Wichita eagle., 1888-09-11

II IN the house which hewent on to-ngnu.
My friend is upstairs lookin' for it this
minute. All we want is money. We
don't mean to harm nobody. Ye shan't
be touched if We behave yersef and keep
quiet"
Somewhat assured by this, and having
had time while he was speaking to collect
myself, l was now able to assume at least
an appearance of calmness.
took up my embroidery and went on
working or pretending to work, at the
pattern | was embroidering. think the
action helped me, too, for presently
found myself quite calm, and with cool
ness and resolution that can hardly be-
lieve in now, as recall it, turning over
in my mind what l ought to do.
What would these two men do when
they found, as they would soon find, that
the money was not up stairs? They would
be disappointed and desperate-capable,
perhaps, of deeds that they had not at
first intended.
Perhaps had better give up the money
at once, and SO get rid of them. And yet
father had confided it to my care, and it
did not belong to him, but to the COM
pany. ! ought not to give it to these
Ulco IL COUlN ucl IL. vi. why COulO !
not give an alarm In some way? What if
should open my mouth and cry out at
any risk? Could I make Joseph hear away
out in the wing of the house as he VAST
Aasl knew that I could not, even had
not this man been sitting there by tho
door-he had taken chair now-eying
me fercely, az though he read my
thoughts. All! if l had only done as
father had wished and teIegraphed for
Harry Randall to come up. And then
with this last thought another thought
came to me. Why could not summon
Harry even now, if, perchanee, he was
still at the Office?
/ arose from my chair, mechanically
grasping my work in my hand. My guard
got up also, evidently suspicious Of my
sIii have s't to ask You to keep quiet,
MISS" said he, with harsh, determined
voice.
l turned upon him Indignantly. II
suppose may change my seat if like"
said |.
And, without waiting for his permission,
walked deliberately over to the desk and
sat down on the.revolving chair that stood
before it. At the same time threw my
work down On the desk in such way as
to cover the battery, which instrument my
companion had probably not noticed at all.
Perhaps he would not have known what
it was if he had.
sat there moment, listlessly twisting
the chair back and forth, and trying to
make up my mind what best to do.
Just then there was a slight noise on
the hall stairs and the man became IN
easy, stood UP and looked at the library
door as If he was about to go toward it.
Then he turned again to me, and with a
threatening gesture said:
"You jest set there while step into the
hall bit. And if you stir or make
noise it will be worse for ye. Do you
mind that?"
He went softly into the hall.
Feeling that now was my opportunity,
silently as possible sent my signal over
the wire, into the night, down to the
mills and Harry Randall.
Harry, are you there?"
In another instant I was leaning back
in my chair and moving an inkstand on
the table to make noise How my heart
was beating and my ear was strained to
catch the sound that-if l might in Gods
goodness hope it-might possibly come
back to me!
Almost minute--it seemed an age-I
listened, and my heart sank as no answer
ing signal was heard. Then-clickl clicki
click! came the sounds, sweeter to my
ears than the sweetest music, and | knew
Harry was there. These sounds were 20
some extent covered by the drumming of
my thimble, but to me were as plain as
spoken words =
Instantly sent back my answer, tt o
excited words, run all together:
Robbers! HelpW
The total silence that followed assured
me, after minutes anxious waiting,
that Harry had comprehended my mes
sage, and that doubtless he would come
at once to the house. Fortune had favored
me, for had heard the man creeping up
the hall stairs, and thus l had escaped
the results of any suspicious he might
have had had he heard the clicking of the
instrument.
did not look at the clock and so cannot
say how long sat there in silence. 1t
seemed to me that it was hours.
Then there was sound Of whispering
in the hall. The next moment there APP
peared in the doorway second stranger,
rougher and more desperate, if possible,
in appearance than the first, and close
behind him, to my great surprise and in
dignation, was our man Joseph. They
both advanced into the room, the one
looking angry and disappointed, and the
other with sheepish air as he caught
my eye.
1--WE have found the key of the SAFE"
growled the second stranger, "but all for
nothing. The money wasn't in it, and we
have looked high and low and can't find
it. But Joe here sticks to it that it's
somewhere in the house. and he thinks"
looking fiercely at me, you know where.
It's no use, Miss -, we haven't any
time to spare and we won't have any non
sense. You know where the money is,
and you've got to tell"
He had advanced while he had been
speaking. and was now quite near 1
arose from my chair, fearing he might
lay hands on me. And at that instant
my ears painfully alert to any noise-I
was certain | caught the sound Of foot
fall outside Of the window and / gained
fresh courage.
"And why have 1 got to tell?" l de-
manded, purposely raising my voice 80 it
could be heard outside he house. What
right have you to break into this house
this Way
The man caught me by the wrist, Ut
tering at the same time a fearful oath.
You make another sound above q
whisper" be cried in voice hoarse with
rage, land In'-
He did not finish his sentence. There |
came o loud crash at both windows at |
once, and the next moment Harry Randall, |
with two watchnlen from the mill. burst !