Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-01-12
IN A CELLAR

IL was very dark without. and the
wind blew i'm litful gusts. The old oak.
in front OF the house. grOaned dismal
ly. The gates were burst open. and
slammed 90 and fro incessantly.
Flora and 1 covered together i'm the
parlOr. more and more frightened as
the hours went by. Our house was a
lone, country mansion several miles
from the country town, and we were
quite alone. all the family. including
even the servants. having gone TO the
annual fair. and intending % stay till
morning.
81 never heard such strange sounds" I"
i said. "Surely that was somebody on
the stoop just now"
Nonsense" cried Flora, looking
around nervOusly, however.
"It was only two nights ago." re-
piled, "that Mr.. Browns house was
robbed. They do say" and here my
voice fell TO n whisper, "that an organ
lied gang Of thieves is going round the
country"
Mercy cried Flora, turning dead
ly pale. suppose they come here?
What's TO be dOne2 Hadn't we better
go over 20 cousin Belrs?"
"Whatl at this time of night Moth
ing would tempt me-"
"This Is pun shment for refusing
cousin SAM" said Flora. elf you had
only behaved nationally, we could have
had one OF the servants from Elm
wood 10 stay with us. But I suppose
cousin Bell is so angry at the way i'm
which you have treated her son. that
she will never speakto us again."
had no reply to make. l already,
In my heart, regretted the cOquetry
which had made me refuse cousin
sam; but was too proud TO admit il TO
anybody but myself.
To turn the conversation, and en-
deavor to inspire Flora as we'll as my.
self with courage. went to the piano.
But before could strike note, my
attention was arrested by q grating
sound that seemed to come from under
the floor. / glanced at Flora She
was trembling from head 90 foot.
"Oh. Roser she whispered. "some
one is getting into the cellar. We shall
all be murdered" and she wrung her
hands helplessly.
We both listened. But heard moth.
ing but the beating of my heart. was
not naturally coward and my resolu-
tion was taken at once.
"Flora," / whispered. "you bang
away ON the piano. so that IL there IL
any one below stairs he will not suspect
that we have heard him. l will go and
listen at the cellar door,
went through the long dark entry.
all outward appearance bravely
enough. but expectingat every step To- be
knocked ON the head. At last reached
the kitchen. Putting one ear TO the
trap-door that led into the cellar. /
listened. But heard only Flora play
ing on The piano. the gate banging and
slamming. and the old oak creaking i'm
the gate. and knocking with its branch
es against the house.
"What towards we are. after all" /
said 10 myself. boldly raising the trap.
door. and peering down into the cellar.
/ could see nothing but the air smelt
OF rain.
Zone Of the windows must be OPEN"
/ said. 81 hear the rain dashing in.
That explains the queer noise"
1 descended the stairs intending To
shut the window. Gradually my eyes
became more and more accustomed TO
the darkness. When / reached the
bottom Of the steps turned to look for
the window. Great heavensl Ii was
not there.
My heart stopped beating. elung
TO the cellar steps. As looked, the
window reappeared, now plainly wide
open. stood staring at the patch of
faint, gray light for full minute, then.
laughing silently at my fears. and per
suading myself that the shutters had
blown to. and now had blown open
again. 1 advanced. intending 10 fasten
the shutters securely.
/ had gone more than half way
across the cellar. following the wall
when the window was Ohscured again.
and a grud voice cried: "Here. lend a
fellow hand" At the same time I
saw burly form creep through the
window. My knees now absolutely
gave way under me. as another voice
behind me, answered: Eve had better
walt till the family go to bed" In a
moment, however. recovered myself
and turned 10 fly upstairs. even at the
risk Of being caught by the rufIian be-
hind me. But, before 1 could move a
step, the trap-dOor fell with bang.
and was shut In hopelessly with two
II not more. burglars.
There was n horrible silence Rnt
Tor the support the wall gave me I
would have sunk to the ground nj
rectly one OF the rufIians tried to lioht
match. / heard the scraDe ON bis
poot and saw the flame for monenI !.
Dnt fortunately the wind blew n ont
Inc emminent peril gave me sudden
strength To attempt to raise the tran
door from below. was impossible far
me- 1 knew. My only hone of escaDa
was through the window. and toward
It l hed as swiftly and noiselesslv as
possible. i remembered that an emrtv
vinegar barrel stood almost directIy
under 1t On this l sprang and clutch.
ing the sill above, was about to draw,
myself up, when the nearest buroIay
discovering me. darted at me with an
oath. He was, luckily, Just one in.
slant too late. Quick rs fash i wa,
up on the sill, and out Of the window