The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-10-07

AVE your certihcate niled out, ant L
,elieve YOU said the funds were ready.
You can give them to me to-day, sup
pose"
"No, caunot," returned Mr.. Allison,
who was at the .:.c:-,:-:.. svvP IN the con-
fonts Of a private drawer at the safe.
"They are not in town, and j must first
sell some Government bonds now in the
safe deposit vaults at Boston. will try
and have the money for you in the course
OF forty. eight hours"
Morton made no reply, but MiIlie
,hanced to look up just then. and she
VAS much startled at the reflection OF
lis face, presented by mirror hanging
On the opposite wall.
Plainly Mr. Allison's words had not
pleased him, for tho expression on his
lark features vividly illustrated rage
md disappointment.
When Mr. Allison sat down ogain
Morton had fully recovered himself to all
outward appearance, and after little
more conversation IN too low tone for
her to understand it, he went away.
In the afternoon Mr.. Allison nstonished
his clerk by asking il she thought she
.ould take sole charge of the Office for a
day or two. ITo was going to Boston at
i've o'clock, and could not tell Just when
he should return.
Had she dared she would have tried
10 dissuade him from going, for she was
,ure the result of his journey would bo
% put large part OF his property in
Horton's hands. She did not speak
Ihen, but she was so uneasy sho doter-
miucd to watch for an opportunity Of
doing so.
by and by he happened to look up
md sec her eyes resting on him, with an
expression which caused him to leave his
1csk and come to her side.
"What is it, Mil-Miss Thorndykc2"
nc asked in tone sho had never heard
him use before; "you have something to
say to me-"
w-I--ycs, she stammcrcd, and then
stopped short. She had not yet over
come habit Of flushing up Whenever he
addressed her-a habit not at oil un-
becoming in his eyes, though it was
painfully confusing to her.
While he was waiting for her to re-
cover herself the office door opened, at
which he stepped back with al air Of
and, turning, confronted
Morton. Miles chance was lost, for
Morton stayed until train time, and the
two gentlemen went out together.
"I will leave the safe for you to
lock-" said Mr.. Allison, in giving his
final directions. "You know how-shut
the door hard to, turn the handle that
works the bolts until it is square across,
aud then turn the knob two or three
times toward the left"
After he was gone she rcproachcd her
self more than ever that she had not
spoken the warming that hal been ut her
tongues end. 1t could have done no
harm, and would at least have put him
on his guard. Bat regrets were useless,
and she could only hope, rather for
lornly, that all might turn out well.
Being in somewhat disturbed state
tried to compose herself with a new
book left in the office by Mr.. Allison,
and she found it SO interesting she was
10th to lay it down at s o'clock, the hear
ready before $3.50, anu her quarters at
present we're comfortable and quiet, she
determined to stay while longer, first
taking care to lock the door that she
might be secure from interruption.
As she was about to settle down she
Thought of the safe. She never before
had had occasion to lock a safe door,
and she carefully followed Mr.. Allison's
directions.
"Oh, how heavyw she exclaimed,
tIgging at the pondcrous weight, rs she
drew it back for long swing. "lIe
said must shut it hard to-" aud exert
ing all her strength, she closed the door
with bang. Then she shot the bolts
ard turnc the knob until II significant
little click told her all was secure.
"ihcrc; now everything is FAST" she
said.
And so it was, even more SO than sht
thought, for in turning away quick
tug at her gown caused her to look
down, when she saw with dismay she
had shut into The safe part OF one o.
the folds Of her skirt.
One or two Intellectual pulls showed
that the iron monster could not be made
to give up its grip until its jaws were
forced apart-in other words until the
door was opcned-which, rs she neither
knew the combination nor had the nee,
cSsary strength, was of course out Of tho
question.
Had her gown been an old ono she
might have freed herself by tcarinr the
cloth, bat, it being new and very
pretty garment, she was unwilling hasti.
ly to offer it violence. She thought
calling for help, yet what would i
serve!
While she was trying to devise som,
means Of drawing herself out of her di
lcmma, she heard sound of approach
ing footsteps, which stopped outside tn,
door, and were followed by the rattle 0
key in the kcyholc.
Then she remembered with consterna
ton that she had locked the door anG
the key was in the lock to the exclusion
Of any other.
"Was ever anything so stupid2" ah,
exclaimed. 81 have walkcl into CON
plc'c trap. can't get out and no ON,
else car get iu.'
The person outside having probabl,
guessed the rcl3on Of his nouA mission
nov liockcl on the door AMI asked who
was within. TO her unb punlcl surprise