Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-09-29

" But see here, Molly, why not do il
nowP Then wen have more time TO
get away before daylight" said the
man. t.
% I tell you tits not safe before eleven
o'clock" Parkins said positively.
People may como in. Sii Robert don 1
like her out ot his sight for long, and
that idiotic young Marsden may come
incoming in. Wait till balf-pat eleven.
and the west door here will be open.
And, Jim, look here, when you get this
swag. you are TO take me with YOU
your wife, mind
The voice grew fainter. Evidently
the speakers were moving away from
the house. But Lima had heard enough.
Sick with terror, she leaned against the
pantry wal a moment and tried 60
think. What did it all meanP Rob-
berry, murderl And no help near Her
first instinct was TO fly out of the hss.so
aud across the field to the hall But her
absence would be instantly discovered.
she knew, and then poor Aunt Mar
grct would be alone with those
wretches No. she must not go--bNt
TO stand here idle would be no good.
She flew along the halls and up stairs,
Leo pacing by her side. AT Aunt Mar
garot door she paused, aud sudden
thought came TO her. She would send
Leo home for help.
"Where is the spoon, childp How
long you staid. Good heayensl what
is the mattorPn cried the old lady. as
she saw the girls white, terrified face.
Lima began some eyasiye. answer, but
instantly remembered that Aunt
Margaret must be told the whole story
or nothing could be done to save her
She did tell il, and Aunt Margaret
listened in silent CONSERVATION, and
then burst out impetuously with:
Good heavens, child! Why don't
you run right homeP"
Because | knew Parkins would be
up here in few minutes and find was
gone, and then
"Ah, well. So you stayed TO save
the old woman If you could. What arc
you doing, child? Why don't you lock
the door and pile things against itP
Good Godl il / was just able to rise
out of this bcdr'
But Lima did not speak for a moment.
She had found pencil and paper and
was rapidly writing q few words. When
she had finished
"Now,h she said, "when Parkins
comes tell her | am to sleep on her
couch here in your room, and she must
go somewhere else will be back in Il
moment Loop
Out of the room she darted, and down
to the hall door, which she unbarred
and passed through. Then, kneelng in
the shadow Of n pillar on the portico,
she tied the note tightly in her handker-
chief round Leo's neck
She put her arms round his neck after
that, kissed his forehead, and u half-s0b
escaped her.
e" Is that you, miss?n said a smooth
voice from thc ball "Why, whatever
are You doing in tile dark there2"
Lima sprang up rs If she had boen
shot.
81 am sending the dog home" she
said, speaking quietly. though the throl
of her heart shook her whole frame.
He is restless here without his master.
Go home, Leo, straight home sirli''
The dog. with one farewell lick of her
hand. bounded down the steps and van
ished in the dewy darkness of the sum-
mer night.
"Oh, God! let him go safely and
swiftlyr' prayed the girl In her heart.
Then she went in and helped Parlins
bar the door, and they went togetherup
stairs.
Aunt Margaret lay very quietly on
her pillow, but with her black eyes
cleaning.
Parkns was silent forone instant, and
then began a series of eXpostulations,
which no one would heed. and finally
the civil nurse prepared the couch for
Lima, and took herself oil, observing,
sweetiy:
"If Miss Leigh will leave the door
ajar, can hear n call from this room,
and will come instantly"
Thanks, Parkins, but | hope l shall
not have to call you" said Lima, speak
ing assweet as PaFkins herself
Then rs she glded to the door rs
soon as it was closed, sho turned with u
face OF dismay, and whispered;
g''Fhe key isgonc! She took it when
she was fidgetng in and out with the
sheets and pillows"
There is bolt besides" Aunt Mar
garet answered.
Lima gave a sigh of relief as she Slip
ped the bolt into the groove, and felt
that she had at least some little protcc-
ton against the enemy.
"Now, child,' Aunt Margaret said,
"can you use pistolP'
IL never touched one I'm my lifc," said
the little ooward;n "but if | had one
now would try
Every well. Take my safe e-key-it is
under my pillow-and unlock the safe.
They are just as my husband left them
n year ago but Robert looked at them
few days ago, and said they were all
right That is it. Put one of them on
the foot of the bed and if those
wretches come, try, my dear. TO use il.
Now put the other here, by my left
hand. Thank Godl | can use that n
little. Now, what are you doing? Oh,
yes; ,pileup all you can against the
door. There, You can't move anything
else. Now, come here, little girl, kneel
down by me, and t'ssay our prayers
together" ="
With the old lady's thin, pallid hand
lasped tightly in her two cold, trem-
bling little ones, Lima knelt down there,
and, burying her face in thepillow, tried
10 pray.
Her petition was not a very coherent
one; it was only a wild, passionate cry
for pity and help. and meanwhile ale
was listening with every nerve strained
for sounds from the outside. A lamp
burned in the room On the mantel-
piece a soflly-tieking clock marked the
slow minutes. No other sound broke
the stiffness. ,It.H ,.--..-
Presently n sob shook tho girls fig
ure. She was thinking of Sir Robert
and his tender care over her.
Oh, il she had only not been so way
ward and proud this evening all would
have been well. He would have come
for her, and they would have been safe.