The Republican journal., 1884-08-07

room.
~ obtained the desired Volume stepp-
ed down from the stool. and
eff ever any one felt themselves dA ing
did at that moment. My song died on
my lips, while a thousand thoughts seem
ed to flash into my mind in one instant.
| lnvoluntarily | gasped, and then with
strong effort of the will power, for which
| was famous, | took up the song again
and sang it to the close.
| "Among other things | remembered
that the lock was off the library door for
repairs. | remembered the Iatcness Of
| the hour and the probability that all the
| people were in bed and asleep. | remem-
| bered the footsteps in the door yard, and
there was fresh, pGngent smell of to-
bacco smoke in the room. \ scent of
smoke that was not in the room when
was there and placed the package Gf
money in my bosom.
"Do you wonder that my brain reeled
and my heart stopped beating for an in
stant Besides, whoever the robber was,
| he would soon begin work, not knowing
| how early my father and the captain
might return. And should be murder
ed. Somewhere within few yards, or d
| few feet of me, the robber assassin was
concealed-either in the recess behind
| the cabinet, or under the long, draped,
| paper strewn table.
"a faint sound outside nearly made me
drop the lamp; still had unconsciously
left my first song and was singing:
For his bride soldier won her.
And a winning tongue had he
power and liberty to leave that room, ev-
Ell depended upon my appearing uncon-
scious of the robbers proximity.
II got out of the library and found my
self in the sitting-room. 4 hasty glance
at the door showed the key absent from
| the lock.
"Treachery y
81 wonder that this new revelation did
| not sutfocate me. The man on the high
Way-tbe injured brother-Thomas had
betrayed us. He mad overheard about
the money. a robber was in the house
| and another was outside. My retreat
would be cut off How thoughts ran riot
through my mind. How would they kill
me? Would suffer long? At that IN
stant heard a faint crea k of the library
door at the far end of the hall
"One swift despairing glance around
me, one wild idea Of escape, and cxtin-
guished the light upon the table, and
crouching in the fireplace | rested one
foot upon the andiron, swung out the
iron crane, stepped the other foot upon
the strong support, and rose up into the
tue. Something touched my head.
Thank God 1t was the rope with which
the dislodged bricks had been hoisted-
out. Grasping this carefully With my
hands held myself like wedge in the
opening. If | had envied large noble
looking women before, had now reason
to be thankful for my diminutive form
and ninety odd pounds of avoirdupois.
81 had little time, however, to consider
anything except the imminent danger of
dlslodgng fragment of brick or mortar,
and thus discovering my hiding place,
tor the clock began with sOnOr0uS pfals
to strike eleven. Under cover OF its ech-
oes there were quick, soft steps in the
hall, and the bolt of the outer door was
withdrawn. The huge tiue must lave
acted like telephone, for | heard every
sound with fearful distinctness. First
there was pause by the door of the sit
ting-room, them breathing in it, then
whispering.
''I heard Thomas distinctly, when he
said
"'She isn't here; she's gone to bed;
but the money is in the library
"'Be cautious advised a strange
voice, 'and we may not have to hurt
her.
"They carefully retreated, and my
heart struck off the seconds against my
ribs in way that was sulfocating, for
knew that their search would soon be
over and what then
"ln less than five minutes they were
| whispering in the room again.
"'Contound herr aspirated Thomas,
'she took the money with her
"'Then we'll have it if
1.-The pause meant all that words could
| convey.
"The cold sweat was coming out of
every pore of my body. The dust of the
creosote had penetrated my mouth and
nostrils, and had to take one hand from
| the rope in their absence and place a
finger upon my lips to prevent sneezing.
"'Come, hurry, was the angry watch
word exchanged between them, and |
| heard the stairs creaking as they ascend
| ed to my chamber Thomas was familiar
| with all the house.
"Why did | not drop down and escape
outside?
"First, then, they had locked the out
| er door and withdrawn the key to pre-
| vent a surprise from without. Second,
| there might be a third confederate out
| side. But the most important reason of
| all was, it seemed to me, that | never
could get out of the aperture that had
| allowed me entrance into the chimney
| | ran the risk Of discovery and death in
any case.
"Oh, why did not my father and his
companion return 1t might be hours
| first.
"They had found me absent from my
chamber and the adjoining rooms They
no longer used extreme caution. They
| hurried from one apartment to the other.
| could feel the jar of moving furniture,
and closet doors were opened hastily.
| The upper part of the house was ran
sacked, and then they came down stairs
upon the run. Time was precious to
them now With dreful oaths they
rummaged the lower floors, and finally
returned to the sitting room.
"l saw the light here last said
Thomas, moving with his lamp across
the room, and here is the lamp on the
table,
"'She must have got OUT
"'No; | watched for her, and every
window is fastened on the inside Then
he continued Curse her she's a witch Y
and batfled they stood and poured oaths
after me. I'D like to catch and knife
her myself now How be ground it out
between his teeth.
"'Shall we search more 2
"'It's no use we've turned over every
thing under which mouse could hide
"'What, then? Shall we waylay the
old man ana fix him 2
""They haven't the money it was left
here
"'The cellar suggested the voice.
| "Once more they dashed out, only to
return in hot haste now, for there was
the trot and rumble of horse and car
rage on the bridge between us and the
city.
"'Stay,' urged the stranger, trump up
some kind OF a story, and we may secure
the money yet
"I would returned Thomas, 'but the
girls witch, and ] am Just as sure that