The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-03-12

surprise awaited him there, for the
whole house was dark and silent There
was not even CLEAN OF light in it from
garnet 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-
ton 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 obliterate6 by the
driving snow. Yet he still kept plung-
ing on in frantic attempt at great
err 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 fire and was just sit
ting down with a book when the door
opened and man entered. A single
glance told her that it was not
her husband returned, as she thought
at first, for the intruder wore a mask
of black cloth and carried cooked re-
volver in his hand. Nettie's blood fair
ly froze as the unwelcome guest ad-
vanced toward her.
There is little roll of shinplasters
upstairs and want il" he said. go
and get it for me, there's DEAR"
my husband has it in his pocket"
she answered, with a white, scared
face, yet still determined to keep the
money out of the burglars clutches if
possible.
mo, he hasn't. my dear. He went
off in too big hurry to think of any
thing. It's in the bureau drawer now.
Get it for me or else shall be obliged
to tie you up and help myself"
Nettie's heart sank yet lower. The
robber evidently knew that Freeman
was away from home, and she was ut
terly in his power.
II suppose l may as well, as you
know all about ii, " she said. plan to
outwit him beginning to take shape in
her mind. Take the lamp and come
on"
by heavens, you're a brick" said
the villain, admiringly, as he obedient-
ly picked up the lamp and followed
her from the kitchen. Sorry to
trouble you, but must borrow that
money little while, anyhow"
Nettie went straight up the stairs to
their chamber door. the ruffian follow
ing close behind her with the lamp, re-
volver in hand. BY the time they
reached it he was entirely off his guard
The door swung inward, and Nettie
turned it on its hinges as quietly as if
she were about to retire. instead of be-
ing in deadly danger. But as the door
swung open she gave a sudden spring
through it. banged it shut in the rob-
ber's face with a violence that ex-
tinguishcd the light, and turned the
key in the lock.
With a muttered curse the fellow be-
gan fumbling in his pockets for matches
to relight the lamp, thinking draft
had closed the door. Failing to find
any he essayed to open it, only to find
it fast When the burglar realized the
trick that had been played upon him he
was furious.
open the door, You she-devil." he
cried, as he pounded violently upon it.
open the door, or win burst it open
and kill you like rat in hole"
There was no response Nettic knew
the door would stop the robber for only
a moment, so she made the most of her
time. Snatching her husbands pocket.
book from the drawer she hastily
thrust it into her bosom; then she
darted to the window and threw it
open.
A huge apple tree grew close to the
house, and the great branches of it
swept the roof. Mrs. Nettie bad been
perfect hoyden in her girlhood, SO it
was only an instant till she was among
the snowy boughs- 1t was none too
soon. for the robber was already at the
window.
Come back, curse you'll" he. cried:
''come back, or I'll put bullet through
YOU"
Nettie's only answer was frantic
effort to get through the treetop to the
ground. She did not think the bur-
glar could see her, and the wind howled
SO she had little fear of his hitting her
il he went by sound and shot at ran
dom. So she set her little white teeth
firmly together and recklessly clam
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