Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-05

Ile ntdT Vic bWtCb CNhoCDs
"But directly chided myself for being
rather careless, as the road was thor
oughfare, and chance straggler might
surprise me. Iarose, closed my window,
and, obeying some strange, impressive
power, walked through the hall into the
library, took my fathers key from Its nc,
customed place, unlocked his desk, ionnd
the package of five Thousand dollars, ana
placing it in my bosom relocked the door
and returned to the sitting room. ana
not light lamp; had no need OF hre,
rs that from the kitchen stove warmed
the sitting room sufficiently III TINS MID
weather.
1.-THE house was old-fashioned very,
with fireplace in the sitting room open
ing up into chimney of capacity suiii-
cient for foundry stack. We had cheer
ful open fires later on but the house be-
ing an ancestral pile, was getting some
what dilapidated and the partition sepa.
rating the ilues in the large chimney had
fallen in. Men had been sent out to clear
the rubbish and make repairs, but the
work, half done, was suspended on ac-
count of the arrival of Captain Boswell
and this important business affair.
81 would have enjoyed immensely to
kindle sparkling fire i'll the huge wide
fireplace, but as affairs were / could not.
SO / unused in darkness for hours. l
really took no heed OF time, until my
quick ear caught the sound Of football
approaching, close up to the doorstep, L
could have taken my oath. 1t was SO
light an echo that / sprang to my feet,
thinking that my cousin Milly, absent
when my father called, and returning
later had come down to stay with me.
II sprang up with smile to answer
her knock, albeit l was bit jealous OF
her pretty face, but no knock came, and
the echoes died out. and altogether con-
cluded that had deceived myself III re-
gard to them. Anyhow l goall light the
lamp. did so, and was startleh 10 Ind
it past 10 o'clock. | had got sufficiently
aroused from my reverie to want book
from the library shelves. l took mp my
lamp and went singing into the room.
81 obtained the desired volume, step
ped down from the stool, and
"If ever any one felt themselves dying,
| did at that moment My song died on
my lips, while thousand thoughts seemed
to flash into my mind in one instant In
voluntarily l gasped, and then with a
strong effort of the will power, for which
l am famous, took up the song again
and sang it to the close.
"Among other things I remembered
that the lock was off the library door for
repairs. l remembered the lateness of
the hour and the probability that all the
people were in bed fast asleep. i remem-
bered the footsteps in the door yard, and
there vac fresh, pungent smell of to-
bacco smoke in the room. A scent of
smoke that was not in the .'com when |
was there and placed the package OF InoE-
ey in my bosom.
''Do you wonder that my brain reeled
and my 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.
Somewhere within few yards. or u few
feet Of me, the !rob5er assassin was con-
in the recess behind the
or under the long, draped, paper
strewn table.
"a faint sound outside nearly made me
drop Tie lamp still Lad unconsciously
left my first song and was singing
'For his bride a soldier won her.
And winning tongue hal he
81 knew that temporary salvation
power and liberty to leave that room.
upon my appearing I'M
of the robbers proximity.
~ got out of the library and found
myself in the sitting-room. A hasty
glance at the door showed the key Sbsent
from the lock.
"Treachery!
1,at l,tp a1,k. 4 I
not suffocate me. The man on the high
way-the injured brother-Thomas had
betrayed lis. He had overheard about the
money. A robber was in the house and
another was outside. My retreat would
be cut of. How thoughts ran riot through
my mind. How would they kill me?
Would l suffer long? At that instant
was sure that heard faint creak of the
library door at the far end of the long
nall.
Zone swift, despairing glance around
ne, one wild idea of escape, and extin-
5uished the light upon the table, and
in the fireplace l rested one
DOT upon the andiron, swung out the
ron crane. stepped the other foot upon
he strong support, and rose up into the
iue. Something touched my head.
Thank God 1t WAS the rope with which
'he 2dislodged bricks had been hoisted
'ut. Grasping this carefully with my
lands 1 held myself like a wedge in the
opening. If / had envied large. noble
cooking women before, now had reason
% be thankful for my diminutive form
md ninety odd pounds of avoirdupois.
81 had little time, however, to consider 1
anything except the imminent danger of
lislodging fragment of brick or mortar,
md thus discovering my hiding place, for
he clock began with sonorous peals to
strike eleven. Under cover of its echoes
here were quick, soft steps in the hall,
and the bolt of the outer door was with
1rawn. The huge fluo must have acted
ike telephone, for heard every sound
with fearful distinctness. First, there
was a pause by the door of the sitting
room, then breathing in it, then whisper
ng.
81 heard Thomas distinctly when he
said:
"'Sho isn't here she's gone to bed |
out the money is in the library
"'Be cautious |! advised n strange voice,
and we may not have to hurt her.
"They carefully retreated and my heart
struck off the seconds against my ribs in
! way that was suffocating, for L knew
hat their search would soon be over, and
what then?
''In less than five minutes they were
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
'reosote had penetrated my mouth and
lostrils and had to take one hand from
.he rope in their absence and place fin
ger upon my lips to prevent sneezing.
Come, hurry was the angry watch
word exchanged between them, end /