The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-12
mr. said Ii of the men, with an

them sad one Oh the men, WITH an
oath.
"I'd rather die than have you sue
coed in your nefarious plan!' was
papa's reply,
That's game, boss" said another
rough voice. "Dut wait till we get
there. We've got the cashier in u
clutches, and when he caves in you
will, too"
Gag him, boys, before we put him
in the wagonl' ordered the leader.
Papa's struggles were of no avail,
and gagged and bound, he was carried
out of the house, and soon l heard
wheels rolling away.
Two of the burglars stayed behind to
ransack the house, l supposed. Hear
ing their voices, l turned and lied into
my room, locking the door behind Inc.
Oh, what could 1 do ? At that mo-
ment | realized how weak a woman is!
Oh, if there were only some way
whereby 1 might save my father from
death or infamy!
C%rouching upon the floor, L wrung
my hands in agony of spirit, striving
to think of some plan.
Footsteps were heard coming up the
stairs. L held my breath in suspense.
Would the ruflians try the door, and
finding it locked, force it open? No,
the passed on.
Just then a little rustic in n corner
of my room made my heart beat with
renewed terror; but relief came in
stantly, when I perceived that the
noise was made by my little pet, the
carrier-pigeon.
I knelt down beside its cage, sob
bing softly.
"Oh, you poor, little thing!' 1 whis-
pered. "Helpless and tiny as you are,
you are safer than l ami"
Suddenly, like a divine revelation,
there came a thought:
Could not Biiou, the pigeon, carry a
message to Larry? Larry had said
that the little creature could do such a
thing. Why not try him?
With trembling fingers, I seized pen
ell and paper, and wrote the following
words:
Larry! Larry! for Gods sake go to
the bank. Take plenty Of men with
you. Burglars have carried papa
there to compel him to open the safe.
Hurry! Your MEG.
"P. 81 send this by. Bijou."
This l put in an envelope, and tied
the latter around the birds neck. The
little creature did not seem the least
bit frightened, but looked intelligently
at me with its bright, gentle eyes. AS
quietly as possible, l opened the win
dow and set the bird on the sill.
For a minute it stood there, turning
its pretty head irresolutely; then
spreading its wings, it slowly rose and
scared away, oh, heaven be thanked! in
the direction of Elmwood.
Just then there was a violent racket
at the door, a succession of kicks
which soon splintered the panels.
An instant later, as 1 stood there
p~aralyzed by terror, the two burglar.
burst into the room.
Course itr' cried one, "that chloro
form didn't fix her, after all"
Bind and gag her like we did the
old lady; then she'll be safe," said the
other.
X
When my senses came to me, | fount
myself lying on the couch in the sitting
room down stairs.
1t was bright daylight, and the sof'
summer wind, laden with the breath o
flowers, was stealing in at the opeI
window. Larry's face, kind, lovin!
anxious, was bending over me. TheI
| heard dear old Doctor Rogers kind,
voice say, Drink this, little girl, ant
and you'll feel BETTER" pressing tum
bier to my lips.
"Where's papa?' 1 murmured
family.
Your fathers all right, darling,
said Larry.
"And did Bijou comet to you? Oh,
prayed that the bird would carry tn
note! Did you get it?'
Yes, love; but never mind it now
I'll tell you all about it when you &c
stronger"
Tell her now, Carroll. She is a
right. 1t will do her good to hear a
about IT," said the doctor, patting IN