South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-07-06

soon rs il was closed, she turned with
a face OF dismay aud whispered
The key is gone She took it
when she was fidgeting in and out
with the sheets and pillows
There is bolt besides Aunt
Margaret answered..
Lima gave u sigh of relief as she
slipped the bolt into toe groove, and
felt that she had some little protection
against the enemy. g
Now, child Aunt Margaret said.
can you use pistol p
Il never touched one in my life.'
said tho little coward But If I had
one now L would try
Very well. Take my safe kev-it
is under my pillow-and unlock the
safe. They are just us my husband
left them year ago, but Robert look.
ed at them u few days ago. and said
they were all right That is il. Put
one OF ihom on the foot OF the bed,
and If those wretches come, try, my
dear, to use it. Now put the other
here. 10y my left hand. Thank God
| can use that little. Now. what
are you doing? Oh, yes; pile up all
yoa can agaiustthe door. There, YOU
can't move anything else. Now,
CONE here, little girl, kneel down by
me, ana let's say our prayers togeth-
err
With the old laiy's thin, pallid
hand ciasred tightly in her two cold.
trembling little ones, Lima kneit down
there, aud burying her face in the pill
low, tried to pray.
Her petition was not very cohc,
rent one; it WAS OILY wild passion.
ate cry for pity and help, aud mean
time she was listening, with every
nerve strained, for sounds from the
outside. n lamp burned in the room.
On the mantiepiece softly ticking
clock marked the slow minutes. No
other sound broke the stiffness.
Presently sob shook the girls
figure. She was thinking Of Sir Rob.
ert and his tender care over her.
Oh, it she had not been so hayward
and proud this evening, all would
have been well. lie would have
come to save her; they would have
been safe. But surely, surely, he
would come yet.
He could not fail to find the note.
and she knew he would come to save
her. But yet horrible doubts came
to her as 10 whether the note would
reach him. 1t might be lost. or Leo
might wander about and not get home
until 1t was too late.
Too late! Lima shuddered and
sobbed again rs she thought what that
might mean. Oh, it was hard to
think Of dying SO hclplessly, so horri-
bly,, 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 few mo.
ments, came a sound Of stealing foot.
STEPS IN the passage, and the knob Of
the door was softly turned.
Breathless silence IN the ROOM
Then gentle tap at the door. Lima
clasped Aunt Margaret's hand con.
vulslvely, aud the old lady spol<.
wv hat is that 2 sho asked, Stcadi-
~.
1T is NE, Parkins, ma'am. Would
you ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly
opon the door? have the toothache
and want some laudanum.'
What a devil it is' whispered
Aunt Margaret. Then alond 90
down stairs aud get something, Par
klns. | cannot trouble Miss Leigh.
Lima hoped that Parkins would
urge the point little. Anything to
proloug the parley and gain time.
But whisper in the passage fol.
lowed, and then . mans voice:
Ladies, there's no use making a
row. Just open the door peacefully,
and yon shan't be hurt Wen break
it down if you don't.
What do you want p Lima asked.
hoping to gain q little ,time. A new
and gruit voice answered, insolest.
-:
You know well enough what we
want, Miss. We wants the thousand
pounds and the diamonds, and we
mean - have them So don't be 81
fool bat Just open the door peaceful
~, or you'll be sorry
LIMA spraug to her feet ana seized
The pistol A Ho0I of color rushed 10
her check and brow She had been
insultcd and threatened, and indig.
na,,on overpovCrod terror. She went
to tlc door and called out quickly
and clearly:
/ You 70 not coming In. have sent
for help, and Sir Robert aud lis men
will DC here directly. 1 am armed.
and If You freak the door down / viii
shoot YOU Ike dog.
A moments silence followed, then
coarse laugh, and
'All CANNON. She hadn't no one
TO send. Break tho door DOWN in
Par<.ns' voice and heavy blows be.
gan TO fall upon toe door. TIT NIB.
led aud cracked beneath the battery
y panel broke and q mana boDl