The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-15

Small amount! To my certain
knowledge there are more than len
thousand dollars in his snfs this night +"
"a safe P But that is dangerous.
Anyone seeing safe in your house
would guess at once that it held
money!"
.Hush, Phil! No one would ever
guess the secret. 1t is built into the
wall. And out of that safe. sir. hand
some dowry is to come for me when ]
marry with his consent" said Sylvia.
gazing tenderly into his handsome fac.
as he bent above her. to stoal kiss
from her half willing lips.
Blind, foolish, infatuated Yes, she
must have been all that. or she would
never have betrayed that sacred secret
of the household to one who was al.
most a stranger. Binder still that she
did not notice the alteration in hel
lovers manner after the secret was told.
and the eager, restless way in which he
presently glanced at his watch and re-
gretted that he must leave her becauso
he had an engagement TO keep with his
lawyer. who was to arrive at Clinton by
the last train-the train that they heard
even then, skricking and whistling its
way past the farm.
After he had gone-after the magic
influence of his presence had vanished
Sylvia, in the quiet of her own cham
ber thought tremblingly of what she
had done.
At midnight Sylvia was reused from
a dream of her lover by a loud cry in
the lower hall.
Her graudfather's voice! And then
heavy steps. low. fierce mutterings. like
curses-a short, fierce struggle, and Il
crushing blow.
..rm coming, grandfather! Oh,
what is it?" cried Sylvia, lighting her
lamp with trembling fingers. and
only waiting to throw on her dressing
gown.
No one answered. She sped down
the staircase and stood at the foot,
aghast with horror.
There lay her kind. good grandfather
nj her feet, apparently dead, bathed in
the blood that flowed from a wound in
tho forehead. And before her two
masked men Were busy trying to open
the safe that held the monev.
Help murder thieves ~ screamed
Sylvia. reckless of her own peril as she
flew to the front door and threw il wide
open.
There's that girl! Shoot her. Dick"
SnotiIcu " savage NOt'e-ahu yet IL was
so familiar to her ear.
Crouching to avoid the bullet, Sylvia
flew into the garden. and into the arms
Of a man who stood below the steps.
''Hush. dear! It's only George" he
said. as she cried out. "T.lc police,
are here OH the track of two burglars.
and-and l came with them, with my
dear mother. Sylvia. to warn you. I'm
sorry TO say that Phil Carr is one"
He drew her aside TO where his moth
er stood. "a the rush came from the po-
lice and farm hands who had been
stealthily summoned to aid them.
Shots We're fired. q furious struggle
took place within the hall, and then the
prisoners came forth, haudcuffed and
unmasked.
For the last time Sylvia Lee looked
upon the face OF the man who had so
we'll nigh been her ruin.
They raised the poor old doctor, and
found that his wound was only supor-
fetal. He was about, well and strong
as ever, on the second day afterward.
But Sylvia laid for days in the grasp of
brain fever. and it was u very pale and
delicate little bride that was given by
the doctor to George Maxwell just be-
fore the Christmas days set in.
And only three people have known
the story of Sylvia's lovers until this
day. when have told it to the world.