Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-10-18

dupols.
II had little time, however, to con
slider anything except the imminent
danger of dislodging a fragment of
brick or mortar, and thus disclose
my hiding place, for the clock began
with sonorous peals to strike eleven.
Under cover of its echoes there were
quick. soft steps in the hall, and the
hall, and the bolt of the outer door
was withdrawn The hugh hue must
have acted like a telephone, for |
heard every sound with fearful dis
tinctness. First, there was pause by
the door of the sitting-room, then
breathing in it, then whispering.
II heard Thomas distinctly, when
he said:
&" She isn't here; she's gone to bed +;
but the money is in the library
BE cautious, advised a 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 suffocat-
ing, for | knew that their search would
soon be over, and what thenl
In less than five minutes they We're
whispering in the room again.
" 'Confound herr aspirated Thomas,
She took the money with her
" Then Wen have it if
''The pause meant all that words
could convey.
The cold sweat was coming out of
every pore of my body. The dust of
the creosote had penetrated my mouth
and nostrils, and | had to take one
hand from the rope in their absence
and place a finger upon my lips topre-
vent sneezing.
Come, hurry was the angry
watchword exchanged between them,
and heard the stairs creaking as they
assembled to my chamber Thomas
was familiar with all the house.
why did | not drop down and es-
cape outside2
First, then, they had locked the
outer door and withdrawn the key to
prevent a surprise from without Sec
ond, there might be third confeder-
ate outside. But the most important
reason of all was, it seemed to me,
that | never could get out of the aper-
ture that had allowed me entrance in
to the chimney. ! ran tho risk of dis
covery and death in any case.
ooh, why did not my fatherand his
return? 1t might be hours
first.
"They had 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 mov-
ing furniture, and closet doors were
opened hastily The upper part of the
house was ransacked, and then they
came down stars upon the run Time
was precious to them now. With dire
'ul oaths they rummaged the lower
loors, and finally returned to the sit
ing room.
81 saw The light here last said
Thomas, moving with his lamp across
.he room and here is the lamp on the
able
"'She must have gotout.
No; | watched for her, and every
window is fastened on the inside.
Then he continued. Curse her she's
a witch : and bafIled they stood and
poured oaths after me. I'd like to
,atch and knife her myself now,
How he ground it out between his
eeth.
" Shall we search moreH
It's no use: we've turned over
everything under which a mouse
might hide.
" What, then? Shall we waylay
the old man and fix HING
" They hayn't the money; it was
left here
1.-The cellar, suggested the voice.
Once more they dashed out, only
10 return in hot haste now, for there
was the trot and rumble of a horse
and carriage on the bridge between
rs and the city.
Stay, urged the stranger trump
lp some kind of story, and we may
secure the money yet.
Il would, returned Thomas. but
.he girls witch, and | am Just as
sure that she is somewhere near us all
he time, and would hand me over to
Justice
There was a Scamper outside and
.he sound of feet running toward the
river came down the wide mouth to
.he top of the chimney. Father and
captain Boswell drove into the yard
and up to the door, just as the clock
struck twelve
Thomas called my father in his
ringing tones come and take care Of
the horse
Receiving no response from his
usual punctual fastotum he sprang
up the steps, and uttered an exclama-
ton of horror at finding the dooropen
Boswell, said he, we certainly
saw a light here when we came down
the hill.
Quick, Jason, said the captain,
there has been foul play here
Foul play My Gcd! my poor lit
tie grl.
Father" / strove to call. but the
first attempts, choked in dus, and
SCOT ended in a hysterical hicoough.
Where is that, What is it call
ed my distractedfather, and both men
dashed for the library.
II now Strove 10 descend, but the
movement brought down bushels of