The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-11-28

soon as 1t was closed, sue turned Win
look of dismay and whisr cred:
"The KEY is gone! She took it when
shsegas fidgeting in and out with the
saeets and pillows F"
"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 protection
against the enemy.
"Now, Child" said Aunt Margaret,
''can you handle pistol p
II never touched one in my life," said
the little coward; "but if had one
n,w I'd try"
"very well. Take my safe key-it is
under my pillow-and unlock the safe.
They are just as my husband left them
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 it. Now put
the other here by my lett hand. Thank
God can use that little. Now,what
are, you doing7 Oh, yes; pile up all
you can sga,nst 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,trembling
little ones, Lima knelt down there, and
burying her face in the pillow tried to
pray.
Her petition was cot a very coherent
one; it was only wild. passionate cry
for pity and help, and meanwhile she
was listening with every nerve strained
for sounds from the outside. A lamp
burned in the room; on The mantel 6
softly ticking clock marked the SLOW
minutes; no other sound broke the still.
ness.
Presently sob shook the girls figure
She was thinking of Sir Robert and his
terder care over her.
Oh, if she had only not been so war.
ward and proud this evening all would
have been well; he would have come foI
her. and they would have been safe.
But surely, surely he would come yet
He could not fail to fad the note and
she knew he would come to save ber
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 1t was too
late.
Too late! Lins shu ldered and Sob
bed again as she thought what that might
mean Oh, It was har'l to think of dy-
ing SO helplessly, so horribly, with help
so near.
| The long minutes crept OF and no
aound came until II o'clock had passed.
The little clock softly chimed the hall
hour; then, IN few moments came the
sound of softly falling footsteps in the
passage and the knob Of the door was
ssflYzturned. -@s.,...-.s,.....s..
Breathess silence in the room then q
gentle tap at the door Lins clasped
Aunt Margaret's hand )nfulsively and
the old lady spoke.
"Who is that?" she asked steadily.
"Its me, Parkins, ma'am. Will you
ask Miss Leigh If she'll kindly open the
doory l have the to o,thsche and want
some laudaDum."
"What a fend it isl whispered Aunt
Margaret; then aloud: &C down stairs
and get something, Parkins; | cannot
trouble Miss Leigh"
Lima hoped that Parkins would urge
the point a little; ANYTHING to prolons
the parley and gain time.
But whisper in the passege followed
and then mans voice:
Ladies', there's no use m king row
Just open the door peacefully and yor
shan't be hurt; we'll break it down il
you don't"
"What do you wantp" Lima asked,
hoping to gain little time. A new and
gruff voice answered insolently:
"You know well enough what we wan
n iss. We wants the thousand pound:
and the diamonds and we mean to hav,
them; 50 don't be TOOL, hut just oper
the door pescefally or you'll be sorry"
Lima sprang to her feet aud seized thu
pistol; a h)od OF color rushed to he
cheek and brow. She had been in.ultec
and threatened and indignation overpow
ed terror. She went toward the door ant
called out quickly and clearly:
"You're not coming in ! have sem
fol help, and Sir Rphe-t and his mer
will be here dir ectly; l am armed, and
you break the door down will sho o
you like dog"
A moments silence followed then I
coarse laugh and
"All CANNON; she hadn't no one t.
send. Break the door down." in Par
kin's voice, and heavy blows began t.
fall upon the donr; it trembled ant
cracked beneath the battery; a pane
broke; a mans hand was thrust in /: thu
whole door seemed about 10 tall when
bang! hang! came two reports frrm Ii
mas pistol and couple OF bullets crash
!, ed through the panels and the hesieger'
, paused abruptly.
"Go away instantly" callei the girrI
clear voice, 'or | will fire again
Zone more rush, mate, and We are in
, yelled the gruff voice outside.
What followed the wild tumult ar
, confusion, the crash OF breaking panel
and bolts, the fall OF the door and furni
ture Lima had piled against it, shot afte
, shot from Lina's pistol, yell OF pal
and rage from both Of them The doc
was down; one OF the men was in tn
f room; Lima had fred her last shot anr
e running to the bed snatched Aunt Mai
, earet's pistol and turned to face the en'
my Suddenly came wild shrek froi
r Parkins; then voice calling "Lin:
Lima, am coming" and Sir Robert d
Rossett hurled himself bodily upon Ii
ruffian outside the door, proslrated BIZ
d and sprsng into the room over his hod'
and this is what he saw: Madeline Loig
q the "little coward" with blazing eyes an
n scarlet cheeks, and pistol in her han
standing unAinchingly between Au
r Margaret and burly ruffian and Aur
!. Margaret herself, who had not turned
her bed for year, standing on her fe
4 on the floor. Two. seconds changed Il
"a aspect of affairs. After that the bursl
g sprawled senseless on the floor; Au
n Margaret sprang back to her bed with
10 wild "Thank God p and the little her
{ inc Of the scene lay in Sir Rober,
orua in q daad faint