Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-27


81 obtained the desired volame, stepped |
down from the stool, and
eff ever any one felt themselves dying |
did at that moment. My song died on my |
;;ips. while a thousand thoughts seemed to
fash into my mind one instant. Involun-
tsrily I gasped, and then with a strong
effort of the will power, for which am ia
nous, took up the song again and sang 1t
to the close.
Among other things l remembered that
the lock was off the library door for re-
pairs. l remembered the lateness of the
hour and the probability that all the people
were in bed and asleep. remembered the
the footsteps in the door yard, and-there
was fresh, pungent smell of tobacco smoke
that was not in The room when was there
and placed the package of money IN my
bosom.
"Do you wonder that my brain reeled
and nv heart stopped beating for an in.
slant. Besides, whoever the robber was,
he would soon begin work, not knowing
how early my father and the Captain might
return. And l should be murdered. Some.
where within few yards or few feet of
me the robber assassin was concealed
either in the recess behind the cabinet, or
under the long, draped, paper -strewn table.
I" A faint sound outside nearly made me
set down the lamp; still | had unconsci.
ously left my first song and was singing,
For his bride soldier won her.
And a winning tongue had he.'
81 knew that temporary salvation
power and liberty to leave that room, even
depended upon my appearing unconscious
of the robbers proximity.
81 got out of the library and found my
self in the sitting. room. A hasty glance
at the door showed the key absent from
the lock.
"Treachery
81 wonder that this new revelation did
not suffocate me. The man on the high
way-the injured brother-Thomas had
betrayed US. He had overheard about the
money. A robber was in the house and
another outside. My retreat would be cut
off. How thoughts ran riot through my
mind How would they kill me? Would
1 suffer long? At this instant was sure
that 1 heard faint creak of the library
door at the far end of the long hall.
"One swift, despairing glance around
me, one wild idea of escape, and l extin-
guished the light upon the table, and,
crouching in the fireplace, l rested one
foot upon the apdiron, swung out the iron
crane, stepped the other foot upon the
strong support and rose up into the fiue
Something touched my head. Thank God
1t was the rope with which the dislodged
bricks had been hoisted out. Grasping
this carefully with my hands held myself
like wedge in the opening. If had en-
Wed large, noble. looking women before,
now had reason to be thankful for my
diminutive form and ninety odd pounds of
avoirdapois.
81 had little time, however, to think of
anything except the imminent danger of
knocking down a fragment of brick or NOR
tar, and thus discovering my hiding place,
for the clock began with sonorous peals to
strike IL. Under cover of its echoes there
were quick, soft steps in the hall, and the
bolt of the outer door was withdrawn. The
huge 1ue must have acted like telephone,
for heard every sound with fearful dis
tinctness. First, there was pause by the
door of the sitting-room, then breathing in
it, then whispering.
81 heard Thomas distinctly when he
said 2:
"'She is isn't here she's gone to bed /;
but the money is in the library
I" Be cautious, advised a strange voice,
and we may not have to hurt her,
"They carefully retreated, and nay heart
struck off the seconds against my ribs in a
way that was suffocating, for 1 knew that
their search would soon be over, and what
then?
"In less than FIVE minutes they were
whispering in the room again.
"Confound her ! aspirated Thomas,
she took the money with her.
Then we'll have it if
"The pause meant all that words could
convey.
"The cold sweat was coming out of
every pore of my body. The dust of the
creosote had penetrated my mouth and
nostrils, and 1 had to take one hand from
the rope in their absence and place finger
upon my lips to prevent sneezing.
Come, hurry was the angry watch.
word exchanged between them, aud heard
the stairs creaking as they ascended to nay
chamber. Thomas was familiar with all
The house.
"Why did did not drop down and es-
cape outsides
First, then, they had locked the outer
door and withdrawn the key to prevent
surprise from without. Second, there
might be third confederate outside. But
the most important reason of all was, it
seemed to me, that never could get out
of the aperture that had allowed me en-
trance into the chimney. ran the risk Of
| discovery and death in any case.
"0h, why did not my father and his
| companion return? 1t might be hours
first.
"They had found me absent from my
chamber and the adjoining rooms. They
no longer use extreme caution. They hur-
ried from one apartment to the other. l
could feel the jar of moving furniture, and
closet doors were opened hastily. The up
per part of the house was ransacked, and
tEen they came down stairs upon the run.
Time was precious to them now. With
direful oaths they rummaged the lower
floors, and finally returned to the sitting
room.
"'I saw the light here last, said Thom-
as, moving with his lamp across the room,
and here is the lamp on the table
"'She must have got out.
"No; l watched for her, and every
window is fastened on the outside Then
he continued, Curse her she's witch =
and baf1led they stood and poured oaths
after me. I'D like to catch her now.'
How he ground it out between his teeth.
"' Shall we search more?
It's no use we've turned over every
thing under which a mouse could hide
q" What then? Shall we waylay the
old man and fix himi
They haven't the money it was left
here
"The cellar, suggested the voice.
"0nce more they dashed out only to re-
turn in hot haste now; for there was the
trot and rumble of horse and carriage on
the bridge between as and the city.
Stay, urged the stranger, trump up
some kind of story, and we may secure
the money yet.
"'I would, returned Thomas, but the
girls witch, and l am just as sure that
che is somewhere near us all the time, and
would hand me over to Justice
There was a scsmper outside, and the
sound of feet running towards the river
came down the wide mouth at the ton of the