River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-10-18


myself in the sitting room. A hasty
glance at the door showed the key abb
sent from he lock.
'freachery.
81 wonder that this new revelation
did not sutfocate me. The man on the
highway-the injure brother-Thomas
had BETRAYED Us. He mad overheard
about the money. A robber was in the
house and another was outside. My re-
treat would be cut off. How thoughts
ran riot through my mindl Hsw would
they kin me? Would | suffer long? At
this instant | was sure that / heard a
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 ex-
tinguished the lamp on the table, and.
crouching in the FIRE place, rested one
foot upon the andron, swung out the
iron crane, stepped the other foot upon
the strong support and rose INTO the
fiue. Something touched my head
Thank God! 1t was the rope with which
the disiodeed bricks had been hoisted
out. Grasping this carefully with my
hands held myself like wedge in the
opening. If had envied large, noble
looking women before, | now had rea-
form and ninety-odd pounds of ayoirdu-
Dois.
''I had little time, however to think
of ANYTHING except the imminent danger
of knocking Gown fragment of brick
or mortar, and thus discovering my hid
ing place, for the clock begun with souo
rous peals to strike IL. Under cover
of its echoes there were quick, soft steps
in the hall, ana the bolt of the outer
door was withdrawn. The huge hut
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.
II heard Thomas distinctly, when he
said:
"She isn't here; she's gone to bed: bu
the money is in the library
"Be cautious" advised a strange voice
land we may not lave 10 burt her.
"They carefully retreated, and my
heart struck off the seconds against my
ribs in way that was suffocating, for
knew that their search would soon bt
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"
"Tnen we'll have it if
''The pause meantall that words coult
convey.
"The cold sweat was coming out Of
| every pore of my body. The dust of th'
| creosote had penetrated my mouth a1C
nostrlls, aud had TO take one hand from
the rope in their absence and place 1
| finger upon my lips to prevent sneezing
Come, hurry" was the angry watch
| word exchanged between them, and
| heard the stairs creaking as they ascend
| ed to my chamner Thorn rs was ia
| miiar with all the house.
'FWhy did / not drop down and es
cape outside?
"First then, they had locked the out
| er door and Withdrawn the key to pre-
| vent a surprise from without. Second
| there might be third confederate out
/ side. But the most important reason o
| all was, it seemed to me that | neve
| could get out Of the aperture that ha'
| allowed me entrance into the chimney
| ran the risk of discovery and death il
| any case.
"Oh, why did not my father and hi
| companion return? II might be hour
| first
| "Thev had found me absent from m,
|
| no longer used extreme caution. The,
| hurried from one apartment 10 the 9th
| er. | could feel the jar of moving furn
ture, and closet doors W re opened has
| tily. The upper part of the house wa
| ransacked, and then they came dow
/ stairs upon the run. TINE was precou
| to them now. With diretul oaths the
/ rlmmaged the lower floors, and fnall
| ad n the sitting.
81 saw the light here last" sal
| Thomas. moving with his lamp acros
| the room, land here is the lamp on th
| table"
"She must have got out"
| "No; / watched for her, and ever
window is fastened on the inside.
| Then he continued: Course her! she's
witch!' and bafiad they stood an
| poured oaths after me. "Id like
eaten her now" How he ground it on
between his teeth.
"Shall we search more?"
"It's no use; we've turned over every
| thing under which mouse could hide
"What, then? Shall we waylay the oil
| man and fix hlm?"
They haven't the money; it was lei
here"
"rhe cellar" suggested the voice.
"Once more they dashed out only t
| return in hot haste now; TOR there wa
the trot and rumble OF horse and cal
riage on the bridge betw cen us and th
city"
''Stay," urged the stranger, 'trum
up some kind of story, and we may Sc
cure the money YETI
81 would" return Thomas, but tn
girls witch, and am just as sure tina
| she is some where near US all the time
and would hand me over to justice -