Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-04-13

llcUldTlN uulcJ SlcI'. lO lIc UTcSSlng
table. | closed my eyes now, but |
heard him taking up my trinkets and
dropping them again. Then he ap-
preached the bedside felt him come
close felt his breath as he bent over
me. was lying on my side; my eyes
were shut; | was breathing gently.
He went away again; he returned to
the dressing table. heard him rather
noisily strike n match, then with a
| lighted candle in his hand he once
more approached the bed This time
he bent very low indeed, and felt the
heat of the flame as he passed it softly
before my closed eyes. lay STILL how
ever, not a movement, not hurried
breath betrayng me.
/ heard him give short satisfied
sigh. Again, candle in hand he re-
turned to the dressing table. Once
more l heard the clinking sound of my
trinkets as they fell through his
| fingers.
There was a pause, and then-for no
reason that | could ever explain-he
left the trinkets untouched on the ia
BILE. and went to the door.
He opened the door and went out.
| did not know what he went for-per-
haps to fetch companion certainly to
return-but ] did know that my op-
portunity had come.
In an instant, quicker than thought,
! had started from my feigncd slum-
bers; | was at the door, | had bolted
and locked it. There were several
bolts to this old-fashioned door, there
were even chains.
Idrew every bolt, | made every rusty
chain secure. | was not an instant too
soon. | had scarcely fastened the last
chain, with fingers that trembled, be-
fore 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 forfeit.
To my terror | perceived that his
words were no idle boast. The old
door. secured by its many fastenings
on the one side, was weak on the 9TH
er; its hinges were nearly eaten through
with rust; they needed but some vigor-
Gus kicks to burst them from their
resting places in the wood.
knew that ! was only protected for
Il few minutes. that even if the thief
was alone he had but to continue to
assall the door as vigorously "A he was
now doing for little longer to gain q
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,-fr 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 in bed.
The thief outside was evidently
making way with the rusty hinges,
and was preparing, at the risk of any
consequences, the moment he entered
the room 10 leap from the window,
when ! heard dog bark.
! | rcdOubled my cries. The bark of
the dog was followed by footsteps;
! they came nearer, treading down fall
en- branches. which cracked under the
welcome steps The next instant
man came and stood under the window
and looked up AT me. ! perceived by
! his dress that he was u Nillagcr, prob
! ably taking a short cut TO the house.
! lie stood under the window; he
seemed terrified; perhaps he took
me for the ghost. He was not, how
ever, all a coward, for he spoke
What is wrong?" he said.
This is wrong, answered, Il
] a Ia, 4 tta1t