San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-19

redCneu up.
She was still too far away, stretching
as she did on her tiptoes.
She clambered down and brought in
chair, which she placed on the table.
Climbing up on it at the risk of a
tumble, she found her face on level
with Ille uuwusIrelcued land of the
gamin.
She put the paper in his hand, and
holding it gave him directions how to go.
The touch of the softest hand he had
ever felt moved the little vagabond. q
Then she kissed the dirty paw of the
youngster as he promised to De fleet of
foot.
In moment more she heard the patter
of his bare feet on the slate roof
She climbed down and restored the
table and chair to the places where she
found them.
She sat down ON the bed to think.
But she was too much disturbed to
think or to sit.
She began pacing up and down the
floor
She had taken but a few turns when
she heard bolt drawn back and key
inserted in lock.
The door opened.
1t was the one opening into the other
room.
A step or two on the floor.
Il man stood before her. He was
dressed in shabby black clothes. A bat
tered black derby hat was on his head,
under which showed the struggling and
matted locks of his brown hair. His
| face was covered with a coarse, bushy
brown beard and mustache. above which
| glowed a prominent hooked nose, the
| end of which was inflamed. Two pierre
ing, fiery eyes peered out on her.
so" he said, "yer've found yer way
into this here room, have yer, my lady?"
She made no reply.
"Tryin' to find Il way out, eh! Well, ]
don't blame yer for that. It's what ex-
pected yer to do, so ! fixed it that yer
| couldn't"
His eye fell upon the discarded calico
dress, and he laughed.
| "Oh, no, yer didn't like the nice purity
dress yer friend presented yer with, chr"
"Why am confined here? she asked.
"Who brought me here?"
Not KNOWN can't say" the man re-
| Piled why be yer confined here? Not
KNOWN couldn't say"
why do you keep me here. then:
Oh, sir, pray you, let me go. | will
pay you handsomely if you will let me. y
| "Oh, no, my ladybird, l couldn't do
that, yer know. I'm only obeyin' orders,
and so you will have to. Let yer go:
Oh, no, that wouldn't do at ALL but !
wish they'd take yer away from here,
for don't want yer"
| Annie saw the useleSsness of further
words, and she trusted to the boy.
| The man continues:
| "Here, there's somethin' to eat for yer
and some beer"-pointing to the table.
He walked over to it and took away the
plate and cup that Annie had just seen
there. He moved. the chair on which
lay the paper to the table. AS he lifted
the paper he said: "And here's some
readin' for yer"
| His attention was attracted to the mu
tilated margin. He looked quickly to
the table and saw the pencil was gone.
What have yer been doin'," he asked,
fiercely, going to her, AS he did he saw
the pencil on the floor.
''Ho, no! Yer've been a-tryin' to kom-
muniercate, hev ye?"
Eyes" she replied, boldly.
well, did YEP" said he, peering at her
keenly and suspiciously.
The idea swept over Armies mind that
it would be wise to conceal her attempt.
''Of what use was it," she said, wear
| lily. Women are born actresses. "How
was to send letter from here?"
True for We. Where's wot We writ"
Il didn't write anything, tore the
paper up"
He looked upon the floor, and saw
pieces of paper which Annie had idly
torn into bits.
This did not satisfy him. He looked
at her suspiciously a moment, and then
| said:
Il don't believe We. Not that We saw
anybody, but yer've thrown somethin'
out Cor chance. I'll see to that at once
| Yer'd better eat" he said as he turned
away, ''for yer've long ride before yer
tonight
With that he strobe hastily out of the
room, locking, boiling and barring the
| door after him. Her heart failed as she
| heard the bolts shoot.
She saw bolts and bars on the inside.
With a quick impulse she put up the
bars and shot the bolts. She flew to the
i i i IL