Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-12-30

take the wfne II the train was on time Mr..
knew he would thank me for . cup Of
strong, hot coffee after his ride. waited.
1t only wanted ten minutes OF the time
when ne should come, and was both impa.
tient and nervous. was listening 10 tnAs
tiresome pattering of the reservoir fountain.
heard footsteps in the sitting room De.
low; it must be Sarah; but why was sno
theres There was q light in the dining.
room, but none in the kitchen. and couid
hear some one still moving rs II in the nail
below.
Going out into the hall and looking down
from the head Of the stairs, saw the ngnt
shining out from the sitting-room. Sne
must have left the door open.
Iran down to the sitting room. The door
was open, and going in, the closet door Was
also open. My heart was in my mouth, but
stepped quickly to the closet. Some one
Iwss ready to drop with terror for mo-
ment. Then my hand rested on the key In
the door. Quick rs the thought came 70 me,
closed the door and locked it. The sharp
son within, for in m instant some one tried
the door. There was muttered curse In .
/ mans voice.
"Mag, you devil! open the door,"
| There was . great. old lounge or SOFA
| against the wall just beyond the door; in .
moment more drew this against the door
| and sat down on it. BY this time the trap
| ped man In the closet was beating ana oang-
| ing at the door furiously. had him Sc
cured for little time fast enough, but what
| il there were more down stairs!
That thought nearly took my breath away:
| Then nv burglar was still for . little, and
heard the dining-room door open. some one
was listening, perhaps. Then the door
| In a secretary drawer close by was fathers
| revolver, and had the key. In q moment
more had the pistol in my hand. Every
chamber was loaded, and knew wen how 10
use it. Every Illinois girl does not.
Invent lightly down the stairs and then
| could hear the chinking sound OF the silver
ware which some one was handling IN the
Good luck favored me again. The key
was in the door and on the outside. locked
Then fastened back to the burglar in the
closet. He was strangely stlentS Tnen 4
heard the soft cutting sound OF knife In the
door. He was cutting one OF the panels QUIZ
Of the door.
could not bear to shoot him dead, but
would stop his work on the door. could
tell from the sounds of his feet that he was
standing to one side of the panel he was cut
ting.
[ sent bullet through that panel, and the
report of the pistol frightened me more tnan
the burglar had. p.
There was a perfect torrent Of oaths. II
put out his light, too, for could see tnrougn
the hole that it was not hight INSIDE. ne "as
moving about.
Isat there with my revolver cooked wait
ing for what was to come next. III the pur
| glar down stairs released himself, couiu
defend myself against him, too: What II ne
was armed.
Oh. IL John Goodwin would but come
And Sarah, where was She:
In less than ten minutes all TINS nau nap
/, | al lint Sonfnad n
But there was no alternative but TO 81
there i'm an agony OF dread. with no othe
sound save the horrible, tireless pattering o
the water falling from the fountain IN TN
, Then suddenly a window ratified below a
| il in the dining-room n moment alter
, ward there was sound As II some peIsol
/ jumped out. What if he should come II
i the door SO that could hear and see every
| thing in the hall. was desperate.
How many dreadful minutes passed SO
can not tell; probably not many, but the sus
pense was fairly horrible.
At Hast there was sound OF carrae
wheels. and they cam. rapidly nearer. Wa
< it John Goodwin? Yes. Thank God. "A
last!
} 1 Jew to the window and raised tt, but Tor m
life 1 could not articulate sound. But
+ dropped the door key at his feet, and n
E looked ND In astonishment. Then my voic
e came: $50,
"I.et Yourself in and come up quick
e Then staggered back to my seat on tn
8 | sofa, don't think was quite cons :lous o
his being in the room until he stood owe
e me. l.
happened!''
1 could only point with the revolver to tn
e He saw and comprehended all in = mo
t ment. ,
t "Yes."
t This last in a whisper.
I At that moment there was sound In Tn
ball; looking up we saw ssran standing
9 "Ah ha. Margaret McAhee. This Is you
;. lob. is it!' he cried.
She darted back but he was Zoo quick n
a her He caught her by the wrists and drag
= eed her into the room; she fierce as a tigres'
Give me the revolver, Fanny" he sale
8 and in an instant Sarah was quiet rs a lamb
"Please go down and ask the driver I
It come up with some straps"
}. 7 did as he directed me.
q The driver came up presently with sever
= a, straps. quite sufficient to secure Sarai
/, Then the sofa was drawn away. the cios'
e door unlocked and the man inside made
l. step out. When he saw his wife secure
y there in the room ne took it eoolly, an
k smiled at her-she was crying bitterly.
4 WThey,ye got us dead TO rights, Mag;
don't make a fuss over it,"
Then he. too, was secured, and the driy,
il ran out for policeman.
d while we were there guarding our prison
ers the bell rang and father came; so IN;
m when the officers came there was q consit
% cradle gathering. Then they took the pri
oners away.
n. !" And how about the ball, Fan? Goot
" ness, little girl, how white you are.' sal
her father.
later the first consciousness revealed Il
is fact that some one was kissing my forhea
t? and chatting my hands in a strange, tend
a wav, 1t was not father, for he came in
moment afterward, with Mary Just beniI
T him her hands full of rcstoratives. TIT
he were not needed.
1t is too bad to spoil your pleasure. NJ
st Goodwin, and it is not too late yet for you
t. go to the ball"
d "without you:'' he asked sharply.