, 1877-01-12

Ny doubts o this score were soon put
to rest by the man roughly shaking me
anil telling me to get up. for they had =
grrat deal to do, and wanted my assist
ancc.
THE gals n staring like a stuck pig. I"
said he Now look you here, my lass.
II you'll inst bs quiet and do as you're
told, You II get no hurt; but IL you OFT,
why. it'll be the worse for you, tlat's
all"
And the evil look that came into his
eyes as he spoke left me in no doubt on
that heal. made a determined strug-
gle 10 be brave and composed. knowing
that that wns my only possible chance Of
escaping or raising an alarm.
II you will leave the room while /
dress" said, II will give you every
thing Of value that possess.
The man laughed coarsely, and said:
mot for Joe. I'm not quite 30 green
as that and as for giri"g us your traps,
it strikes me, we're in fair way Of tax
ing them without asking your permis-
sion;" and he pointed to his three COM
rades who were busily engaged in ran
sacking my drawers and boxes. m
thank you for your keys, though, all the
same-it saves time"
Perceiving there was no help for it. 1
threw on my dressing gown and attempt
ed to rise. Just then the thought of
Helen, dear Helen, lying unsuspecting-
ly in her bed, probably to be murdered
in cold blood (of couase thought she
would be murdered), by these rufisns,
and unable to give her warning. came
upon me. fell back, and, suppose,
lost my senses for a moment or two, for
1 was brought to myself by the contents
of the water jug being dashed over me
In no gentle manner.
"Give us the brandy, JIM" said the
man who had seized me, and whom the
others addressed as captain.
He forced me to swallow q small guam
tity, for which 1 was very thankful after
ward, for it relieved me thoroughly and
restored my presence of mind, and I in
vardly breathed a prayer that might
yet, by some means, be enabled to out
wit the burglars, and give warning to the
household, while pretending to submit
to their demands. Alas how hopeless
it seemed. But my courage and spirit
Of opposition were now aroused through
sheer despair, and quickly revolyed in
my mind all the plans for escape that ]
could possibly think of. If only I could
reach the alarm bell, few peals OF
which, 1 we'll knew, would be sufficient
to alarm the whole neighborhood. But,
of course, anv attempt to leave my room
would be utter madness, so must wait
till they left me las 1 hoped they would J
shut up in my room while they were fin
ishing their pillage; then 1 might be
able to force the lock, or something.
All that / have related took place in 9
very few minutes, and thought Of the
plans for escape in the few seconds
took to recover my senses. 1t is strange
how much can pass through ones mind
in the briefest period, while the same
thoughts would take aconsiderable time
to utter.
Isoon found that they had no intention
of leaving me in my room.
Now, my dear, " said the " captain,
"are there any more little articles thai
4 you think we'd' like? We've got all
Well, 1 think we have and now you're
wanted down stairs, to show us whert
the captain keeps his valuables.
"I don't know any thing about them
and 1 should not tellyou if 1 did" Ire
piled, lyinI stoutly in Q good cause, fol
/ / was quite overwhelmed at the turn af
fairs had taken. It was bitter trial Il
lose all my own valuable jewelry and
pretty trinkets, many of which were
keepsakes that 1 would not.have parted
with for any thing in the world but
when it came to betraying Captain Har
graves secret, I felt would sooner die
"Well, we'Il soon see whether yor
know or not" returned the man. "Let't
see how you like taste of scragging.'
And suiting the action to the word, be
seized me by the throat and tightened
his hold till was almost suhocated. Ny
head swan I felt I was getting blscl
in the face should be dead in another
minute. Oh, would help never come
Was my young life to be strangled ouI
of me By midnight ass,Issins? I who
had not done any thing to merit it-and
assuredly should have died il the bur
glar had kept his hold for few more
seconds but he relaxed his grasp, ask
ing me If I were "inclined to tell now.
Reader, if you have ever been choked
by burglar, within an inch Of your life,
in lonely room at midnight, without
the faintest hope Of q timely rescue, you
will have compassion upon me for gasp
! ing oat that l would tell them all ]
knew, if they would spare my life.
at said she'd come to. when I put the
choker on" said the man, brutally; land
now, my lads, if you're ready, we'll
march-there's not much time to spare.
Come, young woman. Stop, though
you first swear on your Bible oath, to
tell us all you know of in the way Of
plate, and all that, and where the Cap
tain's safe is, and not to kick up any
L.. Al. l,1olr 81 IL