The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-03-29

disposed to explain matters.
"What we want is some money that
yer father brought down from Palmer
Yesterday. Maybe yer don't know
about it; but we do, and we know he
left it IN ther house when he went off
to. night. My friend is upstairs lookin'
for il this minute. ALI we want is the
money. We don't mean harm to no.
body. Ye shan't be touched if ye be-
have yerself an keep quiet"
Somewhat reassuled by this, and
having had time while he was speaking
to collect myself, waH now able to as
sumo an appearance at least of calm
ness.
/ took up my embroidery and went on
working-or pretending to work-at
the pattern I was embroidering. / think
the action helped me too; for pres
emily found myself really quite calm,
and with GOODNESS and resolution that
/ can hardly believe in now, as / recall
it, turning over in my mind what /
ought to do.
What would these men do when they
found, as they very soon would find,
that the money was not upstairsP They
would be disappointed and desperate
capable perhaps of deeds that they had
not at first intended.
Perhaps I had better give up the
money at once and so get rid of them.
And yet, father had confded it to my
care; and it did not belong to him but
to the company. I ought not to let
these men have it if 1 could help it.
Oh, why could I not give an alarm
somehow? What if / should open my
mouth and cry out at any risk Gould L
make Joseph hear, away out in the wing
of the house as he was ? Alas, knew
that could not, even had not this man
been sitting there by the door-he had
taken a chair now-eyeing me fercely,
as though he read my very thoughts.
All, if 1 had only done as father wished
and telegraphed for Harry Randall to
come upI And then with this last
thought another thought came to me.
Why could not summon Harry even
now, il perchance he was still at the
Office?
1 arose from my chair, mechanically
grasping my work in my hand. My
guard got up also, evidently suspicious
of my slightest movement.
"I'll have to ask yer to keep quiet,
MISS" said he, with harsh, determined
voice.
1 turned upon him Indignantly. "I
suppose may change my seat if I
like" said I.
And without waiting for his permis-
sion I walked deliberately over to the
desk and sat down in the revolving
) chair that stood before it. At the same
time l threw my work down on the
desk in such way as to cover COM
( pletely the battery, which instrument
? my companion had probably not no
, ticed at all. Perhaps he would not
have known what it was if he had.
1 sat there moment, listlessly twist.
ing the chair back and forth, ard trying
t to make up my mind what was best to
, do
Q Just then there was slight noise or
: the hall stairs and the man became
!. uneasy, stood up and looked at the
{ library door, as if he was about to &c
toward it. Then he turned again to
n me, and with threatening gesture
s said:
|. "You just set there, while step intel
y the hall bit. And If ye stir or make
: noise it will be the worse for ye. Dc
I ye mind that y
l. Heewent softly into the hall.
q Feeling that now was my opportunity
k with trembling hand put my finge
n on the knob, and as silently as possibl
sent my signal out over the wire int
y the night, down to the mills and t.
.. Harry Randall.
10 "Halry, are you thereT
In another instant / was leaning
le back in my chair and moving an ink
le stand on the table to make a noise
at How my heart was beating, and my ca
ss was strained to catch the sound that
1 might in Gods goodness hope it
it might presently come back to me
Of Almost a minute-it seemed an age
at I listened; and my heart sank as n
II, answering signal was heard. Then
ID Click Click Click came the sounds
le sweeter to my ears than the sweetef
music; and I knew that Harry wa
as there. These sounds were to some e.
q. tent covered by the drumming of m
ed thimble, and were to me as plain 9
to spoken words.
eyes"
as Instantly 1 sent back my answel
IT. Two excited words, run all together:
slf "Robbersl Help"
The total silence that followed a
of sured me. after a minutes anxiou
,ot waiting, that Harry had comprehende
of my message, and that doubtless b
would at once come to the house. Fo
ell tune had favored me, for had hear
w, the man creeping up the hall stair
ru. and thus l had escaped the results {
nd any suspicious he might have had ha
u he heard the clicking of the instrI
ment.
to did not look at the clock, and cal
a not say exactly how long I sat there
he silence. 1t seemed to me that it WI
hours.
-ou Then there was the sound of viii