The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-06

fort of the will power for which am famous, !
l took up the song again and sang 1t to the
close.
Among other things, remembered that |
the lock was off the library door for repairs. |
I remembered the lateness of the hour, and
the probability that all the people were in |
bed and asleep. [ remembered the footsteps |
in the door-yard, and there was fresh, pun
gent smell of tobacco smoke in the room,
scent of smoke that was not in the room |
when [ was there and placed the package OF |
money in my bosom.
DO you wonder that my brain reeled, and !
my heart stopped beating for an instant!
Besides, whoever the robber was, he would
soon begin work, not knowing how early my
father and the captain might return. And
should be murdered. Somewhere within a
few yards few feet of me the robber as
saSsin was concealed-ether in the recess be-
hind the cabinet or under the long, draped,
paper-strewn table.
"a faint sound outside nearly made me
drop the lamp from my hand; still, had I'M
consciously left my first song and was sing
ing:
For his bride soldier won her,
And winning tongue had he.
81 knew that temporary salvation-power
and liberty to leave the room even-depend-
ed upon nv appearing unconscious of the
robbers proximity.
II got out of the library and found myself
in the sitting-room. A hasty glance at the
door showed the key absent from the lock-
''Treacheryl
II wonder that this new revelation dld not
suffocate me. The man on the highway
the injured brother. Thomas-had betrayed
us. He had overheard about the money.
robber was in the house and another was
outside My retreat would be cut of. How
thoughts ran riot through my mind. How
would they kill me? Would suffer iongF
AT that instant | heard faint creak OF the
library door at the far end of the long hall.
"One swift, despairiug glance around me,
one wild idea of escape, and extingulshed
the light upon the table, and, crouchlng IN
the fireplace, | rested one foot upon the and
iron, swung out the iron crane, stepped the
other foot upon the strong support, and rose
up into the tue Something touched my
head. Thank God! it was the rope with
which the dislodged bricks had been hoisted
out. Grasping this carefully with my hands,
l held myself like wedge in the opening
If had envied large, noble-looking women
before, 1 now had reason to be thankful for
my diminutive form and ninety pounds
of avordupois.
81 had little time however, to consider
anything excepting the imminent danger OF
dislodging a fragment OF brick or mortar
| and thus disclosing my hiding place, Tor the
clock began with sonorous peals to strike IL.
| Under cover OF it's echoes there were swift
| soft steps in the hail. and the bolt of the
outer ,;oor was withdrawn. The huge flue
must have acted like telephone for heard
every sound with fearful distinctness. First
! there was a pause by tine door of the sitting
room then breathing in it, then whispering
Il 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 strange voice,
| and we may not have to hurt her.
They carefully retreated. and NV heart
struck off the seconds against my ribs in
way that was suffocating, for l knew that
| their search would soon be over, and what
then?
"In less than five minutes they were whis
pering in the room again.
damn her!' asplrated Thomas, she took
the money with her
Then We'll 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 l had to take one hand from
the rope, in their absence, and place finger
upon my lips to prevent 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 now, and
escape outside?
First, then, they had locked the outer
door and withdrawn the key, to prevent
! surprise from without. Second, there might
| be third confederate 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 into the
| chimney. l ran all the risk of discovery and
| death in any case.
'Oh, why did not my father and his COM
| panion return? 1t might be hours yet
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. l could
! feel the jar OF moving furniture, and closet
doors were opened hastily. The upper part
of the house was ransacked, and then they
came down the stairs upon the run. Time
was precious to them now. With direful
oaths they rummaged the lower floors, and
finally returned to the sittng-room.
81 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 got OUT
1" No; l watched for her, and every win
dow is fastened on the inside Then he
continued: Curse her! she's a witch! and,
baffied, they stood and poured volumes of
oaths after me.
I'D like to catch and knife her myself
now How he ground it out between his
teeth.
"'Shall we search more%
"'It's no use; we've turned over every
thing under which a mouse could hide
"'What, then? Shall we waylay the old
man and fix him?'
"'They haven't the money; it was left
here
1.-The celler' suggested the voice.
"Once more they dashed out, only to re-
turn in hot haste now, for there was the trot
and rumble of horse and carriage on the
bridge between us and the city.
Stay urged the stranger trump up
some kind of a story, and we may secure
the money yet
81 would returned Thomas but the
gi4l's witch, and am just as sure that she
is somewhere near all the time and would
hand me over to Justice
There was a scamper outside and the
of nm, IL