The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-06-15

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moment and tried to think. What did il
mean? Robbery, murder And no help
near. Her first instinct was to fly out of the
house and across the fields to the hall But
her absence would be instantly discovered
she knew, and then poor Aunt Margaret
would be alone with these wretches. No
she must not go but to stand there idle
would do no good. She flew like bird
along the halls and up stairs, Leo pacing by
her side. At Aunt Margaret's door she
paused, and sudden thought came to her
She would send Leo home for help.
Where is the spoon, child? How long
you stayed Good heavens what is the
matter?" cried the old lady, as she saw the
girls terrified face. Lima began some eva
sive answer, but instantly remembered that
Aunt Margaret must be told the whole story
or nothing could be done to save her. She
did tell it, and Aunt Margaret listened in ST.
lent CONSERVATION, and then burst out i'm.
petuously with:
Good heavens, child why don't you run
right homer
because know Parkins will be up here
in few minutes and find | 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 il? Good God If was
Just able to rise out of this bed p
But Lima did not speak for n moment. She
/ had found pencil and paper, and was rap
idly writing few words. When she had
| finished, Now" she said, when Parkihs
comes tell her | am to sleep on the couch
here in your room, and she must go some
where else. | will be back in moment.
Leop
| a., 90 ,,,o ,oo,,, ,bo do,toJ o,d lou,,, 70
the hall door, which she unbarred and passed
through. Then, kneelng in the shadow of
pillar on the portico, she tied the note
| tightly in her handkerchief round Leo s neck
| She put her arms around his neck after that,
kissed his forehead and a half sob escaped
| her.
us that you, Mss?" said a smooth voice
from the hall. "Why, whatever are you
doing in the dark there?"
Lima sprang up as if she had been shot.
Il 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, STRIP
The dog, with one farewell lick of her
hand, bounded down the steps and vanished
in the dewy darkness of the summer night.
30 God let him go safely and swiftlyp
prayed the girl in her heart.
Then she went in and helped Parkins bar
the door, and they went together up stairs.
Aunt Margaret lay very quietly on her pill
low, but with her black eyes cleaning.
"Parkins," she said, steadily, as they enter
ed Miss Leigh is kind enough to offer to
stay with me here tonight. She will sleep
on your couch, and you, my poor soul, can
go and get good nights rest in another
ROOM"
Parkins was silent for one instant and
| then began series of smooth, polite expos
tuations which no one would heed, and
finally the civil nurse prepared the couch for
Lima and took herself of, observing sweetly:
"If Miss Leigh will leave the door ajar l
can hear a call from this room and will come
instantly"
Thanks, Parkins, but hope | shall not
have to call you" said Lima, speaking as
sweet as Parkins herself
Then, as she glided to the door as soon as
it was closed, she turned with face of dis
may, and whispered:
The key is gone. She took it when she
was tidgeting in and out with the sheets and
pillows"
There is bolt besides" Aunt Margaret
| answered.
Lima gave sigh of relief as she slipped the
bolt into the grove, and felt that she had
some little protection against the enemy.
Now, child" asked Aunt Margaret, "can
you use pistol2"
81 never touched one in my life" said the
little coward But if had one now | could
try"
very well. Take my safe key-it is under
| my pillow-and unlock the safe. They are
just as my husband left them Il year ago, but
Robert looked at them 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 little. Now,
what are you doing? Oh yes; pile up all
you can against the door There, you can't
move anything else. Now come here, little
prayers together"
With the old ladys thin, pallid hand
| clasped tightly in her two cold, trembling lit
| tie ones, Lima knelt down there, and burying
her face in the pillow tried to pray, Present
ly sob shook the girls figure She. was
| thinking of Sir Robert and his tender
care over her. Oh, if she had not been so
hayward and proud this evening all would
have been we'll He would have come to
save her-they would have been safe But
surely, surely he would come yet He could
| not fail to find the note, and she knew that
lie 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
| it was too late. Too late Lima shuddered
and sobbed again as she thought what dying
might mean. Oh, it was hard TO think of
dying so helplessly. so horribly, with help so
| near Breathless silence in the ROOM then a
n IN n al oln Am
| Margaret's hand cOnvulsively, and the old
lady spoke:
"Wbo is that ?" she asked steadily.
ut is me-Parkins-ma'm Would YOU
ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly open the
| door, have the toothache, and want some
| laudanum."
"What devil it is p whispered Aunt Mar
garet. Then added: go down stairs and
get something, Parkins. I cannot trouble
Miss Leigh"
| Lima hoped that Parkins would urge the
point a little. Anything to prolong the par
ley and gain time. But whisper in the
passage followed and then mans voice
Ladies, there's no use making row.
Just open the door peacefully, and you slan't
| be hurt. Well break it down if you don't"
| "What do you want?" Lima asked, hoping
to gain little time.
A new and rough voice answered insoent-
y:
"You know well enough what we wants,
Miss. We wants the thousand pounds and the
diamonds-and we mean to have Them SO
don't be fool, but just open the door peace.
fully or you'll be sorry"
Lima sprang to her feet and seized the pis-
toll A flood of color rushed to her cheek
and brow She had been insulted and threat
ened, and Indignation overpowered terror
She went to the door and called out, quickly
and clearly
you are not coming in. | have sent for
help, and Sir Robert and his men will be here
directly. am armed, and if you break the