The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-11-09
voice What did tbey want I

heard voice What did they want
The money --oh, the money left in my
charge! Somebody was stealing it, and
what should / say to Mr.. Sayrel My
God, 1 might be accused of taking it
myself, and thus lose honor and posi-
tion
Rather lose life 7 / said to myself.
4 will defend that money unto death 7
and | looked about for some weapon
"Under the stove was large iron
poker. Seizing it carefully, ] started
slowly toward the office door. The
light fell upon the mirror, rejecting my
figure, and I've often thought since,
with sick feeling of horror, what
picture of desperation | was, clad in my
flowing, white night dress, my hair all
unbound, my face white as marble, and
eyesdilated and glittering with a strange,
steely light.
"'God aid me-. l said, with white
| lips; and then opening the door of the
office, stole softly in. A man with
his back toward me was at the otherend
of the ROOM He had forced open the
drawer, taken out the money, and was
looking gloatingly at the crisp green
bills, when | stole behind him. had
| just raised the poker to strike him when
he glanced around.
"My God 1t was Clarence Devar
ges
s'Hang it! Now Il suppose I'll have
to kill this pretty He seized me by
the throat and, uttering a faint cry, |
sank down. Just then Jack, my own
! Jack, rushed in. | heard oaths, blows,
fierce struggling all was dark.
''For the first time in my life |
tainted.
''When | recovered Jacks face was
bending over me, and Jacks voice ut
tered loving words | put my arm
about his neck and cried like weak
baby.
"'Arn't you hurt, Jack 2
Not bit, dearest. Devages is dis
abled, though, with pistol wound in
his leg. Tisn't very severe, but it will
prevent his escape.
But how came you here T
"'Why, you see, when we parted this
morning, Nell, [ thought I'd never see
you again. but tonight after ] came
home. I made up my mind to come
around and try and make up 1t was
pretty late, between nine and ten, when
L came, and who should see prowling
around but Devarges Thinks l, What
does he wantP If he's coming a-court-
ing, why don't he 60 in instead of peep
ing in at the window
81 rather thought he was scamp,
because when / was In the city yester-
day, the Chief of Police told me that
they had reason to think that noted
gambler and black black leg had come
lup in these parts. He gave descrip-
tion, and it suited Devarges perfectly, all
except "a mustache. And, by the way,
Nell, that silky mustache you so admir-
ed, was false and fell off in our scuffie.
/ "'Well, as / said, l saw Devarges
prowling about, and | thought I'd see
what he was up to. He looked IN at
the window at you, and | heard him
mutter, The deuce take it She is at
home, after all What the deuce made
her say she was going to her grand
mother'sl Now | suppose Eli have to
wait till my pretty birds asleep.
so he sat down under one tree and
sat down under the other. We both
saw you when you opened the door and
looked out After you had been in bed
about an hour, Devarges forced open
the sitting-room window and crawled
in While he was in the office lighting
the lamp, I also got in at the window
and concealed myself in the closet, and
well, you know all the rest
Jack, said |, tearfully, you'll for
give me for being naughty and way
ward, and you'll believe me when I say
that / loved you all the time, won
you Z"
"Well, Jack said he would, and we
I have been happy ever since. And this
is my story, ma 'am-my only romance.