Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-01-22


late in the autumn and the weather
was cold and gloomy, while the near
est reighbor was nearly mile away;
yet they were never lonesome, for the
honeymoon was scarcely over and they
were still very fond of each others So
ciety.
Mr.. Gibbs, Sr., lived at Gibbsborough,
and the two families were on the very
best of terms. The young people were
very comfortably situated, as Freeman
owned his farm, free of incum brance,
and had just sold his interest in man
ufacturing enterprise at the village for
three thousand dollars in cash. So the
future outlook was exceedingly bright
for the young couple.
The money for the quarter interest
in the factory was paid over to Mr..
Gibbs at his house one forenoon late in
November. Before he had time to
take it to the bank driving snow
storm set in, and7he concluded to wait
until the morrow rather than face such
a tempest, although he realized that
everybody at the village probably
knew there was large sum in his
committed in the vicinity for years,
and besides that Freeman was a
courageous fellow who always kept a
revolver within reach; 30 he had no
fears for the safety of his money.
The storm increased in violence as
the night came on, and by dark there
were eight inches of snow that the
furious wind was rapidly whirling into
great heaps Mr.. Gibbs and his wife
retired quite early, and, lulled by the
roar of tho storm without, they were
soon sleeping as only light-hearted
young people can sleep.
II was almost midnight when q
laundering knock at the door aroused
them both Thrusting his head out of
the window, Mr.. Gibbs called out:
"Who is there?"
Lewis lakewood" was the answer
Your father has Just had shock and
cannot live till morning If you wish
TO see him alive, come Immediately.
Lewis lakewood was his fathers
nearest neighbor. SO Freeman never
had n doubt of the mans identity OF
the truth Of his tidings, OF course
anxiety for his stricken parent at
once overcame all fear of the terrible
storm.
Dare you stay alone and let me go,
Nettie?" said he to his wife. No team
can get through, SO it Ia out of the ques-
tion for you to attempt to get there
in this bitter tempest. AS for me, feel
as il must see my father once more.
Poor fatheri"
Certainly | dare" was the ready
answer, for Nettie Gibbs was no
coward. mo one will get out in this
storm to trouble me, and you will be
back early in the morning. l Will sit
by the fire and read, SO you need have
no fears for me-"
Thus encouraged Mr. Gibbs was soon
dressed and at the door, but when he
opened it he was greatly surprised to
find that there was no one there The
midnight messenger was gone.
His tracks were plain upon the
steps, however, and without an in
stants hesitation Freeman plunged
into the blackness iof the bowling
storm. His fathers health was of far
more Importance to him than Lewis
Jackwood's abrupt and unexpected de-
parturc.
his progress was necessarily slow for
the snow was already deeply drifted.
Step by step he fought his way through
II, but more than an hour went by before
he reached his destination. Another
surprise awaited him there, for the
whole house was dark and silent. There
was not even "A CLEAN Of light in it from
garret To basement
He speedily aroused the whole house,
hold. only To learn that his father was
in his customary health and that Lewis
lakewood had been gone away from
home for two days. Then Freeman
remembered the money and trembled
for his unprotected wife, alone In the
darkness of midnight and that terrible
storm. With just word OF explana
tion he started out on his return, il pos
sible more anxious and alarmed than
when he came.
But he got along slower than ever,
and it was not long before he found all
trace of footsteps oblitcrated by the
driving snow Yet he still kept plung-
ing on in "A frantic attempt at great.
cr speed, becoming more and more
alarmed with every successive move
ment
When Mrs. Nettie found herself
alone that stormy night with three
thousand dollars in the house, she had
not been the least bit frightened She
had kindled up a fire and was just sit
ting down with book when the door
opened and u man entered. A single
glance told her that 1t was not
her husband returned, as she thought
at first, for the intruder wore n mask
OF black cloth and carried cooked re-
volver in his hand. Nettie's blood fair
ly froze as the unwelcome guest ad-
vanccd toward her.
There is little roll OF shinplasters
upstairs and want it." he said. go
and get 1t for me, there's a dear"
my husband has it in his pocket"
she answered, with white, scared
face, yet still determined TO keep the
money out of the burglars clutches IL
possible.