Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-19
at last understood that some one was at

at last understood that some one was at
work upon the lock Of the door.
| sat perfectly motionless, the blood
curdling in my veins, and still chip, chip,
chip, went the terrible little instrument
until at last I knew whence the sound
came.
Back Of the sitting room was grand
papa's study. There, in great, old
fashioned chest, we're stored the family
plate, grandma's jewelry, and sundry
sums OF money and valuable papers.
The safe itself stood in a closet recess,
and at the closet the thief was now at
work.
The theft -ah, without doubt, the
negro had fed and sheltered
Perhaps the next act would be to
murder me if listened. The storm was
still raging, but though the road was
lonely, better that than this house with
such horrible company could not save
my grandfather's property, but 1 could
save my own life.
crept across the room and into the
hall, and to the door. There, softly as I
could, unfastaned the bars and bolts,
but, alas! one was above my reach. I
waited and listened. Then I moved
hall chair to the spot, and climbed upon
it. In doing so, struck nv shoulder
against the door frame.
1t was slight noise, but at that mo-
ment the chip Of the chisel stopped. I
heard a gliding foot. and, horror of hor-
rors; man came in from the study,
sprung toward me, and clutched me with
both hands, holding my arms as in vice
while he Kissed in my ear: ''You'd tell,
would you? You'd call help? You might
tier have slept, you had; for you see,
you've got to pay up for waking. I'd
rather have let chick like you off; but
you know me now, and I can't let you
live
| stared in his face with horror,
mingled with an awful surprise; for now
that it was close to me saw, not the ne
gro, but our own hired man, Anthony
Anthony whom l supposed to be miles
away with Hannah. He was little more
than youth, and I had given him many
present, and had always treated him
we'll.
pleaded with him kindly. "Anthony,
| never did you any harm. am young
am a girl. Don't kill me, Anthony
Take the money; don't kill me, for poor
grandma's sake.''
you'll tell on me- said Anthrny, dog.
gedly; ''likely I'd be caught. No, I have
got to kill you :"
As he spoke he took his hands from nv
shoulders, and clutched my throat fierce
ly.
[ had time to utter one sufocating
shrek, and then l was struggling, dying,
with sparks in my eyes, and sound of
roaring water in nv ears, and then--what
had sprung upon my assassin. with the
swift silence Of leopard? What had
clutched me from behind, and stood over
him with something glittering above his
heart? The mist cleared away the blur
red mist that had gathered over my eyes;
as sight returned saw the negro with
his foot upon Anthony's breast.
The fugitive whom had housed and
fed had saved my life.
len minutes a1ter--ten minutes in
which, but for that poor slaves presence,
| would have been hurried out OF life
the rattle of wheels and the tardy feet of
old Ajax were heard without, and my
grandparents were with lne.
1t is needless to say that we were not
ungratetul to our preserver; needless, al
so, to tell Anthony's punishment.
1t came out during his trial that he
had long contemplated the robbery; that,
the absence of my grandparents appear
ing to afford an opportunity, he had de-
coyed Hannah away with lie, and hid
in the study. He knew nothing of the
Negroes presence in the house. and, being
naturally superstitcious, had actually
fancied any protector feature from the
other world, and submitted without a
struggle.
Long ago-so we heard-the slave,
slave no longer, met his wife and chill
dren beyond danger; and nowthat the
bonds are broken for all in this free land,
doubtless his fears are over, and he sits
beside his humble Canada hearth when
evcntide comes.