South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-05-24

did not undress, bu: lay on the bed. I
was too anxious to be able to sleep. and
was frightened Mt the least noise. I
nearly screamed once when q cinder
Tell out Of the fire. and every moment
fancied heard footsteps. got up
and walked about the room, aud stirred
the fire TO make blaze, as the candle
had burned down.
Presently Rory gave low growl and
raised his head as il to listen. Then he
growled again. That frightened me
very much. for knew that he must
have heard some one; so / listened in.
tently.
Yes; I did hear footsteps-it was no
fancy this time Quite distinctly 1
heard them on the gravel outside. In
the greatest terror went and called
the servants. told them TO dress as
fast as they could. We then went 10
the bedroom next mine. the shutters of
which we're not fastened. pceped out,
and as well as the darkness would per.
init, l saw six or eight men trying the
windows Of the lower rooms, and also
the hall door.
LET US pray to heaven to help u.s."
l said. "rEey arc come for the money !;
they must know it is here. 1t will take
them sometime, however, to break in,
for they cannot easily cut through the
iron shutters
just then there was a crash of glass.
Rory tried TO rush down stairs, but l
held him back, not wishing the robbers
to know that we hoard them.
How stupid of me not to think of
Rory before. Ellen,'' 1 said.
As quickly as / could got sheet of
paper and pencil, and wrote to William
telling him the robbers we're trying to
break into the house, and asking him
TO come back without any delay, and
bring sufficient guard of police to
take them. tied this around Rory's
neck, and having ascertained that there
was no one as yet at the back of the
house, l opened the door leading into
the garden. and sent the faithful dog to
find his master, praying fervently that
he might be successful. The wall at
the end of the shrubbery was low e.
nough in one place to jump over it, and
was his usual way Of coming and going.
But what If any one were in the garden
on his returnY l could only hope for
the best.
l returned TO the room where the two
servants were. We had no light and
SO could not he seen from the outside.
| softly raised the window few inches
so that we could hear what the men
were saying. They seemed to be dread.
fully disappointed at not having effect.
ed an entrance.
eff we don't be quick ABBOTT it now,
Bill, the master will have fouEd out by
this time that the story Of the fire was
all sham, and he'll be here in q jiffy."
Here was a revelationl No fire 1t
was all plan of theirs to get William
out Of the way, knowing there would
only be women in the house then For
Of course they knew that the coachman
and his son were at the wake"
Finding they could not get in through
any OF the front windows, to my horror
l heard them say they would try the
back.
Then my poor dog is lost p / said.
With brcathless anxiety we watched
and listened. At last. having no. bet.
ter success with the back windows than
the others, to our great relief we heard
them leave the garden, anl as they did
not come round in front very quickly,
we fancied they were having consul
tation as to what they would do next.
All this time | WAS in the greatest ag-
ony of mind. for. unless something hail
happened to Rory, he ought TO have been
back. l went down to the garden door,
to be ready to let him in when he came.
| strained my ears to- listen. but there
was not a sound of any kind. The
robbers were not in the garden-that
was one comfort.
heard something soon, however. It
came nearer-nearer still All, then L
knew what it was, and with thank ful
heart I opened the door. Rory dear,
faithful Rory, was back again, painting
after his long journey.
Had he brought me an answer? Yes
he had note for me. tried to read
It but could not see. my eyes were so
full of tears. and my hand shook so
At length was able TO make out these
words
my own darling. Have courage a
little longer. will be back immedi.
ateIy with help"
knew nothing moro, was com.
plete ~ overcome at last. / had tainted.
When | recovered I found William
standing by rue, holding my hand in his.
1t was some time before 1 could remem.
her all that happened however as soon
as | was able to attend to him, he told
me when he arrived at the office and
saw no sign Of fire anywhere, he thought
it very strange.
IL feared all was not right" he said,
land determined TO ride home as fast az
possible. / was about two miles on my
way when met Rory. Captain knew
him at once, and stopped Of his own
accord. I wondered why the dog should
be out at that hour and tried if he had
note. Finding that he had, lit n
match and read the message. I wrote
an answer on the back, tied it around
his neck, and sent him home. / then
galloped as fast as could to the police
station, and brought n number Of men
with me. AS soon IA the robbers saw