San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-15


Lindesley road they saw the tracks
of buggy and two horses bound east.
They kept on north. At every turn the
tracks were the same. There is no turn
off in Treacle Hollow. At the Hilbury
road they got down. Pont crossed the
road, bent low.
''Skylark goif' and comm None more
but one gone nord."
'Trickle Hollerr' said the squire
"Jest what thought"
They started back, leading the horses,
searching the road for tracks.
esquire" said Nell, "I'll ride home
He may have gone there. I'll come
back"
She headed Driver north, struck into q
gallop, and was off. Ten minutes later
she turned the bend half a mile from
home. She started and gave joyful cry.
Out of the east window bright light
shone. A little farther on she heard a
sudden sound that drove the hope out of
her heart-the whinny of horse in o
wood to the right. She got down, tied
Driver to tree and ran on. She crept in
softly through the open gate and round to
the east side.
She looked in, but she did not see
Prent. BY the safe in the corner a mar
was kneeling, with slouched black hat
and suit of rough, worn clothes. His
back was toward her. Her own lamp
stood ignited on the top Of the safe. With
a drill and heavy mallet, padded at the
end, he was picking hole in the iron
door, just above the lock. Into that safe
Prent had put, only the night before,
$4,000 and odd of taxes taken at Carrom.
On the table just behind him lay his
pistol. She saw the copper CLEAN of the
cap under the hammer. AS she looked
the r,"n stood up, threw off his coat and
raised the window. He took red hand
kerchief out of his hat, wiped his forehead
and got down again to his work. The
pistol lay close by the open window now.
She crept round to the window and
peered in. The burglar was picking away
at the iron plate. Moving very eau
tiously, she raised her arm, and then, tim
ing the motion by his regular stroke, and
holding her breath, she thrust in her arm,
lifted the pistol and drew it out She
aimed it at his head, expecting to see him
turn; but he did not hear-picked away at
the plate.
She came back to the front and watched
him. His drill went through the plate as
she looked. He worked it back and
forth-probing the opening inside. 1t
was just above the chamber of the lock.
He picked out the hole little larger.
Then he got up and took from the pocket
of his coat flask and length of fuse.
She saw him put the flask to the opening
and pour the chamber full of powder. He
inserted the fuse and let the end hang
down. Taking a match from his pocket,
he struck it. 1t was time to act, Nell
fhnr,nht Tho match HaShal onA
out.
She ran round to the back. The kitchen
door stood ajar. She passed in, silent as
death, caught match from the Shelf Lit
q candle and stepped through the passage
to the door of the east room. The door
was open. She held the candle outside in
her left hand, stood in the doorway and
pointed the pistol.
He had not heard her. More matches
| had missed. He struck one now and held
the flame down. 1t caught and flared up
bright. He put it to the end of the fuse,
threw it down, and stood up.
He faced round and stared one instant.
A girl stood fronting him, with as brave,
calm face, white and set, as ever looked
out on peril. He saw his pistol in her
hand, aimed steady and true. He stared
one moment, then leaned quickly and
blew out the lamp. She saw the spark
glowing slowly but steadily up the fuse.
She brought the candle forward and
threw the light upon him. She stepped
forward into the room.
go back, ;" she said; "step backward to
the wall. If you turn or lift your hand
will kill your
He knew that she would. He backed
away. She advanced step by step. She
set the candle down upon the safe. She
did not move her eyes from his face. She
kept the pistol steadily aimed her finger
on the trigger. The spark had climbed
half way along the fuse. She bent down,
drew out the fuse with her left hand.
With quick backward motion she threw
it through the open sash. Then she spoke,
calm and deliberate her eyes never leay-
ing his face, the pistol pointed straight at
his breast. Take off your hat"
AS he stood against the wall the
slouched brim shaded his face. She
wanted to see his face when he answered
her He put up his hand and took it of.
"Look in my face" she said.
He lifted his eyes and looked at her
with a sullen, sheepish, villainous face.
"You are in my power" she went on.
81 will have two men here in fifteen min
utes, at most. You know the penalty of
this nights work-ten years in prison
cell. If you answer me truly I'll let you
go your way. If you try to get away I'll
fire, and shall not miss" She paused a
minute then went on: "Where is the man
you waylaid?n She never doubted that
he knew.
Parsons got him." he said, in low,
hoarse voice.
"What do you mean? Speak plain-Tl