The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-05-04

ii4N Ai1S hOIICs SlCh WI iu5AN dAIu AdIt
Of frightful oaths and threatenings.
They sat down On the garret stairs to
hold parley. A spider ran across my
face. II was with great effort that kept
from screaming.
Come croaked the Raven, "let Us
go and get the silver; that will be some-l
thing-that will be something
Course the silver. It's the gold I've
come for, and I'll burn the house if 1
don't find the girl. So let her look out"
A cold perspiration. Would they per
form 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. Well lie caugha here.
Be quick"
"And his wife?"
They spoke low, hideous words that
made my flesh creep. | 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. Itwas horrible there in the
dark. was sitting. Imoyed the panel
No light entered. slid it softly back.
Ny resolution was taken. / would get
out of the house, run down the road and
meet my father would save him. 1
left The gold i'll the closet, shutting it in
close. | stole down two steps into the
chamber below. | knew there was a
window open there. crept across the
70 IN, listening keenly. lifted myself
cautiously On the window ledge. and
branch of the cherry tree which grew
close to the house. Swinging myself
lightly out, ! hastily descended The trunk
of the tree, and found myself on the
ground, safe.
No. The tightening flash betrayed
me. The Ravens voice shrieked hoarse
ly.
There she goes! Catch her. Quick
This way
Out of the front door came the pur-
surers, hardly ten steps from me. l
dashed toward the thick shubbery, to
throw them off the track. Fortunately, |
| knew the way, every step Off They |
were guided slowly by the sound and
flashing light.
"Shoot her by the next flash cried |
one.
Ny flying feet struck loose boards |
was passing over an old, unused well,
very deep, and it gave back hollow,
resonant sound. Almost the next mo-
ment heard Il 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 fields. No steps
followed; no voices shouted after me.
ran down to tie second bars and let
them down. 1t began to rain i few
great drops, then fast, then it poured.
/ was wet TO the skin. / ran on, for l
heard advancing wheels coming rapidly; |
| stood in the road and cried: Father |
father" The chaise stopped. Another
chaise stopped also. 1t was our next
who lived a quarter of a mile |
further on.
"Ann, my child, Good heavens,
What is the mattvr? What hiss happen
ed?
/ told the whole in a words, amid |
eager exclamations of joy at my safety, |
Of surprise, even ofanger because Thorn
IS had left me alone
Don't blame him, father | insisted |
on his going"
A hurried consultation took place |
Ny father was very brave. Our neigh |
Dor was very timid. He proposed going /
on to his house and returning with |
weapons In the meantime / had got |
into the chaise and crouched down at
my mothers feet, who was half crying,
md wholly thankful to feel me there.
We rode on and came to our gates
under the willows. There we're lights in
the house, but all was still. Nothing
moved. My father put the reins in my
hands, and opened the other
gate that led up the lane.
will you go home with Nathan?"
;aid he.
"And leave you here? No"
Take your wife home, Nathan, if you
will, and come back"
ave will stay by you"
"Let us reconnoiter, then, little"
They got out, leaving us sitting still.
The rain fell less heavily. They got
that would do for weapons
rom the tool house. They went all
lround the house-all was quiet They
wen: in. We sat still, speaking few
words, my hand clasped in my mothers,
md my frame trembled with fright.
Thomas is coming" l exclaimed.
eagerly Il hear the wheels
We called to him as he came to the
gate, for he could not see us. He drove
through and called out:
What's the mattef?'
We told him sufficiently, and he left
Betsey and Hannah and went in at once,
With only the heavy whip. We did not
wait long. Nathan came out directly.
What have YOU found2 Who is
here?"
Nothing. Nobody"
Are they all gomez
sYes, with some of the silver and
few things We don't know what yet
The horses were put under the shed.
and we all went in. Father said calm
y:
We Will take lantern, Thomas, and
ook around out of doors little"
Iknew they would go to the old well.
Istood and looked out of the window
and saw the gleam of the lantern as it
moved. In a very few minutes they
came back.
"One of them is dead" said my ia
Their, and the other lies at the bottom ard