Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-04-27


in the room. On the mlntlepiece softly
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. y "a
Oh, If she had not been so Maynard and
proud this evening, all would have been
we'll He would have come to save1heE:
they would have been safe. But surely,
surrey. he would come yet, -..-1
He could not fail to 6nd the note, an d
she knew he would come to save her. hut
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 that might
mean. Oh, it was hard to think of dying,
SO Ealplessly, SO horribly. with help so
near.
The long minutes crept on, and no sound
came until eleven O'Clock had passed. The
little clock softly chimed the half hour.
Then, in a few moments, came sound of
stealing footsteps in the passage, and the
knob of the door was softly turned.
Breathless silence in the room. Then a
gentle tap at the door. Lima clasped Aun
Margaret 8 hand convulsively, and the old
lady spoke. f4..ac- ....a #
"What is thatp'' she asked, steadily.
bt1t "a parkspo ,,a3n Would yn n
ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly open the
door? I have the toothache, ana want
some laudanum.''
what devil it ISL whispered Aunt
Margaret. Then aloud ''Ga down stairs
and get something. Parkins. l cannot
trouble Miss Leigh
Lima hoped that Parkins would urge the
point ittle.4 Anything to prolong the
parley and gain time. 31F ~ +t
But whisper in the passage followed,
and then mans voice: "1i5
''Ladies. there's no use making a row.
just open the door peacefully, and you
shan't be hurt. Well break it down if
you DON'T"
"What do you wanty" Lima ask ed.
hoping to gain little time. A new and
gruff voice answered insolently
"You know we'll enough what he 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 peacefully, or you'll be sorry
Lima sprang to her feet and seized the
pistol. "A flood Of color rushed to her
cheek and brow. She had been insulted
and threatened, and Indignation overpow-
cred terror. She went to the door and
called out. quickly and clearly:
"You're not coming in. T have sent
for help. and Sir Robert and his men will
be hero directly. I am armed, and il you
break the door down I will shoot you like
dog s..
A moments sllence followed, then a
coarse latrgh, and--1, -
''Alt CANNON. She hadn't no one to
send. Break the door down. y in Parkins'
voice; and heavy blows began to fall upon
the door. 1t srembled and cracked beneath
the battery. A panel broke and mans
hand was thrust in; the whole door seemed
abont to fall when-bang! bang! came two
reports from Lina's pistol, and a couple
of bullets crashed through the panels. and
the besiegels paused abruptly.
$50 away instantly" called the girls
clear voice. ''or will fire again.
"One more rush, mate, and we are in,''
yelled the gruff voice outside.
What followed was wild tumult and
confusion, the crash of breaking panels
and bolts, the fall Of the door and the fur
niture Lima had piled against it, shot af-
ter shot from Lina's pistol, yell Of rage
and pain from both of them. The door
was down. One of the men was IN the
room. Lima had fired her last shot, and,
running to the bed, snatched Aunt Mar
garet's pistol, and turned to face the enc
my. Suddenly came wild shrek from
tParkins-then a voice calling: "Liua,
Linal [ am comingl" and Sir Robert de
Rossett hurled himself bodily upon the
rufian outside the door, Frustrated him,
and sprang into the room over his body.
And this is what he saw: Madeline
Leigh, the little coward" with blazing
eyes and scarlet cheeks, and a pistol in
her hand, standing unfinchingly between
Aunt Margaret and a burly ruff1an; and
Aunt Margaret herself, who had not
turned in her bed for year, standing on
her feet upon the floor. Two seconds
changed the aspect Of affairs. After that
the burglar sprawled senseless upon or
the floor, Aunt Margaret sank back upon
her bed with y wild THANK Godl'' and
the little heroine Of the scene lay on Sir
Roberts arm in dead faint.
'.Oh, Robert. why didn't you come soop-
er?'
Don't you know came as soon as I
found your note?'' be said. LEO went
to my room, and I found him there when
left the drawing-room after eleven
o'clock"
where are those dreadful men9" Lima
asked, raising her head dlzzily and look
ing around with shudder.
never nina tnem, dear. Iney were
taken by the men that followed me. My
brave little darlingl What heroine you
arep'
Two months later, when Parkins and
the men were brought to trial, Aunt Mar
garet walked into the witness box and
gave her testimony with grim directness
and self-possession. Lima gave hers with
much trembling and some tears; but she
looked intensely lovely, and no one won
dered that Sir Robert was going to marry
her.
The crowd around the door gave three
cheers as she left the courtroom. walking
between Sir Robert and bis mother. and
three more for Sir Robert, and then three