Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-20

AIN going 10 count my uoHty
After Carrie had done so. he drew out a
money belt, heavy with bills, and proceeded
to count them. While doing SO, Carries
eyes involuntarily wandered again to the
bust, when, to her horror and astonishment,
in place of the empty spaces, she saw two
glittering eyes, greedily watching every
movement OF her father.
The young girl could scarcely repress q
scream; but, controlling herself, looked to-
ward the fire, while her father went ON count
ing large roll of bills.
II must have been mistaken" thought the
fair girl "What should make me have such
a strange fancy, thought" she continued
glancing again at the bust.
The eyes were still there-two burning
savage eyes, that frightened as Mr.. Spencer
| went on counting.
'.Good heavens :" thought Carrie, "what
shall we do. Wo are evidently in a den Of
| thieves, and will be murdered for my poor
fathers money"
How to communicate their danger to her
father without those terrible eyes noticing it,
Carrie could not think. Suddenly q bright
| idea came to her.
Father" she said aloud: "let me take
card and pencil. | wish TO mako a memo
randum of some items l want to purchase in
| the village"
| htT ldlutE Hhuutu luelu 10 ueI, hiltT
slowing away his belt. Carrie wrote tremb
lingly in fine hand:
Father, do not be frightened; we are in a
trap. Go in the opposite corner of the room,
where your face will be in the dark, and look
at the bust above the door. In it you will
sec two glittering eyes that have watched you
count your money"
'Read it. she said aloud, handing the
card to her father. Il want to see if you
| think | am too extravagant.'
Her father betrayed no emotion while he
read, but said:
You are pretty extravagant, Carrie. /
suppose you think your father is made OF
money" And he rose and went to the wash
stand. which was in dark corner.
Once there he glanced back toward the
bust, and that glance confirmed his daugh-
| ter's extraordinary statement. When he
| came back to his seat Carrie saw that the
eyes were gone. Then, leaning toward her
father she said in q low tone:
'You see it is as l said. l have thought
of plan, however, by which We can both
escape. You would be perfectly helpless in
an atfray of any kind on account of your
lame leg, so must try to save us both"
Then followed whispered consultation,
during which Carrie kept her eyes fixed on
the bust; but the glittering orbs had not
come back. As she concluded, Carrie went
to the window, threw it up, and looked out.
Reckoning to her father, who came, she said,
or rather whispered:
"You see this shed, father? Well, they
will probably come up on it and get in
through the window. l do not think they
will make the attack before ~, so l will get
out of this window, jump from the shed, go
to the barn and take our horse, and so to
S. for help"
Flinging wrap over her slight figure, she
embraced her father tenderly, and bidding
him not to worry over her. she jumped light
ly out on the shed and disappeared.
Mr.. Spencer watched her for little while,
| then closing the window, took out watch,
saw that it was o'clock and proceeded to
work. He first covered up the fire, blew out
the light and rolled up blanket. with which
he made dummy. This he placed in the
bed which his daughter was TO occupy Then
he sat down and waited-oh, how anxious
lyi
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes went by,
and no sound came from the vicinity of the
barn. Taking of his boots, he crept noise
lessly TO the window and peered out. but
could see nothing. Then creeping to the
washstand he laid his money-belt in the
drawer and closed it. He then threw him
self on tine bed and once more waited.
After an hour had apparently gone by, Mr..
Spencer threw off his coat and vest, tumbled
up the bed. hobbled to the door, unlocked it,
and stepped out into the hall. This WAS oil
in accordance with Carries plan.
Landlord landlordI' he shouted
He then went back into the room and
noiselessly threw up the window, all the time
shouting for the landlord.
That worthy came flying up the stairs, and
late as it was he was still dressed.
"Oh, landlord" gasped Mr.. Spencer, rush
ing toward him. 81 have been robbed my
money is all goner'
"GoneI echoed the landlord in dismay
"Who could have stolen it." groaned Mr..
| Spencer. al had s., 900 in belt, and it is
gone stolen"
The landlord lit the candle and looked
around. chagrin depicted on every feature.
"Why don't you wake your daughter, sir? "
he questioned.I
Mr.. Spencer hurried to the bed.
Carrie, Carrie!" he called, but no answer
came; and the landlord drawing near with
the light, saw the dummy. and cried:
why man, the girl isn't there"
"What" gasped Mr.. Spencer. "Oh, see
il all! The wicked girl has robbed me while
slept. and run off to meet her lover, from
whom | was taking her"
lie ran to the window followed by tho
landlord.
'Yes, yes here are footprints in the snow
on the shedr' cried the landlord, while Mr..
Spencer groaned aloud. "How long do you
think she has been gone. sir?' asked the
| landlord.
"For an hour or more, the deceitful Jade
replied Mr.. Spencer.
Then there's no uge 10 look for her, sir
said the landlord.
lpt I
he began to descend the stairway, followed
by the landlord, who had believed every
word Mr.. Spencer said.
They proceeded to the barn. followed by
the landlords confederates. They found the
horse gone, and her mode ofilight WAS easily
explained
''You may as well give her up, sir" said
the landlord consOlingly
al suppose may" groaned Mr.. Spencer,
and they returned TO the house.
| As they left the barn he heard the landlord
whisper to one OF his confederates.
"1he Jobs up, Jem-we'd better let the
old man alone"
| Once more entering the room. Mr.. Spencer
threw himself upon the bed, and awaited the
return of his brave daughter.
God bless her and bring her back in safe
| ty," he murmured.
Meanwhile all grew still and the hours
rolled by. The fire had been raked up and
cracked on merrily. The eyes were not
| looking from the bust, they had evidently
disappeared for the night.
At last. after what seemed an age to the
anxious father. he heard loud knock on the
front entrance, and five minutes afterwards
hc heard the landlord stumble to the door.
Then followed confused jumble Of curses
and struggles. then rush Of many feet up
| Al L. I.sta
The next minute the door was thrown open
and his daughter rushed i'll, followed by the
officers who dragged in the landlord and
his coniederates.
"Oh, father" she cried, "yOu are safe,
safe" and throwing her arms around his
neck, the brave girl burst into happy tears.
The sheriff and his posse Of men held the
| landlord and his confederates i'll II vice-lIke
grasp while Carrie related the adventures OF
her perilous ride.
After left the barn | led Tommy to
fence all unsaddled, sprung on him. wound
my arms tightly around his neck. and whis-
pered Go Tommy and away he went like
the wind. Up and down over the frozen road
he went My arms felt like ice. thought
| | should certainly freeze, and after what
seemed to me an age Of cold and pain and
misery we dashed into the main street of
| s.. As we came up in front of the tavern
| the stage drove up, and the inmates sprang