The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-11-28

nothing for me but to get into bed as
quickly as possible.
was about to rise from my easy
chair and 90 over to the old.fashioned
four-poster, when again my attention
was attracted to the glass over my
head. 1t was hung in such way as
to reveal large portion of the room,
and now saw, not the diamonds, but
something else.
In the folds of the dim and old.
world tapestry | saw something move
and glitter. l looked again; there
was no mistaking tit was an eye, a
human eye, looking fixedly at me
through hole in the canvas. Now |
knew why felt that was not alone.
There was some ope hidden between
the tapestry hangings and the wall of
the chamber Some one-not ghost.
That eye was human, or l had never
looked on human eye before. j was
alone with thief, perhaps with worse,
and gems of immense value lay within
his reach. / was absolutely alone, not
soul could hear the most agonized
cry for h. Up in this distant room.
Now | knew-if | had ever doubted
it before-that ! was very brave wo-
mau.
The imminence of the peril steadied
the nerves which a few minutes be.
fore were beginning strangely to
quiver. l never started nor exclaimed.
felt that / had in no way betrayed
my knowledge to my terrible guest. l
sat perfectly still, thinking out the sit.
uation and my chances of escape.
Nothing but perfect coolness could win
the victory. l resolved to be very cool.
With fervent and passionate cry to
One above for succor, l rose from my
chair, and going to the dressiug-table,
l slipped several costly rings off my
fingers. / left them scattered careless.
ly about. l denuded myself of all but
my weddingring.
Then put the extinguishers on the
candles-they were wax, and stood in
massive silver candlesticks.
The room, however, was still bril-
liant with the light of the fire on the
hearth
got into bed, laid my head on the
pillow, and closed my eyes.
1t may have been ten minutes-it
seemed more like an hour to my strain
ed senses-before | heard the faintest
movement. Then | discovered little
rustic behind the tapestry, and man
got out. When he did so l opened
my eyes wide; at that distance he
could not possibly see whether they
were open or shut. He was power
ful man, of great height and breadth.
He had black beard, and a quantity
of thick black hair noticed his fea
lures, which were tolerably regular.
l also noticed another peculiarity /;
among his raven locks was one per
feclly white. One rather thick white
lock was flung lack off his forehead
so white was it that the fire instantly
revealed it 20 me
The man did 10, glance toward the
bed, he went straight, with no partic
ularly quiet step, to the dressing-table.
l closed my eyes now, but heard him
taking up INV t;inkets aud dropping
them again. Then he approached the
bedside, / felt him come close. felt
his breath as he bent over me. was
ying on my sid, my eyes were shut, l
was breathing gently.
He went away again; he returned
to the dressing-table. | heard him
rather noiily strike match, then with
lighted candle in his hand he once
more approached the bed. This time
he bent very low indeed, and l felt the
heat of the flame as he passed it softly
before my closed eyes, l lay still, how
ever; not a movement, not hurried
breath, betrayed me.
heard him give short satisfied
sigh. Again, candle in hand he re-
turned to the dressing-table. Once
more | heard the clinking sound of my
trinkets as they fell through his fin
gers.
There was a pause, and then-for no
reason that could ever explain-he
left the trinkets untouched on the ia.
Dle, ana went 10 inc door.
He opened the door and went out.
| know not what he went for--per-
haps to fetch companion, certainly to
return--but did know that my oppor-
tunity had come.
In an instant, quicker than thought,
| had started from my feigned slum-
bers | was at the door, had bolted
and locked it. There were several
bolts to this old-fashioned door, there
were even chains.
drew every bolt, l made every rus
ty chain secure. was not an instant
too soon. had scarcely fastened the
last chain, with fingers that trembled,
before the thief returned.
He saw that he had been outwitted,
and his savage anger knew no bounds.
He kicked at the door, he called on me
wildly to open it; he assured me that
he had accomplices outside, that they
would soon burst the old door from its
hinges, and my life would be the for
felt
To my terror, | perceived that his
words we're no idle boast. The old
door, secured by its many fastenings
90 one side, was weak on the other /;
its hinges were nearly eaten through
with rust they needed but some Wig
orous kicks to burst them from their
resting places in the wood.
knew that was only protected for
few minutes, that even if the thief
was alone he had but to continue to
assail the door as vigorously as he was
now doing for little longer, to gain
fresh entrance into my chamber.
rushed to the window, / threw up
the sash, and bent half out, Into the
clear calm air of the night / sent my
strong young voice,
"Help, help thieves fire dan
ger help, help!
shouted these words over and over,
but there was no response, except an
echo. My room looked into distant
shrubbery the hour was late, the
whole household was in bed
The thief outside was evidently max
ing way with the rusty hinges, and |
was preparing, "a. the risk of any con-
spnunnraS tho nompnt ha antarad tho