Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-12-29

voidable, aud I thought Isaouid feel less
anxious to have it with me than to
allow it to remain at the Office sin the
safe.
II cannot, of course, take it to New
York. SO I want you to take eaarge of
it and keep it until tomorrow marniay.
and then carry it to Randall for hun tasie-
post in the bank Don't say aldNtEi
about it to your mother. She is 50 tlmid
and nervous that she would not SLEEP
wink all night if she knew SO large
sum was in the house. Do you under
stardp''
With no slight feeling of responsibility
took the leathern pocket book which be
handed me and placed it in the pocket OF
my dress. 81
F:kher went on PERHAPS yoaJ es5er
put it under your pillow. OF course, 1t is
fire that l am most anxious about. There's
no danger to the money in any other way
Not soul knows about it,
| Then he went into the ball, and came
very Unexpectedly upon Joseph for heard
him speaking somewhat sharply to him be-
cause he had not zone to the stable, and
declaring that his business was of more
consequence than his supper. 1 heard Jo-
seph mutter something about taking time
to flush his meal.
Ten minutes later as father was going
down the steps to get into the carriage,
he turned back to me, and holding his UNI
brela so that mother should not hear, be
said.
tive been think, Christie, that young
Randall better come and sleep at the
house. L shall feel easier about you. You
can telegraph him at the Office. He is to
be there at work tonight until velY late. F"
Then he stepped into the buggy. and
they drove away down the path into the
darkness and rain.
did not send message to Harry. how
ever. Indeed, I laughed little as
thought of fathers anxiety. He was al
most as timid as mother, after all.
1 was of a rather easy, careless DISPOSE
tion, and really had not particle OF fear
of having the money in my keeping. And
as we two sat there in the library for a
long while after this, mother doing in
the big chair and intent upon some fan
cy-wOrk which | was anxious to finish in
time for friends birthday, forgot alto
gether the package of money that lay at
the bottom Of my dress pocket.
Joseph did not get back until nearly 10
O'Clock, although it was only three mile
to the Junction, and he should have been
home long before that hour.
We thought little of that, however. He
lad been with US for several years. and
had great confidence in his faithfuness.-
It was not until after ward that mother and
4 learned that he had recently beeH led
into bad company, and that father had sew
eral times had angry words with him
about his habits.
Joseph slept in the house; and for that
reason it had seemed to me quite unneces-
sary that Harry Ra.dall should be there
also.
When the clock struck ten mother arose.
declaring it was time to go to bed She
went into all the lower rooms to see that
the windows and doors were fastened, and
| then came back to the library for ne,
But did not feel sleepy, and wanted
1 very much to get on with my work; SO
| begged her to GO up stairs without me
Y promising to come up in the Curse of an
hour.
The clock struck eleven almost before l
knew the time had passed. laid down
| my work and counted the strokes without
looking at the clock itself.
I was sitting at the center table, near
the lamp. At my left, little way off
against the wall, was fathers desk, with
books and papers scattered upon it, and
the battery at one end.
Opposite me were two long windows
that opened upon the side piazza. Over
these were thick curtains, closely drawn,
which did not shut out the sound of the
pelting storm outside. Directly behind
me WIS the hall door standing. as usual,
wide open.
low sigh or breath out in the hall. turn
ed my head instantly, but did not see any
person; and listening intently. heard no
further sound. felt little uneasy and
smiled to myself at my nervousness; then
took up my work again. 1 had not quite
finished what 1 had set myself to do.
had not taken three sti tches when ]
laid the work down again. There was no
use denying it or laughing to myself. For
some reason there had suddenly come over
me a strong feeling of nervousness and
dread. 1t seemed as il [ realized as I bad
not before that evening the fact that |
was sitting all alone down stairs in the
house, at eleven O'Clock at night, with
large sum of money IN nv pocket. /
glanced at the desk. Possibly Harry was
still at work at the Office. If be was, .
single sentence over the wire would call
him.
was just getting up to go to the desk
TO signal and see if he was at the mill
when something occurred that seemed to
turn me cold and motionless as stone in
an instant.
Behind me, so close, that KIN wit must
have come from the threshold of the hall
door, low. hoarse voice, that L knew.
without seeing the speaker, must be that
of a desperate and wicked man, broke the
stiffness and babe me Reinforcement
For momant. as say felt as though
I had been turned to stone. Then the
voice, speaking again, seemed at last to
restore the life in me, and to set my heart
to beating violently.
The language that the man used was not
even good English, as in attempting to
reproduce it find myself writing