Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-14

were over six hundred dollars. John
told him he'd better put it in the bank;
but he said he calculated to use it
right away, and he guessed it would
be as safe with us as if he put it in the
bank.
So he left it, and John put it in the
left-hand till of that old blue chest that
you see in the corner there. / shall
always think the man was looking In
at the window and saw John when he
put it there-But therel I'm getting
ahead of my storyl
One night John went off to the fac
tory and left me alcne, rs usual. 1t
was dark and stormy. The wind blew
in great gusts, and kept the lilac-bushes
tap, tap, tapping against the window
as if some one was trying to get in. 1t
made me nervous and fidgety to hear
, them.
The little one was about two years
old, and such youngsters get asleep
early, you know. About eight o'clock
l undressed her and put her to bed.
/ sat up couple of hours after that.
to finish pair of socks for John. BY
the time I'd got them done, was
sleepy, too, and / went to bed, / went
to sleep, and must have slept about
! two hours, for the clock was striking
twelve when / woke up.
heard a step in the hall. At first
| thought maybe there'd been a break
down at the factory, and John had
come home. But it sounded different
from Jonn's step as istened-heavier
and slower, and it reused me, and set
me to wondering about who it was,
and how he hal got into the house.
But can't savthat l was frightened
any at first. Maybe wasn't wide
enough to be scared.
At first / thought I'd call out and ask
what was wanted, but | didn't. l
don't know why, though. | just kept |
still and waited to see what was going
to happen.
The step came to the door. and then
Sheard hand on the knob and it was
turned as quietly as possible, and the
door was pushed open very cautiously. |
AS the door opened a light shone
into the room, and I knew.it was some |
one who had lantern with him.
You can be sure / was scared then. |
/ was so scared that | couldn't stir,
nor scream. just lay still and looked |
out of the least bit of a crack in my |
eyelids.
A great. burly fellow that / recog- |
nized, the moment he put his face into
the room, as man who had been at |
work in the mill, came in, and held up |
his lantern so the light could shine on
me.
shut my eyes tight then. He came
up close to the bed. and stood and
watched me for little while to make
sure was asleep. Isuppose.
could feel the light on my face.
Oh, it was terrible, / didn't dare to
move muscle. l was in agony for
fear the child would wake up I've
no doubt he would have killed us.
tell you. you've no idea what trial
it is to lie still and be in mortal fear.
thinking every minute may be your
last. and knowing that your only
chance for life depends on keeping
quiet It seemed to me as if he stood
there and watched ne for an hour.
By-and-by he seemed to be satisfied
that ! was fast asleep, for he lowered
the lantern and went toward the old
blue chest | breathed easier when he
left the bed. and opened n s eyes Just the
least bit. to watch him.
/ saw him bend over the chest and
try several keys in the lock before he
found one that would unlock it. and
he opened the chest, and began. to look
through the till where ] had put Ben
Green's money. Pretty seen he found
it under some pieces Of cloth. and lie
took it out and counted it over before
= !. ~ w,r,s,a-..e