Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-12-31
around his neck, until he broke loose from

"1attlo girls, your Christmas didn't come
this year until New Years; but here II Is at
last.D
Each package was roll of bills, which
proved to be ten bank-not Of five hundred
dollars ench.
1t was so unexpected, and so much, too,
that the arms went around his neck again.
dwell, Sarah,n said he, at last, ''tho girls
are so much carried away with the ball, and
now their Christmas, that they never think
ofyou. What itW
Sarah was duly attended to and sent her
way. She had scarcely left the room before
the bell rang, and Mr.. Goodwin called.
There was a momentary panic among us, for
girls do not, In general, expect or desire
such calls In the midst OF preparations like
ours; but father laughed, and said he would
go down and tell him TO please excuse the
| young ladies', for they must have one dress
rehearsal for tho ball.
or course, that would not do at all, and he
was shown up, to join in the laugh against
us.
Ho came In, looking his grayest.
| " What n singular-looking girl" he said,
"thls Sarah Is, with her blue goggles. Where
did you get her? There Is something In that
girls face strangely familiar, and yet can't
place her."
she did not wear goggles then. She Is neat
and capable, but very queer sometimes" |
| answered.
Then opened the closet door to go to the
| safe with our presents. Vanity perhaps
prompted me to stop and show them to Mr..
Goodwin.
"Butyou are not going to keep such n
large sum as that-ton thousand dollars
here in the house, are youW
I" Yes, said father "When Fan carries
the key to the safe, 1t Is all right"
"No, Mr. Livingstone, 1t is all wrong. 1t
Is too great risk, Only an hour ago re-
ceved a dispatch from Jacksonville, asking
me to come there to identify some burglars
whom l had once sent to State prison.
McAfce, the leader Of the gang, and whose
wife tried to kill me once, Is said to be hid
| ing here in this city. That was my business
here, Miss Fanny, to tell you this, and ask
| you to wait an hour later for me to get back
from Jacksonville tonight. May 1 asks"
Certainly, why not."
Think would have given up the ball IL
he had asked me to do so, much as l hoped
to enjoy 1t.
"fianks; then must leave you and run
to my train. Good-by till 10 O'Clock, them"
And he hurried away. We watched him,
running half the time, as he went rapidly
down the street.
"You had better go to the bank with his
money, father" said Kate, seriously.
"NOnscnse; why, who is going to rob this
house with so many of us always present.
Then, who knows but ourselves IL there is
dollar in the houseW
While this conversation was going on /
was in the closet, putting the money in the
safe. As / came out IL certainly seemed
for 1t was only presentiment-there must
be some person besides myself in the closet.
With that feeling turned back aud looked
for moment at everything in it, but there
was nothing unusual.
At eight O'Clock q cattle trader called and
took father back with himto his hotel. A
little later Mr.. Burnett came with carriage
for Nelly and Kate. They left the house In
high glee, laughing at me and my, matter
of-fact escort, who attended to his business
first before even the pleasure OF the Govern
or's ball.
When / was fully dressed and saw that
had yet half-hour to wait before Mr.. Good
win would come, felt tired and weary al
ready. l rang the bell for Mary, the cook,
thinking would have her make me cup of
strong coffee before going Sarah answered
the bell.
81 want Mary; please tell her to come up
a moment"
"Mary has Just gone out for little. Her
cousin called for her."
This was not agreeable news. I did not
care to leave the house alone with Sarah.
"Is it anything L can do for YOU, Miss
FannyH'
"No; but you can look after the kitchen
fire and see that there is hot water when l
come down.
/ would make the coffee myself when Mr..
Goodwin came. But Iwould have glass Of
wine now, l thought:
Then i stood before the glass arranging
and rearranging the flowers in my hair. l
had small bunch of natural flowers, too, in
my corsage which needed setting in position.
All this occupied fifteen minutes or more.
The wine was below in the sitting room
closet: and perhaps after all had better not
take the wine. II the train was on time Mr..
Goodwin would be punctual to the minute.
1 knew he would thank Inc for cup OF
strong, hot coffee after his ride. / waited.
1t only wanted ten minutes OF the time
when he should come, and was both impa-
tient and nervous. / was listening to that
tiresome pattcring of the reservoir fountain
/ heard footsteps in the sitting room be-
low; it must be Sarah; but why was she
there? There was light in the dining
room, but none in the kitchen, and could
hear some one still moving as ifin the hall
below.
Going out into the hall and looking down
from the head of the stairs, saw the light
shinirs out from the sitting-room. She
must have left the door open.
/ ran down to the sitting room. The door
also open. My heart was in my mouth, but
stepped quickly to the closet. Some one
was In 1t with light!
| was ready to drop with terror for n mo-
ment. Then my hand rested on the key in
| the door. Quick as the thought came to me,
closed the door and locked 1t. The sharp
click of the lock must have alarmed the per-
son within, for in an instant some one tried
the door. There was muttered curse in
mans voice.
nMag, 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 and bang
ing Mt the door furiously. had him Sc
cured for little time fast enough, but what
| II there were more down stairs!
That thought nearly took my breath away.
Then my burglar was still for little, and /
heard the dining-room door open. Some one
was listening, perhaps. Then the door
closed softly. My burglar was still silent.
In n secretary drawer close by was fathers
revolver, and l had the key. In moment
more had the pistol In my hand. Every
chamber was loaded, and knew well how to
use 1t. Every Illinois girl does not.
could hear the chinking sound of the silver
ware which some one was handling in the
| dining-rOom.
Good luck favored me again. The key
was in the door and on the outside. locked
the door.
Then hastened back to the burglar in the
closet. He was strangely silent. Then
heard the soft cutting sound OF knife In the
door. He was cutting one OF the panels out
| 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 than
the burglar had.
There was perfect torrent of oaths. 1t
put out his light, too, for could see through
the hole that 1t was not light inside. Hewas
moving about.
"Caught again, -" he exclaimed.
| i sat there with my revolver cooked wait
| W hnt w tn
| glar down stairs released himself, could
defend myself against him, too! What II he
was armedy
oh, II John Goodwin would but come
And Sarah, where was sheY
In less than ten minutes al! this had hap
pened, but 1t seemed an age.
But there was no alternative but to sit
there In an agony OF dread, with no other
sound save the horrible, tireless pattering OF
the water falling from the fountain in the
reservoir.
Then suddenly window ratified below as
| Ii In the dining-r room. A moment after