one;
a bludgeon will give him a handy
headache ashe comes in
"And his wife!"
They spoke low. hideous words that
made my flesh creep. I almost was
ready to call aloud to open the panel,
to give them the gold, and bid them
go. They got up and the steps and
voices went down. It was horrible
there in the dark. was stiftltng.
moved the panel slightly. No light
entered. I slid it softly back. My
resolution was taken. Iwould get out
of the house, run down the road and
meet my father. I would save him.
left the gold in the closet, shutting
it in close. stole. down two steps in.
to the chamber below. I knew there
was window open there. l lifted
myself cautiously on the window ledge
and caught branch of cherry.treee
which grew close to the house. Swing
ing myself lightly out, hastily de-
scended the trunk of the tree, and
found myself on the ground, safe.
No. The lightning flash betrayed
me. The Ravens voice shrieked
hoarsely:
"There she goes !! Catch her Quick
This way!''
Out at the front gate came the pur.
suers, hardly ten steps from me.
dashed toward the thick shrubbrry to
throw them off the track. Fortunate.
ly knew the way, every step of it.
They were guided slowly by the sound
and flashing light.
"Shoot her by the next flash - cried
one.
My flying feet struck loose boards.
I was passing directly over an old,
unused we'll, very deep, and it gave
back hollow, resonant sound. AL.
most the next moment heard a crash,
the report of a pistol, heavy fall,
oaths, and deep groan. Shuddering,
I sped on through the garden, up to.
ward the cider-press, over the stone
wall. down the hollow, up the hillside,
over the fields. No steps followed no
voices shouted after me. ran down
to second bars and let them down. 1t
began to rain few great drops, then
fast, then it poured. was wet to the
skin. l ran on, for heard advancing
wheels coming rapidly I stood in the
road and cried: "Father father -
The chaise stopped. Another chaise
stopped also. 1t was our next neigh.
boris, who lived a quarter of mile
further on.
lam, my child. Good heavens
What Is the matter? What has hap
pened!"
/ told the whole in a few words
amid eager EXPLANATIONS of Joy at my
safety, of surprise, even Of anger, be-
cause Thomas had left me alone.
"Don't blame him, father insisted
on his going"
A hurried consultation took place
My father was very brave. Our neigh
Dor was very timid. He proposed 20
ing on to his house and returning witt