The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-22
AS she went she had a sensation of being
followed, and fastened on breathlessly.
When little Ally knelt down to say her
prayers, the door opened quietly as if Der.

When little Ally knelt down to say he,
prayers, the Soor opened quietly as if Der.
othy had not properly secured it.
She noticed, her nerves were at such cruel
tension, every noise, however slight.
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look up
on a little child,'" said Ally in her softlisp-
ing baby language, and Dorothy saw the
door open a little wider.
When the prayers were ended, and the
baby lips kissed into silence, and Ally lay
snug and warm in the pretty white bed,
Dorothy went to the door to lock II, and 10
the key was gone.
Dorothy looked on the floor, all over the
rcom, in the corridor, and still it was not to
Ebe found.
hes came to answer it a little suikily; all
the maids were out, and it made her breath
short TO mount the stairs.
II can't find the key of my door, has any.
one removed it":"
house are rarely touched; we can trust one
another, Miss Snow"
Eyes, of course, but 1 nm accustOme d to
lock my door, and l can't sleep unless it is"
I'm very sorry, but it is no faultof mine.
Put a chair against the door; nc one will in
terfere with you-why should they? l never
locked my bedroom door in my life. What
should l do in case of fire?"
Unlock it and get out if you value your
life, / suppose. i am annoyed. The key
was here this morning. Well, l suppose I
must get to bed, but / don't believe l shall
sleep"
II don't suppose you will, it is not ten
n'pln1lf Shall 7 hri,r o, 4, I;Itl. ...u,.ar,,
Yes, please, | wish you would. l feel
tired and nervous"
Old Agnes went down again, and got the
hot Wine-and-water, grumbling as she did
so about the loss of the key; it was so
strange, she could not account for it, and il
worried her.
After seeing Dorothy drink her wine in
bed, and turning the gas down to a faint
glimmer, old Agnes said goodnight and left
her, closing the door securely behind her,
and went down TO wait up for the maids.
Dorothy ven to sleep after LAYING awake
some time; little Ally slept serenely by her
side, but Dorothy dreamt someone was
dragging the child away from her to de
stroy.
The dream was horribly realistic, and she
fancied someone WAS lifting Ally above hcI
while she saik lower, overpowered by a
sickening odor that seemed to saffocate
her.
She made a desperate effort to break this
spell of horror, and awoke to find herself in
total darkness except where the moon made
light just where the window cleaned n
glimmering square.
A handkerchief that had c%ovcralher face
she had torn away just in time to see little
Ally lifted from her side by q dull dark
shape with q plume of feathers on its head
like a hearse.
Weak, sick, and faint felt Dorothy, but
her promise to protect the child was vivid
In her mind. No one should take her away
while she had power to prevent it.
WHO are you? What are you doing with
that child" cried Dorothy, springtng out of
bel, and pulling at the bell-rope-it only
hung by a thread and gave way at her
touch.
Dorothy screamed with terror, and took
hold of Ally to wrench her out of the
strange Soman's arms.
She might as well have tried to move a
| marble column.
silence, you fool, or by the Heaven, I'll
Kill, you! only take mY WI Keep off,
or L shall do You deadly harm"
The low fierce Voice never failed. In vain
Dorothy trie.l to rescue the child, a hand of
| iron grasp5d her throat.
She tore trantically at the hand; the lace
ut the Wrist came away, the silk gave way to
h y matdcned grasp, but she could not
loosen the cruel fiagers.
With a horrid thnd sho was thrown
! against the bed-p s. and rolled over, he
ly stunned.
Then tho woman, spurning the PROSTATE
form with her foot as ii she had been a
loatilsome reptile, picked up Dorothy's fur
lined cloak from the foot of the bed,
wrapped the still sleeping child in it, and
went silently awaylike a night shadow tina
many may dread but few grasp.
wy pcrr,, WY