River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-05-20
A HEROINE.

home. and carrying it back when it
was finished.
We had two small rear rooms in a
tall tenement, and many tear have
shed as saw my poor mother YEARLY
climb the stairs with her bundle of
work in her arms; and wishing to be
able to help her as soon as possible, |
applied myself to books with such dill
igence that at the age of sixteen grad
uaied from the Normal College with
high honors, and with the prospect of
obtaining a school in the fall.
On my way to the college there was
being built a large apartment house,
which was completed about the time
graduated, and on that day saw bill
on the window, ''Jan!tor Wanted" /
had determined that mother should
leave our small, hot. badly ventilated
rooms, but until that moment did not
know how l should accomplish it. l
decided to inquire about the duties re-
CURED of janitor, and, if l could per-
form them TO secure the place.
On investigating | found that the
first floor would be given to the janitor
for taking charge of the building, and
as the work was of such nature as |
could easily perform, was fortunate
enough to secure It,
We at once took possession of our
new quarters. The front half of our
fiat we rented to ayoung physician, re-
ceiving from him the same amount per
month that mother had received for
her labor, with the added advantage of
having no rent to pay
1t was not long before the flat was
entirely filled with tenants, and moth
er and | were enjoying such rest and
freedom from care rs we had not known
since my fathers death
We had been in the house for more
/ than two months, mother health had
been steadily improving, and 1 was re-
viewing my studies, that | might not be
caught tripping at my examination for
position as teacher, when the day of
the great military parade came. 1t
was to be such a grand event that ev-
cry one was flocking to see it, and |
insisted that mamma should 60 with
some friends who had invited her,
while remained at home to study,a
have a nice tea ready when she return
ed.
went about my usual duties with
out feeling the least bit nervous be-
cause of being entirely alone in the
! house. Locking the cellar door after
my work was done, / went up stairs,
/ lighted the gas through the halls. and
returned to our sitting room TO resume
my studies. had no more than seat
/ ed myself when the bell rang, and, Won
deriug if it could possibly be mother
back so soon, pulled the door-opener,
and then stepped out into the hall to
see who was there.
Two men had entered and closed the
nall door.
Gentlemen, whom do you wish to
/ see?' | asked
I'VE don't want to see nobody, aud
tthats why we're here tonight. re-
piled one of them with coarse chuckle,
| which the other echoed; and, stepping
/ toward me, they pushed me back intO
4 the room which | had just left, closing
and locking the door after them.
| readily OWNED. that they were
/ thieves, who, knowing that | was alone
1 in the h puse, had entered for the pur-
pose of robbing it. Absurd ideas flash
ed through my mind how | should es-
cape and alarm the neighbOrhood but
all were impracticable; and, in fact, ere
| could move or scream, one of the
rullians had stepped forward and
grasped my wrists.
Come, Jack" said he. turning to
his companion, "we'll have to tie this
young lady, or she'll give us trouble. "
Suiting the action to the word. they
proceeded to tie me up in most scien-
tific manner. They first tied my hands
behind me, and then, after placing me
in a chair, tied my feet together, pass
ing the spare cord securely around the
rungs of the chair.
Now, lady, said the man address
ed as Jack, ''will you promise not to
scream. or must gag youn exhibiting
an improvised gag of a thick wad of
ootten and bandage as he spoke.
The sight of this was sufficient.
Overcome by terror, promised to keep
a discreet silence.
Now, please tell me where the
dumb waiter is, and we will not trouble
you any further said the first speak
err.
| accordingly directed them to the
kitchen. through which passed the
large dumb-waiter. or elevator used
for conveying coal, wood, groceries
and the like to each successive kitchen
from the basement clear up to the
roof.
now knew that they intended to
get on the dumb-waiter and draw
themselves up, Systematically ransack-
inc floor after floor, and lowering their
piunder TO the cellar. This effected
without interruption, their escape with
their booty would be a comparatively
easy matter.
heard them get into the elevator
box and begin to pull themselves slow
" up, and then | quickly determined
what to do. Bv a great effort | drew
myself on my feet, and succeeded in
placing nv hands over the lamp we
used to read BY. The flames burnt my
hands cruelty, and ! nearly tainted
with the terrible pain, but did not al
low a moan to escape me, for fear of
alarming the villains to the Illustration,
of my plan.
1t was not more than a minute be-
fore nv hands were free, although to
me it seemed ages, and my burnt flesh
was peeling off in great pieces.
dropped back in my chair. and for
moment sat there completely stunned
with pain and gasping for breath Re-
covering | soon freed myself from the
chair and united my feet. Then | ran
lightly to the elevator-shaft. and
peered up through the darkness toward
the roof. The thieves had light with
them. and | saw by its glow that they
were nearly TO the kitchen door of the
lupoermost floor. reached in and
caught the rope by which they were
pulling themselves up, aud, with a
quick. hard jerk. had it thoroughly