The National tribune., 1882-08-19

If violence. She Thought OF calilnS lot helpj |
vet what would it serve? If her cries should |
be heard, which was doubtful from the late |
ness of the hour and the somewhat isolated |
position of the Office, no one could open the |
safe except GIr. Allison, who was then miles |
away on the road to Boston, to return
when? Really, she was in most awkward |
and unenviable plight. AT one moment she |
was ready to cry with vexation; at the next !
the ridiculous side of the affair presented |
itself, and forced from her smile
While she was trying to devise some means !
of drawing herself out of her dilemma, she
heard sound ofapproaching footsteps, which
stopped outside the door, and were followed
by the rattling of key in the key-hole.
Then she remembered with CONSERVATION
that she had locked the door and the key
was in the lock, to the exclusion of any
other.
"Was ever anything so stupid?" she ex-
claimed. "I have walked into complete
trap; can't get out and no one else can get
in"
The person outside having probably guessed
on the door, and asked who was within. To
her unbOunded surprise and relief, she recog-
nized the voice of Mr.. Allison. But how
could she let him in? One way presented
itself to her-it seemed the only one. She
did not hesitate long. A few indescribable
movements of her nimble fingers, the bonds
fell away, and she quickly crossed the room.
"Mr. Allison" she called, Il am going to
unlock the door now, but you must not come
in for q minute" Then turning the key, she
hurried back to the safe, and reversing the
little operation she had just gone through,
was again prisoner. When Mr. Allison
entered, he looked at her with much surprise,
as well he might; but he comprehended the
situation even before she began to explain.
"How careless of me to leave so unwieldly
an affair for you to manage!" he exclaimed
self-reproachfully. "Had 1 not come back 1
should never have forgiven myself, though l
scarcely thought it fortunate when / found
must lose my train on account of the key
to my strong in the safe deposit vaults,
which forgot to take with me-"
| While he was speaking, she moved aside
out of his way, and a half dozen rapid turns
| of the little knob enabled him to throw back
the bolts, so that only the opening of the door
! remained to accomplish her freedom. Here
an unforeseen difficulty prevented itself The
| cloth, which had been shut into space SEEM
! ing scarcely large enough to admit the
breadth of hair, acted as n wedge, and
IL 30 -, hxr
ordinary means.
Don't try any more, Mr.. Allison, she
begged, seeing the tremendous effort he was
making, "you will hurt yourself, L fear"
"You are quite right" he answered,
Strengthening up, /" must apply my strength
more scientifically. you will be patient a
few moments longer, I'll 90 and get some
help" The help he brought was a tough,
hardwood stick, which he used as a lever,
prying against the handle until, after several
efforts, they had the satisfaction of seeing
| the obdurate door yield.
"T hope 1 never shall do anything quite so
| foolish as that again. said Millie, with a
nervous little laugh, as she withdrew her
| imprisoned skirt and smoothed the creased
fold.
eff you ever should chance to meet with
similar misfortune, may 1 be near at hand
to come to the rescue" he returned smiling.
No doubt her blush and pretty look of
gratitude repaid this effort at saying the
proper thing, which she was inclined to
think he meant, for she had never yet known
| him tn he waSteful of his words
At a quarter past six, so he told her, he
intended to take the next train for Boston,
though he seemed in no hurry to get away,
evidently preferring the society of his clerk
to lonely wait at the railway station. To
her surprise he took pains to make himself
agreeable and she was compelled to admit
he could be very agreeablv when he chose.
The little Incident that had just occurred
had suddenly changed their relations to each
other, and advanced them to something like
intimacy. She was very glad Of this, for she
had determined to free her mind about Nor
ton at any cost, and now she felt only a
=, small part of her former reluctance.
"Mr. Allison,n she began, at the first op-
portunity, "before you went out you asked
if had anything to say to you. L had, and
did not dare say it,"
Indeed, Miss Thorndyke!-am I then the
object of so much dread?"
"Oh, no, sir" she answered, looking down
E at the carpet, not quite able to meet his eyes
just then, "only feared you might think
me impertinent or oflicious."
"Not in the least-that would be impossi-
ble," he assured her warmly; speak out, l
beg"
You will be surprised at what I shall
ask, she said her courage failing somewhat
before the final plunge; . 1 want to know il
q you think-that is, if you are quite sure
Mr.. Morton is wholly trustworthy"
p He acds surprised. He looked at her twice
q before replying. "Your question implies
you think him otherwise. He came to me
highly recommended, and he is the agent ot
o q company in which some of the heaviest
business men in New York are closely inter
: ested. Why do you doubt him?"
, because I do not like his face" she an
swered simply-"a wOman's reason, is it nOt|