Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-08-27
OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN

began housekeeping in one of the fats
down near the ''ferry' People said we
were foolish to try to run an establish
ment Of our own on thousand dollars
salary, but John neither smoked nol
drank, and my mother had taught me
all the little economies of housekeeping,
SO we managed to get along nicely, and
every month something was added to
our nest egg in the savings bank
Job Shultz, who for years had been
fireman down at the china pottery works,
occupied half of the fiat we had taken,
and though both he and his wife be-
longed to the uneducated, hardworkng
class Of German eInigrants, they were
sober and honest, and proved to be very
good neighbors indeed. By some strange
freak of nature their twin children,
Franz and Gretchen, were born mutes.
When we formed their acquaintance
they were about eight years old. and
seemed to enter into all the sports OF
childhood with as much zest as their
more noisy companions Still. it was
pathetic to watch the little things going
round so silently, and it was out of sheer
and undertook to master the deaf and
dumb alphabet
John learned readily. but it was long
time before could make my fingers
speak so as to carry on conversation
intelligently My final triumph gave as
much pleasure to the little t'Dutchies'
as to myself. and, as | shall show you, !
was afterward amply repaid for all the
pains took to give them enjoyment.
We had been married five years, and
in spite of the gloomy prophecies OF
some of our would-be advisers, John was
junior member of the firm that once EN-.
ployed him, and the suite of rooms in
the fat had been exchanged for pleas
ant residence III a very respectable part
of the city.
sJchn looked after the business inter-
ests Of the concern, and as he was obliged
to take many unexpected trips, was of.
ten left for several days at time with
no other company than the servants. /
protested little at first, but was rea-
sonable, and soon became accustomed to
the loneliness.
One cold, stormy night in February,
just after the shutters had been closed
and the curtains drawn, John came In
hurriedly, and without speaking went
quietly upstairs | was surprised, for he
did not usually leave the store until 8
o'clock, and it was then but half-past 6.
When he came into the parlor few
minutes later inquired anxiously if he
were i'll. Before answering me he closed
the door leading into the living room,
and then, drawing a chair close to mine,
he said in a low voice.
81 did not mean to say anything to
you about it. Marion; but you are such
brave little woman I am sure I can
trust you
"An attempt to blow the safe was
made last night, and the adroit way in
which the would be burglar managed to
cover up his work leads us to anticipate
a repetition of the visit tonight. In order
to thwart the gentleman's designs have
brought the money and valuables home,
and have put the box containing the
treasure in the lower drawer Of the sec
retary that stands in our room"
GLOW much money is there in it!'
asked, trying to speak in my natural
voice
Nearly fifteen thousand" answered
John, in a whisper
"Why didn't you put it in the bank
for safe keeping asked uneasily.
tThat was the arrangement; but
Brown, the assistant cashier, whose busi-
ness it was to attend to it, forgot his er-
rand until the bank was closed, replied
John Don't worry anything about it,
dear. You are the only one outside Of
the firm that knows what disposition
has been made OF the money, and to-
morrow it will be placed in the bank"
was satisfied with the explanation,
and thought no more about the box up
stairs until after the clock had warned
for nine, and it is not probable that ]
would have thought of it then had not
John been ordered off on one Of his mid
night journeys. Just before he started
he put the key Of that box in my hand,
saying:
"When Mr.. Mowry calls for the money
give him this. ! viii not be home in
time to look after it before the bank
closes tomorrow
felt queer fiutfering in the region
Of my heart when John kissed me good
by, but made myself believe that was
very brave, and at my regular time for
retiring went to my room, cautioning
Abram, as usual, to see that the doors
were all securely fastened. After / went
up stairs weakened little, and was on
the point Of calling Betty to sleep in my
room, but fearing that John would laugh
at my cowardice, summoned all Hy
courage to my aid, and was soon sleep
ing as peacefully as baby.
| must have slept soundly, or l would
have heard the creak of the wardrobe
door, and tbs stealthy step Of the tall,
lank figure that emerged therefrom.
As it was. the first intimation that
had of the presence of an unwelcome
guest was a hoarse whisper IN my ear:
Where 10 that iron box which your
husband brought home from the store
this EVENING"
Opening my eyes, was almost para
lyzed to see bending over me hideous
face, the most fiendish one | had ever
seen There was bright fire in the
CRATE, and had fair view Of the vii
lain; but before could move or utter q
cry the cold muzzle Of a revolver was
pressed against my head, and that same
voice hissed:
"Stir.-or make noise at your peril
You are in my power, but if you do as
ten you l will not harm you in the least
| want the money in that box. and, fair
or foul, intend to have it.
Fully realizing my helpless position,
told him where it was, hoping that IN
some way might make my escape while
his back was turned was Just meas
uring the distance to the door with nv
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