Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-03-20

Nbt1ttAtf a. A't-'++-f'- ----t
door.
NV. d. HoWells. in Harper's Magazine.
MRS. CROLY'S BURGLAR.
Elijah Croly, my husband, was
owner and captain of coasting yes
sci, dong a good trade and We occu-
pied an o,d-fashioncd and somewhat
dreary house at S.cpnoy. Elijah liked |
the place more than did, and it was
on his account that we stayed there so
long. | thought it could make very
little difference to him where we lived.
for he was at home only two or three
weeks out of every ten. | was often
alone two months at a time and lone
ly enough it was sometimes.
"Get some one whom you like to
STAY with you, my dear" the captain
said, when told him one day how un-
pleasant | felt TO be alone 50 mach.
'sGet any one you please, and before
long | hope | shall be able to stay at
home with you myself"
took his advice, and after some in
quiry found a woman who | thought
would suit me. Her name was Emily
Sands, and she was p.casant-faced
woman of about forty. She told me
that she had been left a widow, with
no means, and had since earned her
living by needlework; and although |
had intended that the woman who
came every morning to do my house
work should still come, ] found Emily
50 willing that | soon discontinued the
services of tile other. She was SO
amiab'e and so yivacious, that was
satisfied that ! had done the best that
| could in the matter.
The captain remained at home this
time barely two weeks. On the morn
ing that he left to take his vessel for
another trip, just after he had taken
up his hat to 90, he called me into the
chamber and shut the door.
eIIere is something, FANNY" he
paper package from his breast pocket
as he spoke. "Thorc are ten fiftv-
dollar bills in it-S2500 in all. will
Jock it up here in this bureau drawer
and give you the key" And he did
so. ':No one would think of coming
here for money"
'Do you think you had better leave
it here, EIiiah?' asked. "Why not
put it in the bank?'
81 meant to; but | shall not have
time. The money was only paid me
last night. But no matter, the money
will be safe where it is, and there will
be no danger about It; or if YOU don't
think so, you may deposit it yourself"
The evenings were rather long, and
Emily and sat together in the dining
room after the table was cleared, she
reading aloud and listening, as was
our custom. When the clock struck
o she laid down her book and | took
my lamp, and bidding her good night
went up to my room.
My chamber occupied the whole
front of the second story, and Emily
had a back room upon the same floor.
bell-wife rRn from ra,oYsNn to hers,
SO that : coa!f.e.samnon ~I,a-> u
pleasure.
placed the lamp upon the bureau,
shaded it, and returned and locked the
door. Then | drew my easy chair to
the middle Of the room, put on my
slippers and sat down for a few min
utes before retiring. And immedi-
ately | became yeXed at myself to find
that | was looking at the drawer that
held the money, and that was feeling
in my pocket to see that the KEY was
safe. | felt no alarm: ! had almost
cured myself of my uneasiness; but
1t seemed as if that money and the
danger of its custody would obtrude
upon me.
In the impotence Of the moment
turned my chair half round and looked
towards the opposite wall. The shade
that placed over the lamp confined
its rays within a small circle, beyond
which the bed, the furniture, the car
pet and the wall paper were obscure.
IN the corner, to the right of the
door, was an antique, high-backed |
chair, favorite piece of furniture.
AS | turned my own chair from the
bureau my eyes rested on this object;
and l saw by the same glance that a
human figure was sitting in it.
There ] was, locked up in a room
with ruffiau, waiting, trembling and
expecting TO hear him speak, or to be-
COME the object of some violence
For although, as have said, could /
not distinguish whether it was man or
woman, did not doubt tlmt it was
the former and one of the most des-
perate of his kind. And presently, as
my eyes fell to the floor, | saw a great
pair OF boots thrust out upon the car
pet within the radius of the light
/ do not know how long we sat
there in ihe semi-darkness of the room,
facing each other, but motionless and
silent; il might have been three
IN linftfes frx fbirf,r Urba tt,o,,.k.