American citizen., 1879-02-08


"a thrill of terror passed over me.
Who had done thisP Was there some
one in the housep
s'I half arose and gazed about me.
All was dark, except little ray of light
falling through the partially closed
doors
'I silently arose, and just then al
most screamed in fear when a sudden
sound smote upon my year. 1t was
only the clock striking the hour of mid
night 1 placed my hand upon my
heart to sooth its fierce tbrobs.
"Stepping along, carefully avoiding
all obstacles, reached the door, open
ed it, and glanced into the sitting-room.
No one was there, but some one was in
the ticket-office, for saw a light and
heard voice! What did they wantP
The money! oh, the money left in my
charge! Somebody was stealing it,and
what should 1 say to Mr.. Sayre? My
God, might be accused of taking it
myself, and thus lose honor and posi-
ton!
"'Rather lose life,' 1 said to my self.
Il will defend that money unto deats =
and looked about for some weapon.
"Under the stove was large iron
poker. Seizing it carefully, l 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 a
picture of desperation. l was, clad in my
flowing, white night-dress, my hair all
unbound, my face white as marble and
eyes dilated and glittering with a
strange, steely light.
God aid me!'I 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 other end of
the room. He had forced open the
drawer, taken out the money and was
looking gloatingly at the crisp green
bills, when 1 stole behind him. L had
Just raised the poker to strike him when
he glanced around.
"My God! it was Clarence Devarges!
"sHang it! Now 1 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. l heard oaths, blows,
fierce struggling-then all was dark.
"For the first time in my life 1 faint
ed.
"When l recovered Jacks face was
bending over me, and Jacks voice ut
tered loving words. l put my arm
about his neck and cried like weak
baby.
"'Arn't you hurt, Jack?'
"sNot bit, dearest. Devarges is
disabled, though, with n pistol wound
in the leg. 'Tisn't very severe, but it
will prevent his escape
"'But how came you hereP'
"'Why, you see, when we parted this
morning, Nell. thought I'd never see
you again; but tonight, after came
home, made up my mind to come
around and try to make up 1t was
pretty late, between 9 and 10, when 1
came, and who should see prowling
around but Devarges. Thinks 1, 'What
does he want3 If he's coming accounting,
why don't he go in instead of peeping
in at the Window
"'I rather thought he was a scamp,
because when l was in the city yester-
day the Chief of Police told me that
they had reason to think that
noted gambler and &" blackleg" had
come up in these parts. He gave de-
scription, and it suited Devsrges per-
fectly, all except mustache. And,
by the way, Nell, that silky mustache
you so admired was false, and fell off in
our scufiie.
"'Well, as I said, 1 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:
Sc The deuce take it, She is at home,
after all! What the deuce made her
say she was going to her grandmother's?
Now, l suppose I'll have to wait till
my pretty birds asleep"
$3.50 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
he sitting-room window and crawled
n. While he was in the Office lighting
he lamp, also got in at the window
ind concealed myself in the closet, and
well, you know all the rest
."Jack,' said 1, tearfully, you'll for
,ive me for being naughty and way
ward, and you'll believe me when 1
ay that loved you all the time, won't
vou?'
swell, Jack said he would, and we
AVE been happy ever since. And this
s my story, ma'am-my only ro-
nance.''
The Boss Stove.
Coming down on the car the other