The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-21
He saw that he had been outwitted.

wildly to open 1t; ne 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 other;
its hinges were nearly eaten through
with rust; they needed but some vigor-
Gus kicks TO burst them from their rest
ing places in the wood.
knew that | was on V 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 a little longer to gain a fresh
entrance into my chamber.
l rushed to the window, threw up
the sash and bent half out Into the
clear, calm air of the night L sent my
strong young voice.
s'Help, help!-thieves! - fire,-dan-
ger!-help, helpn'
/ shouted these words over and over,
I out there was no response except an
echo. My room looked into a distant
shrubbery; the hour was late; the whole
household in bed.
The thief outside was evidently max
| ing way with the rusty hinges, and
was preparing, at the risk of any con-
/ sequences, the moment he entered the
room, to leap from the window, when l
heard dog bark.
! l redoubled my cries. The bark of
| the dog was followed by footsteps;
! they came nearer, treading down fallen
! branches, which cracked under the well
come step. The next instant a man
came and stood under the window and
looked up at me. l perceived by his
dress that he was villager, probably
taking short cut to his house. He
stood under the window; he seemed ter
rifed; perhaps he took me for the
ghost. He was not, however, all a
coward, for he spoke.
What is wrong?' he said.
This is wrong" | answered. 81
am in extreme danger-eXtreme danger,
There is not moment TO lose. 60 in
stantly--instantly-and wake up the
house, and say that l, Mrs. Crawford,
am in extreme danger in the tapestry
wing. Go at once-at oncei'
Ispoke distinctly, and the man seemed
to understand. He flew away, the dog
following him.
instantly threw myself on my knees,
and in the terrible moments that fol-
lowed l prayed as l had never prayed
before. Would the man be in time?
Must my young life be sacrifced?'
All. no. God was good. | heard
joyful sounds; the thief's attacks on the
door ceased suddenly. and the next in
slant the Squire's hearty voice was
heard.
Let me in, Honor! What is wrong
chiid?''
did let him in, and his wife, and
several alarmed-looking servants who
followed after.
We instantly began to look for the
thief, mystery of mysterieS-he
had disappeared,
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 his feet on the old oak door there
was not trace of his existence.
L believe the servants doubted that
lie had ever been, and only thought
that the young lady who was foolish
enough to Sleep in the tapestry cham
Ter had been visited by Il new form OF
,ne ghost. BE that as II may. we never
rot clew to where or how the man
mad vanished.
Ten wears later was again on visit
to the Aspen's Vale. This time | did
not sleep in the tapestry room.
l 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 my
visit to the Cliffords during the assizes.
Squire Clifford. as one of the most i'll
tluential county magnates, was neceS-
sarily much occupied with his magis-
terial duties during this time. Every
morning he went earl into Lewis. the
town where the aSSizes were held. One
morning lie told us of case which in
terested him.
HE is a hardened villain" he said;
"he has again and again been brought
before me, but he has never yet been
convicted. He is unquestionably
thief; indeed, one of the most no
torious characters in the place; but
he is such a slippery dog no jury has
yet found him guilty. Well, he is to be
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 wife's head and mine to pay
a visit to the court and see for our
selves the prisoner in whom he was in
terested.
No sooner said than done We drove /
into Lewis, and presently found our
selves in the large and crowded build |
ing. When we entered the case under
discussion had not commenced, but
moment after fresh prisoner was ush-
cred into the dock.
What was the matter with me? /
found my sight growing dim, 1 found
myself bending forward and peering
hard. The memory of an old terror
came back, and the sensation of
couple of hours of mortal agony re-
turned to me again. Who was in the /,
prisoners dock? l knew the man. He +
was my guest of the tapestry chamber
of ten years ago.
There he stood, surly, Indifferent, with .
his vast breadth and height, his raven /
black hair, and that peculiar white lock /
flung back from his brow He did not /
glance at any one, but kept his eyes on I.
the ground
l could not contain myself; | forgot ?
pypryti i mo- INT NV sense of discovery |