Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-14

% a. % unti.. under !aid mg
my friend, who had been a prominent
detective in his day, was that of Mar
garet Whitney, the daughter of the
doorkeeper of Messrs Bongshaw
Brothers, bankers.
On the eventful night in question
Margarets father had been sent ont Of
town on business for the firm, and she
was the sole occupant of the rooms in
which they dwelt, directly over the
bank.
She had fallen asleep on n lounge,
and was aroused by the sound Of
stealthy approaching feet over the car
peted stairway, just outside the door
She arose hurriedly and with a sudden
impulse she threw the door wide open.
She no sooner had done so than two
masked men suddenly sprang upon her.
The light was dashed from her hand,
their strong arms held her in a vice
like grip. md before she could utter @
cry a voice whispered:
Make the slightest noise and you
are n dead woman. Do as you are
told and no harm shall befall YOU"
Margaret Whitney was as brave as
steel She felt the muzzle of a pistol
pressed against her forehead, but she
accepted the situation at once, and re-
tanning perfect self-control, she replied
in a low voice
only release me and tell me what
it is | must do.
They released her, after a moment s
consultation, and relighted the candle,
by which she could see that their faces
were covered with black crepe walls in
which holes we're cut for the eyes and
mouth; and they seemed shod with
some felt-like material that deadened
the sound Of their footsteps consider
ably.
One Of the men quickly ond silently
searched the room. while the other
stood guard over her Tho former
presently returned, dangling a bunch
of KEYS
"Whose keys are these and what do
they open?" was asked the girl, in a
low. commanding voice
They ara my fathers keys snid
Margaret, and they open the differ
ent rooms and places down stairs
do they open the cellar and the
strong box in which the money is
kept?'
"No; one passkey is in the posses
sion of tbs elder Mr.. Bangshaw, the
other is in the possession of Mr..
Hosea, the cashier No one can OBJ
tain admission to the cellar during
their absence.
"Come down stairs with us, " said
the man, holding immediate guard
over her.
As they went down the lower flight
Margaret was surprised to see another
figure that of woman, who was
clothed in dark mantle from head TO
teet-who further lighted their pro
gress down with the slender rsy Of o
lantern in her hand.
rs it not possible, " said Margaret s
chief captor, when they had reached
the foot Of the stairs, that one or
other of the passkeys may be locked in
the desk of their private Office.
ut is possible, but not likely" was
the calm reply.
At the leaders command Margaret
pointed out the key that opened the
door of the private Office, and the desk
at which the Bangshaw Brothers gen
orally sat, one facing the other.
A small jet of gas commonly used
for melting sealing-wax, was then
lighted, bag, containing r number
of HOUSEKEEPING implements, swathed
in thick folds of flannel, was next pro
duced, and the desk drawers we're
speedily forced open and searched.
But no key was to be found.
The leader consulted in whispers
with bis companion a moment, and
then requested Margaret to point out
the key that opened the top cellar
door, saying that they would have to
burst open the lower one. She indi-
Gated the proper key, when he re-
sumed