The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-06-20

DeatlDB pulse, n screening nre-Snake
wound and wound, with its soaring
bite, its e~xcruciating embrace, and
presently the encompassing band burst
into flame. Even then she did not
falter, though 1t seemed that her
very soul would shrek forth from its
tenement.
In a few moments moments that
seemed hours-the blazing ligature
| gave way. Her hands were free, but
blackened, blistered, almost cindered,
they fell helpless to her sides. Then
she gaye . great sob, and almost faint
ed
But the returning knowledge of her
peril, and of the great work she had
set out to do (hcr fathers situation in
the bank might depend upon it), re-
nerved her, and with a great effort she
began to pull herself together.
In spite of the pain in her wrist, she
began with nimble fingers to loosen
II OF h knots in the core by which
she was fastened t the post. This
offered no great opposition to her
efforts and the first knot loosened, the
rest quickly followed.
The next thing to do was evidently
to make her sea from the bank
without alarming the thieves in the
treasure cellar, If that were possible,
and then raise such an alarm as would
CduSc JlClE uTTSSU DeIcre UneY cOulu
make off with their booty.
Taking off her shoes, she stole out of
the office to the head of the cellar
stairs, up which a faint ray of light
was shining, and peeped down.
Before reaching this point she heard
vOices-broken, faint and hollow-issu-
ing from below, with now and then a
dull, solid thud, like the mufned blow
of some heavy implement.
N~,, ., IL 1-~1.-l - Il --
that the door at the foot of the stairs
had been forced open, and that the
burglars were working upon the great
safe itself.
One OF the men was busy with u Ian
nel-swathed crowbar, which he was
using as u lever to pry open one of the
safe doors the second man was drilling
holes in the other door with u very
strengthening implement, the like of
which Margaret had never seer be-
fore: while the woman was lighting
these operations with a lamp, held
aloft in n hand. These had their
backs to the staircase.
This entire picture Margaret's eyes
took in at n glance. They took in one
thing more-the bunch of keys with
which they had opened the door at the
head of thes stairs.
This bunch of keys was lying on the
lower landing, close to the cellar door
hat had been forced open. Could she
but obtain possession of it, she saw not
only q way of escape for herself, but Il
way by which the thieves might be
caught in their own trap.
The peril was tremendous the chance
apparently but one in u hundred, of
her being able to creep down SO softly
as not even to cause them to turn a
glance in her direction (Which, of
course, would seal her fate,) and then
creep back with the keys and close the
trap upon them by means of the heavy
spring-lock door at the top.
But it was the only course open to
her, desperate as it was, and she
adopted it with characteristic boldness
and fearlessness.
Slowly, inch by inch, and with no
more sound than q shadow, she stole
into the doorway, and then down the
staircase, step by step, counting them
one by one by the palpitation of her
w heart as she proceeded.
She reached the bottom of the steps,
fifteen in all, without causing them to
turn u look.
Tho next difficulty was to pick up
the keys, which were threaded on a
steel ring, without detection.
Even this difficulty was conquered at
last. She took the keys up from the
floor without SO much as a rustic, and
had proceeded three steps on he peril
Gus upward journey, when there was a
sharp report of II pistol, and, aus Mar
garct set foot on the topmost stop, She
felt something strike her neal the
ShOuldcr-blade
But she staggered forward into the
corridor, wheeled quickly around, and
flung hcrsclf-head. arms, body
against the oaken door, which, yield
ing to hcr strength, turned on its we'll
oilcd hinges and, with IL little trium-
phant click. shut up, as in q trap, three
thieves below.
Without the key, this door, which
locked of itself when pushed to, could
neither be opened from one side or the
other; with the key it could be opened
on either side.
She had hardly closed it securely be-
fore she heard the two men inside tear
ing and beating at it like madmcn in
their desperate efforts to get out.
Still holding her bunch of keys, she
ran out of the Office and down u pass
age that led to the side entrance OF the
bank. She was trembling all over
now. and had hardly strength enough
remaining to unfasten the heavy outer
door.
At last she sped down the silent
street in search of assistance.
Fortunately, upon reaching the first
corner she nearly tumbled into the
arms of a policeman who was coming
from the opposite direction.
What sort of an incoherent story she
told him she could never afterwards
quite remember: but it must have been
to the purpose. The policeman at once
summoned some comrades to his assist
ance, and Il strong posse of officers
reached the bank and took the burg
lars in custody.
1t turned out hat the rascals were
none other than q certain so-callcd
Major Woolford, his wife, and his
servant, who had some four months
previously become the tenants of an
empty house that stood next door to
the bank. OF course they were sub
s~equently tried, convicted and SEN
fenced.
AS for brave Margaret Whitney, she
not only became the heroine Of the
hour, but more substantial advantages
accrued to her and hers through her
heroism and devotion.
II saw Margaret about two years
after that adventure" said my friend,
the detective, in concluding his nara
tive.
Her husband was doing thrivingly
as IL small s~hopkeeper, and she was u
happy wife n mother, though her
wrists still bore the searching scars of
that fnppih1a nrlno1 NJ E,n ,l..l, |