The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-09-29

into the garden. The sound was outside
the window, and Lima paused to listen.
The first word that caught her ear
startled her.
"A thousand pounds, and all the old
woman's jewelry and platter said y
mans voice, in u husky undertone.
"Yes," was the reply, in q woman's
voice-the voice, Lima knew, of Par
kins. Mrs. Harrington's model, soft
voiced, lady-like nurse; land there
won't be any trouble about it, because
! have let the women go away 10 stay
all night, and sent the gardener on .
fools errand to misses brothers, twen-
ty miles Off"
"But this girl that came tonight
what about her?,' asked the man.
''Oh, she will go to her home pres.
emily, and stay there il she is wise.
She'd he no hindrance, anyway silly,
timid little thing. But it's rs well to
let her get out of the way" said Par
kins. cOolly.
..But see here. Molly. why not do it
now? Then wen have more time to
get away before daylight" said the
man.
II tell you it's not safe before IL
O'clock" Parkins said positively. ..Peo-
pie may come in. Sir Robert don't like
her out of his sight for long, and that
idiotic young Marsden may come moon
ing i'm. Wait till half-past IL, 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 voices grew fainter. Evidently
the speakers were moving away from
the house. But Lima had heard enough.
Sick with terror she leaned against the
pantry wall moment, and tried to
think. What did it all mean? Robbery,
murder! And no help near. Her first
instinct was to fly out of the house and
across the field to the hall. But her
absence would be instantly discovered,
she knew. and then poor Aunt Mar
garet would be alone with these wretches.
No, she must not go-but to stand here
idle would do no good. She flew like
bird along the halls and up stairs, Leo
pacing by her side. At Aunt Margaret's
door she paused. and sudden thought
came to her. She would send Leo home
for help.
Where is the spoon. child? How
long you stayed. Good heavens! what
is the matter?" cried the old lady. as
she saw the girls terrified face. Lima
began some evasive answer, but instant
ly remembered that Aunt Margaret
must be told the whole story, or nothing
could be done to save her. She did tell
it, and Aunt Margaret listened in silent
CONSERVATION, and then burst out i'm
petuously with:
Good heavens, child! Why don't
you run right homer"
because l knew Parkins would be
up here in q few minutes and find / was
gone. and then
"Ah, well. So you stayed to save the
old woman if you could. What are you
doing, child? Why don't you lock the
door and pile things against itP Good
God! if was just able to rise out Of this
bedr'
But Lima did not speak for a moment.
She had found u pencil and paper, and
was rapidly writinga few words. When
she had finished
Now" she said, ''when Parkins
comes tell her l am to sleep on her
couch here in your room, and she must
go somewhere else. will be back in a
moment. Leor'
Out of the room she dartcd. and down
to the hall door. which she unbarred
and passed through. Then, kneeling in
the shadow of pillar on the portico,
she tied the note tightly in her hand
kerchief round Leo's neck.
She put her arms round bis neck at
ter that. kissed his forehead. and half
sob escaped her.
els that you. missp" said q smooth
voice from the hall. "Why, whatever
are you doing in the dark there?"
Lima sprang up as if she had been
shot.
81 am sending the dog home," she
said, speaking quietly, though the
throbs of her heart shook her whole
frame. "He is restless here without his
master. Go home, Leo--straight home,
sirr'
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 60 safely and
swiftlyr' prayed the girl in her heart.
Then she went in and helped Parkins
bar the door, and they went together
upstairs.
Aunt Margaret lay very quietly on
her pillow, but with her black eyes
cleaning.
'Parkins," she said. steadily, as they
entered, sMiss Leigh is kind enough to
offer to stay with me here tonight. She
will sleep on your couch, and you, my
poor soul. can go and get good nights
rest in another room"
Parkins was silent for one instant,
and then began series of smooth, po-
lite representations which no one would
heed. and finally the civil nurse pre-
pared the couch for Lima and took her
self off, observing sweetly:
IF Miss Leigh win leave the door
ajar, can hear call from this room,
and will come instantly"
THANKS, Parkins. but hope / shall
not have to call you," said Lima, speak
ing rs sweet as Parkins herself.
Then as she glided to the door as soon
as it was closed, she turned with face
of dismay. and whispered:
1.-The key is gone! She took it when
she was fidgeting in and out with the
sheets and pillows"
There is bolt BESIDES" Aunt Mar
garet answered.
Lima gave a sigh of relief as she
slipped the bolt into the groove, and
felt that she had some little protection
against the enemy.
"Now, child" Aunt Margaret said,
can you use pistol?"
81 never touched one in my life" said
the ..little coward" "But If l had one
now would try"
..Very well. Take my safe key-it Is
under my pillow-and unlock the safe.
They are Just as my husband left them
q year ago. but Robert looked at them
q few days ago, and said they were
all right. That is it. Put one Of them
on the foot Of the bed. and il those
wretches come, try, my dear, to use it.
Now put the other here, by my left
hand. Thank God! can use that a
little. Now, what are you dOinga Oh,
yes; pile up all you can against the
door. There, you can't move anything
else. Now, come here. little girl, kneel
down by me. and let's say our prayers
together"
With the old lady's thin, pallid hand
clasped tightly In her two cold, trem-
bling little ones. Lima knelt down there.
and burying her face In the pillow. tried
to pray.
Her petition was not very coherent
one; it was only wild. passionate cry
for pity and help, and meantime she
was listening, with every nerve strained
for sounds from the outside. A lamp
burned in the room. On the mantel.
piece softly ticking clock marked the
slow minutes. No other sound broke
the stiffness.
Presently q sob shook the girls fig
ure. She was thinking of Sir Robert
and his tender care over her.
10 La ,nk 40 M xyvu n ND