The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-11
He saw that he had been outwittpd. |


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 forfeit.
To nv terror | perceived that his
words were no idle boast. The old
door. secured by its many faStenin@S on
the one side, was weak on the other;
its hinges were nearly eaten through
with rust; they needed but some vigor-
Gus kicks TO burst them from their rest
: inc places in the wood.
! | knew that | was only protected for
| few minutes; that even ii the thief was
| alone he had but to continue TO assail
7 the door as vigorously rs he was now
doing for a little longer to gain fresh
/ entrance into my chamber.
. | rushed 10 the window. | threw up
the sash and bent half out. Into the
clear, calm air of the night l 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. Ny room looked into a distant
Shrubbcry: the hour was late; the whole
household in bed.
. The thief outside was evidently max
inc way with the rusty hinges, and |
WAS preparing. at the risk OF any con-
| Sc IucnceS. the moment he entered the
room, to leap from the window, when
heard 4 dog bark.
rcdoubied nv cries. The bark of
the dog was followed by footsteps;
they came nearer. treading down fallen
branches, which cracked under the wei
come step. The next instant \ man
came and stood under the window and
looked up at me. | perceived Ivy his
dress that he was viliager. probably
taking short cut to his house. He
stood under the window; he seemed ter
riied; perhaps lie took me for the
ghost. He was not. however, all a
coward, for lie sUoke.
Nv hat is wrong" he said.
This is wrong | answered. 81
am in extreme dangcr-eXtrrmn danger.
There is not Il moment to lose. 60 in
stantly--inStantly- wake up the
house, and say that |. Mrs. Crawford.
am in extreme danger in the tapestry
VIM Go at once-at oncr.'
ISpokc dis inctly. and the man seemed
to understand. lie flew away, the dog
following him.
instantly threw myself on my knees,
and in the terrible moments that fol-
lowed / PRAYED as | had never prayed
before. Would the man he in time
Must my young life be Sacrliicrd:'
All no. God was good. heard
joyful sounds; tie tn ct 5 ut ackS on the
door ceased suddenly. and the next in
slant the Squires hearty voice was
heard
Let me in. Honor. What is wrong.
child"
did let him in. and his wife, and
several acknowledging servants who
followed after
We instantly began to look for the
thief. but mystery of my>teries-he
had d Sappeared.
That terrible man with the black
hair and white lock over his forehead
had vanished as completely as though
he had never been.
Except for the marks he had made
with h 5 feet on the old oak door there
was not a trace OF his existence.
| believe the servants DOUBTED that
he had ever been. and only thought
that the young lady who was foolish
enough to 5 crp in the tapestry cham
'er had been Sited nv new form OF
me ghost BE that as 1t may. we never
cot clew to where or how the man
mad vanished.
Ten years later was again on visit
to the Aspen's Vale. This tine | did
not sleep in the tapestry room.
| now occupied a most cheerful.
modern and unghost-like room, and
but for one circumstance my visit
would have been thoroughly unre'
markable.
This was the circumstance which
seems in wonderful way to point a
moral TO my curious tale. | paid nv
visit t. the Cliffords during the a>>izcs.
Squire Clifford. as one Of the most in
iluential county marnates, was ncccs-
sarly much occupied with his mariS-
teriaI duties during this time. Every
mornimg he went early into Lewis. the
town where the aSsiZcS were held. One
morning he told us OF case which in
terested him.
He is hardened villain,' he said:
"he has again and again been brought
before me. but he has never vet been
convicted He i, I'm Iuestionablv :;
thief indeed. one of the most no. (
toriOUs characters in the place: but
he is such slippery dog no jury has
yet found him guilty. Well. he to lie .
tried again to-day. and | do hope we
shall have some luck with him this /
time
The Squire went away, and it came
into his wifc,S head and mine TO paw
a wit to the court and see for our
selves the prisoner in whom he was in
tcre>ted.
No sooner said than done We drove
into Lewis, and presently found our
selves in the large and crowded bujid-
ing. When we entered the case under
discussion had not commenced. out a
moment after fresh prisoner was u>h-
cred into the dock.
What was the matter with me?
found my Sirht growing d IN, found
myself bending forward and pcering
hard. The memory of an Old terror
came back, and the sensation of
couple of hours o. mortal agony re-
turned 10 me a%ain. Who was IN the
prisoners dock? knew the man. He
was my guest of the tapestry chamber
of ten r"ars ago.
There he stood, ~urly. Indifferent, with
his vast breadth and height. hi, raven
black ha,r. and that peculiar white lock
Hung back from his brow. He did not
glance 4. any one. but kept hi, eyes on
tn" %ro md
could not contain myself: forgot
everNth n" but nv sens ri discovery. /
started 10 my !C"t auI ~gu.r.