The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-28

window, and, obeylng some strange,
impressive power. l walked through the
hall into the library, took my fathers
key from its accustomed place, unlocked
his desk, found the package of five
thousand dollars, and, placing it in my
bosom, re-locked the door, and returned
to the sitting-room. I did not light q
lamp; / bad no need of a FIRE. as that
from the kitchen stove warmed the sit
ting room sufficiently in this mild
weather.
"The house was old-fashioned, very,
with a fireplace in the sitting room
opening up into q chimney of capacity
sufficient for foundry stack. We had
cheerful open fires later on; but the
house being an ancestral pile, was get
ting somewhat dilapidated, and the par
tition separating the fiues in the large
chimney had fallen in. Men had been
set to clear out the rubbish and make
repairs, but the work, half done, was
suspended on account of the arrival of
Captain Boswell and this important bust
ness affair.
l would have enjoyed immensely to
kindle a sparkling fire in the huge,
wide fireplace, but as affairs were /
could not. So 1 unused in darkness for
hours. really took no heed of time,
until my quick ears 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 my cousin Milly, alb
sent when my father called, returning
lot hah 70 c-a
Isprang up with a smile to answer
her knock, albeit 1 was bit jealous of
her pretty face; but no knock came,
and the eches died out. and altogether
1 concluded that had deceived myself
in regard to them. Anyhow, l would
light the lamp. l did SO, and was
startled to find it past ten O'Clock. 1
had gotten sufficiently aroused from my
reverie now to want q book from the
library shelves. l took up my lamp and
went singing into the room.
Il obtained the desired volume,
stepped down from the stool. and
IF any one ever felt themselves dying.
l did at that moment. My song died on
my lips, while a thousand thoughts
seemed to flash into my mind in one in
slant. Involuntarily l gasped. and then
with strong effort of the will power,
for which l am famous, l took up the
song again and sang it to the close.
-" Among other things, remembered
that the lock was off the library door
for repairs. remembered the lateness
of the hour and the probability that all
the people were in bed and asleep. |
remembered the footsteps in the door
yard, and there was fresh, pungent
smell of tobacco smoke in the room. A
scent ofsmoke that was not in the room
when l was there and placed the pack
age of money in my bosom.
do you wonder that nv brain reeled
and my heart stopped beating for an
instant? Besides, whoever the robber
was, he would soon begin work, not
knowing how early nv father and the
Captain might return. And l should
be murdered. Somewhere within few
yards, or few feet of me. the robber
assassin was oncealed-either in the
recess behind the cabinet, or under the
long, draped. paper-strewn table.
A faint sound outside nearly made
me drop the lamp from my hand; still 1
had unconsciously left my first song and
was singing:
For his bride soldier won her,
And winning tongue had he
81 knew that temporary salvation
power and liberty to leave that room
eEen-depended upon my appearing
of the robbers proximity.
II got out of the library and found
myself in the sitting-room A hasty
glance at the door showed the key abb
sent from the lock.
"Treachery!
Il wonder that this new revelation
did not sutfocate me. The man on the
injured brother-Thomas
had betrayed Us. He had overheard
about the money. A robber was in the
house and another was outside. Nv
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 l 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 extinguished the light upon the
table, and, crouchiug in the fireplace,
[ rested one foot upon the andiron,
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, it was
he rope with which the dislodged
bricks had been hoisted out. Grasp
ng this carefully with my hands, held
myself like wedge in the opening. If
had enyied large, noble-loOking
before, now had reason to be
thankful for my diminutive form and
ninety odd pounds of ayoirdupois.
IL had little time, however, to con-
'ider anything excepting the imminent |
hanger of dislodging fragment of |
prick or mortar, and thus discovering
ny hiding-place, for the clock began |
With sonorous peals TO strike eleven. |
Under cover of its echoes there were |
witt, soft steps in the hall, and the |
,olt of the outer door was withdrawn. |
The huge fiue must have acted like a |
telephone. for heard every sound with |
earful distfnctness. First, there was a |
pause by the door of the sitting-room,
hen breathing in it, then whispering.
i heard Thomas distinctly when
lie said:
'''She isn't here; she's gone to bed;
,ut the money is in the library
:. BE cautious advised a strange |
-oiee, and we may not have to hurt
ler.'
"They carefully retreated. and my
leart struck off the seconds against my
lbs, in way that was suffocating. for
knew that their search would soon be
,ver. and what then?
!" In less than five minutes they were
in the room again.
" Curse her.. aspirated Thomas, she
ook the money with her.
Then well have it if