Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-06-05

placed the lamp upon my bureau.
shaded it, and returned and closed the
door. Then l drew my easy chair to
the middle of the room, put on my Slip
pers, and sat down for few minutes
before retiring. And Immediately l
became yexed at myself to find that |
was looking at the drawer that held the
money, and that 1 was feeling i'm my
pocket to see that the key was safe. L
feit no alarm; had almost cured nv
sell OF my uneasiness; but il seemed as
If that money, and the danger of its
custody, would obtrude upon me. In
the impatienee of the moment turned
my chair half around, and looked to-
wards the opposite wall. The shade
that placed over the lamp confined its
rays within small circle, beyond
which the bed, the furniture, the car
pet, and the wall paper were obscure.
In the corner to the right of the door
was an antique, high-backed chair, a
favorite bit of furniture. As | turned
my own chair from the bureau, my eyes
rested on this object, and l saw by the
same glance that a human figure was
sitting in it.
| L could not at first make out whether
it was man or a woman; | only became
conscious, as sat in bewildering, dumb
terror, that | was confronted by a
stranger there in the semi-darkness-by
some one who had hidden in the room
for some object, and what that object
was L well knew. A person who has
never been placed in such terrifying
situation cannot describe the sickening
feeling which for a moment takes pos
session of the heart, and | can only say
for myself that l sat motionless for
time-l knew not how long-thinking
of my helpless situation. There | was
locked up in room alone with a ruff
fian, waiting, trembling, and expecting
to hear him speak, or become the object
of some violence. For although, as |
have said, | could not distinguish
whether it was a man or woman, vet l
| did not doubt that it was the former,
and one of the most desperate of his
kind. And presently as my eyes fell
to the floor, | saw a great pair of boots
thrust out upon the carpet within the
radius of the light.
| do not know how long we sat there
in the semi-darkness of the room, IA
cling each other, but motionless and ST.
lent: it might have been three minutes
or thirty. The thought of alarming
Emily suddenly occurred to me, and |
reached out for the bell-cord. 1t should
have been within easy reach of the spot
where | sat; but my hand failed to find
| it.
4 low chuckle came from the occu-
pant of the old chair.
THAT was a clever thought of you,
missus," came forth in a deep, rough
voice, and in a tone of easy insolence.
''cleyer thought, marin; but bless your
simple soul, do you think | was going
to leave that ere cord there for you to
make noise with? Not by any 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 crawl
ed out and took survey of the place"
My strength was returning; | be-
came reassured as | saw that the man
intended no violence TO myself.
''What do you want?'' asked.
Snow that's good; you're 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 as he spoke,
and crossed the room to the bureau,
brushed the skirt of my dress. | shud-
dered and drew my chair back; could
not help betraying my fear.
"Be quiet, marm," he said. 81 don't
mean to hurt you if | can help it. Keep
still and / 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 the lamp. He was large,
brawny fellow, full six feet high, and
dressed in an old suit of fustian clothes.
His face was entirely concealed by a
Grape mask; not a feature of it could |
see. from his neck TO the crown of his
head. He leaned one arm upon the bu-
reau, and regarded me attentively
"You don't know me-" he remarked,
in an ordinary tone. "No, of course
not; it's best for you that you should
not. / thought at first there was some
thing familiar in your face; but | fancy
[ was mistaken. Well, to business,
marm."
And he assumed sharp tone, and
looked carefully at the bureau. I've
got pistol here, misses"-and he slap
ped his pocket; ''but you're too sensi-
BILE woman, | take it, 10 make me use
it on you. | want that money. There's
$500 in that drawer; you have the key
give it to me-"
/ handed it TO him without a word.
"I'll leave you now in a minute, mis-
sus," he said, rapidly inserting the
key, turning it, and opening the draw
er, "with many thanks for your good
| behaviour. Is this ~
He took out the package and held it
up.
"That is the money" | said
"She might deceive me, after all, Fl"
heard him mutter; and thrusting his
forefinger into the end of the envelope,
he ripped it open, and pulled the end
of the notes out into sight. ''Yes, 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 was acquaint-
ed with, he bent over and scrutinized
it, holding it closer to the lamp. How
did wish that | could see the express
sion of his face at that moment. He
held in his hand an ivory miniature of