The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-09-29

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 sob shook the girls fig
ure. She was thinking of Sir Robert
and his tender care over her.
Oh, if she had not been so wayward
and proud this evening, all would have
been well. He would have come for
her, they would have been safe.
But surely, surely, he would comeyet.
He could not fail to find the note, and
she knew he would come to save her.
But yet horrible doubts came to her as
to whether the note would reach him.
1t might be lost, or Leo might wander
about and not get home until it was too
late,
Too late! Lima shuddered and sobbed
again as she thought what that might
mean. Oh, it was hard to think of
dying so hclplessly so horribly with help
so near.
Tine long minutes crept on, and no
sound came until II o'clock had passed,
The little clock softly chimed the half
hour. Then, in few moments, came
sound Of stealing footsteps in the pas
sage, and the knob of the door was
softly turned.
Breathless silence in the room. Then
a gentle tap at the door. Lima clasped
Aunt Margarets hand conyulsively, and
the old lady spoke,
What is that?" she asked, steadily.
1T is me, Parkins, ma am. Would
you ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly
open the door? I have the toothache,
and want some laudanum,"
What devil it isr' whispered Aunt
stairs and get something, Parkins. |
cannot trouble Miss Leigh"
Lima hoped that Parkins would urge
the point little. Anything to prolong
the parley and gain time.
But whisper in the passage followed,
| and then a mans voice:
Ladies. there's no use making a
row. Just open the door peacefully,
and you shan't he hurt. Wen break it
down ii you don't
What do you wantm Lena asked
hoping to gain a little time Anew and
| grutf voice answered m-oIrn',y:
"You know we'll enough what we
wants miss We wants the thousand
pounds and the diamonds, and we mean
20 have them. So don't be fool, but
just open the door peacefully, or you'll
De sorry
Lima sprang to herfeet and seized the
pistol. A food of color rushed to her
cheek and brow. She had been insult
ed and threatened, and Indignation
overpowered terror. She went toward
the door and called out, quickly and
clearly;
You're not coming in. have sent
for help, and Sir Robert and his men
will be here directly. ] am armed and
if you do break the door down | will
shoot you like dog"
A moments silence followed, then q
coarse laugh, and
"All CANNON, She hadn't no one tC
send. Break the door down" in Par.
kins' voice; and heavy blows began ia
fall upon the door. 1t tremblcd and
cracked beneath the battery. A pane
broke, and q mans hand was thrust in;
the whole door seemed about to fall
when-bang! bang! came two reports
from Lima pistol, and couple of bull
lets crashed through the panels, and the
besiegers paused abruptly.
go away instantly" called the girl,
clear voice, "or will fire again"
lone more rush, mate, and we art
in yelled the grulf voice outside,
What followed was wild tumult and
confusion, the crash of breaking panel,
and bolts, the fall of the door and the
furniture Lima had piled against it, Shot
after shot from Lna's pistol, yell Of
pain and rage from both Of them. The
door was down. One of the men was
in the room. Lima had fired her las
shot, and, running to the bed, snatcheC
Aunt Margaret's pistol and turned t
face the enemy. Suddenly came Il wilt
shrek from Parkns then voice call
ing: Lima, Lima, | am comingN anC
Sir Robert de Rossett hurled himsel
bodily upon the rattan outside the door
Frustrated him, and sprang into tn,
room over his body. And this is wha
he saw: Madeline Leigh, the "littl'
coward, " with blazing eyes and scarle
cheeks, and a pistol in her hand, stand
ing untlinchingly between Aunt Mar
garet and a burly ruilian; and Aun
Margaret herself, who has not turned il
her bed for a year, standing on her fee
on the floor Two seconds changed tn,
aspect of affairs. After that the burg
lar sprawled senseless on the floor
Aunt Margaret sank back on her be-
with wild THANK Cod" and the lit
tie heroine of the scene lay in Sir Rob
ert's arms in dead faint,
"Oh, Robert, why didn't you com
soonerp"
Don't you know came as soon a
| found your notePh he said. lie
went to my ROOM and | found hin
there when left the drawing-room, al
ter ! o'clock
"Where are those dreadful mcn?'
Lima asked, raising her head dizziy an
looking with a shudder.
Never mind them, dear. The
I 4