Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-09-11

VI W SAAO cumming
marauders. The only door was of
oak, iron-bound and riveted. The
windows were barred with iron.
Was it to guard his money the peo-
people wondered, or his pretty
daughter, that these precautions were
taken?
1t could scarcely have been for the
latter reason, for Dolly was in no
way restricted of her liberty. This
sunny summer morning she sat in
the open doorway, knitting stock
ing of snow-white yarn. AS she sat
there, framed as in a picture against
the dark background of the interior,
she could scarcely have appeared,
under any circumstances, more at
tractive to the passer-by. Her
cheeks glowed with the hue of youth
full health; the warm sunlight lay
upon her light-brown hair; her red
lips were parted in absorbing inter
est in her occupation tiny, slip
pered foot protruded from beneath
her gown. All in all, she formed a
most bewitching part of the scene
which greeted the eyes of the ragged
man as he turned the corner in the
road, and came in sight of Morse's
mill.
''Ah, James, is that you?'' asked
Dolly, looking up with a pleasant
smile, as the man paused before the
door,
eyes, it's me, Jim Billin's,'' re-
piled the other, doggedly. "All
alone, amt ye?"
eyes. Fathers gone away"
"I know it. Met him on the road.
Going to be gone long?"
''No. He has only gone to the
village. You can see him then, if
you wish"
"Wall, p'raps I will," said Bill
lings, looking up and down in either
direction, and then turned once more
to Dolly.
"Did-did you want him particu-
larly?" asked the girl, noticing his
apparent disinclination to leave.
''Wall, no; but I'm desprit hun
CRY, Dolly. Can't ye git a feller
somethin' to eat.
"Why, yes" exclaimed the good
hearted girl, ''of course 1 will"
She went unsuspectingly toward
the pantry, closely followed by the
man. No sooner had he crossed the
threshold, however, than he slammed
like a tiger at her throat. So sud-
den was the onslaught, and SO
tight his grasp upon her neck, that
she could neither struggle nor cry
out. White with terror, she sank
upon her knees.
"Now, GIRL" cried the ruffian,
"where's your fathers money!"
She tried to speak, and the man,
seeing that she was unable to do so,
let 90 her throat and seized her by
the wrists.
eff you Scream" he said, ''Pn
kill you. Where's the money? 1t
must be either that or your life, my
pretty Dolly"
Through Dolly's brain the thoughts
flew quickly. Her first paroxysm of
terror over, she began to realize the
necessity of subduing her fears, and
summoning all her wit and resolu-
ton. She was brave girl, and
with her, to think was to act.
s'Don't harm me- she said.
Fathers money is in the oak chest in
the attic
"Ah," exclaimed Billings. "Show
me the way to it, and do ye 90 before
me. 1t will go hard with ye if ye lie
to me-
She tremblingly obeyed, and lee
the way upstairs. The room at the
head of the staircase was occupied
as lumber room. From this a lad.
der led to the attic, the entrance tC
which was closed by trap-door il
the floor. Though Dolly had lifted
this door almost daily, she failed t(
do so now, and sank back upon th'
ladder, feigning exhaustion.
"The trap is too heavy for me, ,
she said. 'sI can't raise it,
With an oath the man pulled he
down from the ladder, and placing
his shoulder against the trap, mount
ed to the attic, and held the door fol
her to follow. But like flash Dol
ly had sprang through the door o
the lumber room and had turned th
keys in the great double locks, whicl
was placed there as a safeguar'
against assault from without, nov
served to secure prisoner within.
In vain did Billings, on discover
ing the trick, hurl himself agains
the door with the most frightful i'm
precautions. The oaken barrier re
sisted his utmost efforts, and th
windows were barred with iron
Without weapon or aid from with
out, escape was impossible.
| Shutting her ears to the man
howls of rage, Dolly flew down stair
and ran out into the road. But sh
had not run dozen yards, befor
she heard a shrill whistle and th
voice of Billings calling from th
, window above:
ssCashel! Cashel Stop the girl
| Pm locked in RrinU har hack an