Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-01-04
"Good heavens, child! Why don't

up here IN a few minute and lind i
was gone, and then
"Ah, well. So you stayed to save
the old woman if you could. What are
you doing, child? Why don't you lock
the door and pile things against it?
Good Godi if l was just able to rise out
of this bed;''
But Lima did not speak for a moment.
She had found a pencil and paper, and
was rapidly writing a few words.
When she had finished
Now she said, s'when Parkins
comes tell her l am to sleep on her
couch here in your room, and she must
go somewhere else. / will be back in a
moment Leot'
Out of the room she darted, and
down to the hall door, which she un-
barred and passed through. Then,
keeling in the shadow of a pillar on the
portico, she tied the note tightly in her
handkerchief round Leo's neck
She put her arms round his neck
after that, kissed his forehead, and a
h~alf-sob escaped her.
''Is that you miss?n said a smooth
voice from the hall. .sWhy, whatever
are you doing in the dark there?'
Lima sprang up as if she had been
shot.
II am sending the dog home" she
said, speaking quietly, though the
throbs of her heart shook her whole
frame. ''He is restless here without
his master. Go home, Leo-straight
home, sir!''
The dog, with one farewell lick of
her hand, bounded down the steps and
vanished in the dewy darkness of the
Summer night.
"Oh, Godi let him 90 safely and
swiftlye' prayed the girl in her heart.
Then she went in and helped Parkins
bar the door, and they went together
upstairs.
Aunt Margaret lay very quietly on
her pillow, but with her black eyes
cleaning.
"Parkins," she said, steady, as they
entered, miss Leigh is kind enough
to offer to stay with me here tonight.
She win sleep on your couch, and you,
my poor soul, a go and get a good
nights rest in another ROOM"
Parkins was silent for one instant,
and then began a series of smooth, polite
approximations which no one would heed
and finally the civil nurse prepared the
couch for Lima and took herself off, OBJ
serving sweetly:
If Miss Leigh win leave the door
ajar, | can hear a call from this ROOM,
and will come instantly"
Thanks, Parkins, but | hope | shall
not have to call you,n said Lima, speak
ing as sweet as Parkins herself.
Then as she glided to the door as
soon rs it was closed, she turned with
a face Of dismay, and whispered:
''The key is gone! She took it when
she was idgeting in and out with the
sheets and pillows"
'.There is a bolt besides" Aunt Mar
garet answered.
Lima gave a sigh of relief as she slipp-
ed the bolt into the groove, and felt that
she had some little protection against
the enemy.
Now, child,n Aunt Margaret said,
can you use a pistol"
Il never touched n in my life,"
said the little coward but if | had
one now / would try
VERY well. Take my safe key-it is
under my pillow-and unlock the safe.
They are just as my husband left them
a year ago, but Robert looked at them
a few days ago, and said they were all
right. That is it. Put one of them on
the foot of the bed, and if those wretches
come, try, my dear, to use it. Now put
the other here, by my left hand. Thank
God! | can use that a little. Now,
what are you doing? Oh, yes: pile up
all you a against the door. There,
you can't move anything else. Now,
come here, little girl, kneel down by
me, and let's say our prayers together"
With the old lady's thin, pallid hand
elasped tightly in her two cold, trcm-
bling little ones. Lima knelt down there,
and burrying her face in the pillow,
tried to pray.
Her petition vas not a very coherent
one; il was only a wild, passionate cry
for pity and help, and meantime she
was listening. with every nerve strained
for sounds from the outside, A lamp
burned in the room. On the mantel-
piece a soft ticking clock marked the
slow minutes. No other sound broke
the stiffness.
Presently a sob shook the girls figure
She was thinking Of Sir Robert and his
tender care over her.
Oh, if she had not been 50 hayward
and proud this evening. all would have
beer well. He would have come for
her. they would have been safe.
But surely, surely, he would come
yet.
He could not fail to find the note,
and She knew he would come to save
her. But yet horrible doubts came to
her as to whether the note would reach
him 1t might be lost. or Leo might
wander about and not get home until ii
was too late.
Too late! Lima shuddered and sobbed
again as she thought what shat might
mean. Oh, it was hard to think of dy-
ing SO helplessly, so horribly, with help
so near.
The long minutes crept on, and no
sound came until 1 O'clock had passed
The little clock softly cbimed the half
hour. Then, in a few moments, came
a sound Of stealing footsteps in the pas
sage, and the knob of the door was
softly turned.
B%reathless silence in the room. Then
q gentle tap at the door. Lima clasped
Aunt Margaret's hand convulsively,
aud the old lady spoke.
''What is that?n she asked, steadily.
1T is ne, Parkins. ma'am. Would
you ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly
open the door? | have the toothache
and want some laudanum."
''NVhat q devil it is!'' whispered Aunt
Margaret. Then aloud: $50 down
stairs and get something, Parkins. /
cannot trouble Miss Leigh"
Lima hoped that Parkins would urge
the point a little. Anything to prolong
the parley and gain time.
But a whisper in the passage followed,
and then a mans voice:
Ladies, there's no use making q
row. just open the door peacefully,
and you shan't be hurt. Well break it
down if you don't"
What do you want?' Lena asked,
hoping to gain a little time. A new
and gruff voice answered insolently:
"You know well enough what we
want. miss. We want the thousand
pounds and the diamonds. and we mean
to have them. So don't be a fool, but
just open the door peacefully, or you'll
be sorry
Lima sprang TO her feet and siezed the
pistol, A flood of color rushed to her
check and brow. She had been insulted
and threatened, and Indignation over
powered terror. She went toward the
door and called out quickly and clearly: