Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-18

betrayed US. He had overheard abou,
the money. A robber was in the house
and another was outside. My retreat
would be cut off. How thoughts ran
riot in my mind! How would they kill
me: Would | suffer long: At that
instant was sure that heard faint
creak of the library door at the far end
Of the long hall.
"One swift, desparing glance around
me, one wild idea of escape, and | extin-
guished the light upon the table, and
crouching in the fireplace | rested one
foot upon the andiron, swung out tho
iron crane, stepped the other foot upon
the strong support, and rose up into the
aue. Something touched my head. Thank
God, 1t was the rope with which the
dislodged bricks had been hOisted out.
Grasping this carefully with my hands
| held myself like wedge in the OPEN
ing. If had envied large, noble-look-
ing women before, now had reason to
be thankful for my diminutive form and
90 odd pounds Of advOirdupois.
The clock began with sonorous peals
70 strike II. Under cover Of It's echoes
there were quick, soft steps in the hall,
and the bolt Of the outer door was with
drawn. The huge fue must have acted
like telephone, for | heard every word
with fearful distinctness. First, there
was a pause by the door Of the sitting
room, then breathing in it, then whisper
ing.
IL heard Thomas distinctly, when he
said:
"She isn't here she's gone to bed /;
but the money is in tie library
BE cautious advised strange
! voice, 'and we may not have to hurt her.
They carefully retreated and my
heart struck off the seconds against my
ribs in a way that was sufocating, for |
knew that their search would soon be
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
"'Then we'll have it if
"The pause meant all that words could
convey.
1.-The cold sweat was coming out OF
every pore of my body. the dust of cre-
osote penetrated my mouth and nostrils,
and had 10 take one hand from the
rope in their absence to prevent sneezing.
"'Come, hurry was the angry watch
word exchanged between them, and |
heard the stairs creaking as they ascend
ed to my chamber. Thomas was famil-
lar with ell the house
why did not drop down and escape
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er door and Withdrawn the key to pre-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 of
all was, it seemed to me, that ! never
could get out Of the aperture that had
allowed me to enter the chimney. ran
the risk Of discovery and death in either
case.
They found me absent from my
chamber and the adjoining rooms. They
no longer used extreme caution. They
hurried from one apartment to the other.
could feel the jar of moving furniture,
and the closet doors were opened hastily.
The upper part Of the house was ran
sacked, and then they came down stairs
upon the run. Time was precious to
them now. With direful oaths they
rummaged the lower floors, and finally,
returned 20 the sitting.room.
"'I saw the light here, last said
Thomas, moving with his lamp across the
room. 'and here is the lamp on the table. ,
"'She must have gone out
"'No; | watched for her, and every
window is fastened on the inside Then
he continued Curse her she's witch =
and baffied they stood and poured oaths
after me. I'd like to catch her now
How he ground it out between his teeth !!
"'Shall we search more ,
"It's no use we've turned over ev-
erything under which mouse could
hide
"'What, then: Shall we waylay the
old man and fix him ,
"'They haven't the money; it was
left here.
"'The cellar suggested the voice.
"Once more they dashed out, only to
return in hot haste now, for there was
the trot and rumble of horse and car
riage on the bridge between US and the
city.
"There was a scamper outside and the