River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-31

A low chuckle came from the occupant
of the Old chair.
"That was a clever thought of yours,
missus," came forth, in a deep, rough
voice, and in clever tone of insolence.
| "Clever thought, marin; but bless your
SIMPLE soul, do you think I was going to
leave that ere cord there for you to make
noise withl Not by no means. It's well
to be careful when you're in this kind of
business, marm, and when you left me
alone here before-I then being under the
bed, you see--I crawled out and took
survey OF the place.
| My strength was returning. became
treasured, as saw the man intended no
violence to myself
'What do you want?" | asked.
He chuckled againsand replied:
Now that's good; you're a business
woman, marin you come right to the point
without any nonsense. I'm going TO tell
you what want"
He rose from the chair ashe spoke, and
| crossed the room to the bureau, passing
so close TO me tkat his boots brushed the
skirt of my dress. | shuddered and
drew my char back--I could not help
betraJing my fear.
''Be quiet, marm,n he said Il don't
mean to hurt you, if / can helpit. Keep
still, and l won't. Let's have look at
each other.
He removed the shade, and looked at
me for full half minute, as / sat in the
glare of tine lamp. He was a large,
brawny fellow, full six feet high, and
dressed in an old suit of fustian clothes.
His face was entirely concealed by Grape
mask not feature of it could see, from
his neck to the crown of his head. He
leaned one arm upon the bureau, and re-
garded ME attentively.
"You don't know me-" he remarked, in
an ordinary tone. mo, of course not;
it's best for you that you shouldn't. |
thought at first there was something ia
miliar in your face; but | fancy | was
mistaken. Well, to business, marm."
And he assumed a sharp tone, and looked
carefully at the bureau. I've got pis-
tOl here, misSus" and he slapped his
pocket; "but you're too sensible woman,
| take it, to make me use it on you.
want that money. ''There's five hundred
pound Of it in this drawer you have the
key-giye it to me-"
| handed it to him without word
he said rapidly inserting the key, turn
ing it, and opening the drawer, with
many thanks for your good behavior. Is
this it,
He took out the package, and held it
up.
''That is the money!" | said.
''She might deceive me, alter ALL |
heard him mutter; and thrusting his fore
finger into the end of the envelop, he
ripped it open, and pulled the end of the
notes out into sight. Eyes, here it is.
Now
He had thrust the package into his
pocket, and was about to close the drawer,
when his eye was caught by something
within it. He started, thrust his hand into
the drawer, and, taking out an object that l
was we'll acquainted with, he bent over
and scrutinized ii, holding it close to the
lamp. How did wish that could see
the expression of his face at that moment
He held in his hand an ivory miniature
of my husbands face, faithful picture.
made by an artist years before, at my re-
quest,
"Whose face is this2r the robber de-
manded, in a voice that trembled with
eagerness.
My husbands" | replied.
"Your husbands. Yes, yes-but his
name!'
"Eliah Croly."
Captain Croly?" he demanded, in the
same tore.
Yes"
The same who commanded the barque
Calvert, that used to run out of Liver
pocl?"
/ nodded my head. l knew that the
the vessel named was the last one that my
husband had sailed on the ocean before
he bought his own coaster; in fact it
was the same in which l came to Eng
land.
And this is Captain Croly's money?
this is his house?-you are his wife?"
he asked rapidly, giving me no time to
| answer his questions. "Yes, yes-1 seeit
all. Great God to think what | was
just about TO do"
| He dropped into the nearest chair, APP
parently faint with emotion; but while l
sat in deep surprise, at the unexpected
turn that this affair had taken, he said:
You have no reason to fear now; | will
not rob you; / will not harm you.
! Only don't make a noise. Please
open the door, and you will find Jane
| your woman, mean-waiting in the pas
sage
| obeyed; did not know what else to
do. 1 unlocked and opened the door,
and there. to my establishment, stood
| Emily Sands arrayed in her bonnet and
shawl, with bundle in her hand-wait-
ing, | have no doubt, for signal from
within. She started upon seeing me,
but the man Immediately called to her
| by The name of Jane. telling her to come
in.
She passed by me as she did so, and l
whispered;
oh, Emily, how could you betray
me?"
She manifested no shame or sorrow,
though / know she must have heard the
whispered words; her face was hard and
unwomanly, and its expression was sui
len. And | could not doubt that she
had played the spy upon my husband
and myself, and had betrayed us to this
man.
1--WE a very few words to say to you,
ma'am," said the man; and all the bold
ness and insoience had gone out of his
voice, leaving it gentle and sorrowful.
Just few words TO ask you to forgive
us for what we meant to DC, and to tell
you what has happened to change my
mind SO suddenly, and why we can't rob
| you, as we meant to do
lie took the package from his pocket
with the words, and tossed it in to my lap.
That money belongs to the man that
/ love and honor more than any other on
earth. I'm hard customer, ma'am, we
live by dark ways and doings, Jane and
1 and ] wouldn't have believed when
she let me in here to-day and hid me,
that could leave the house without that
money: but if I'd known whom it be-
| longed to, I'd sooner have held out my
right hand to be cut off than come here IS
] | have. and for what ! came. | used to