The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-06-20
Our family Stass.
WHAT ONE GIRL DID.

prominent detective i'm his day, was
that OF Margaret Whitney, tho daugh-
ter of the doorkeeper of Messrs. Bang
shaw Brothers, bankers.
On the eYentful night in question
M~argaret's father had been sent out 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 a. lounge,
and was aroused by the sound of steal
thy approaching feet over the carpeted
stairway, just outside her door.
She arose hurriedly and with u sud
den impulse she threw the door wide
open.
She had no sooner done SO than two
masked men suddenly sprang upon her.
The light was dashed from her hand,
their strong arms held her In O wise
like grip, and before she could utter a
cry a voice whispered:
Make the slightest noise and you
are u dead woman Do as you are told
and no harm shall befall YOU"
Margaret Whitney was as brave as
steel. She felt the cold muzzle of u
pistol pressed against her forehead,
but she accepted tho situation ut once,
and retaining perfect s~elf-control, she
replied in u low voice:
"Only release me, and tell me what
it Is 1 must do"
They released her, after a moments
consultation, and relighted the candle,
by which h could see that their faces
were covered with black Grape wells in
which holes were cut for the ayes 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 and silently
searched the room, while the other
stood guard over her. The former
presently returned, dangling a bunch
OF keys.
I" Whose keys are these and what do
+ they open? ?" was asked the girl, in q
low, commanding voice.
"They arc my fathers keys" said
Margaret, land they open the different
rooms and places downstairs"
"Do they open the cellar and the
strong box in which the money is
kept"
mo; one pass-key is in the posses
sion of the elder Mr.. Bangshaw, the
other Is in the possession of Mr.. Hosea,
h cashier. No one can obtain ad-
mission to the cellar during their
Absence"
"Come downstairs with u.s." said
the man holding immediate guard
over her.
AS they went down the lower flight
Margaret was surprised to see another
figure-that of q woman who was
clothed in u dark mantle from head &c
foot-who further lighted their pro.
gress down with the slender ray of Il
lantern in her hand.
rs 1T not possible" said Margarct's
chief captor, when they had reached
the foot of the stairs, "that one on
other of the pass-keys may be locked
in the desk of their private Office 2"
1t is possible, but not likely" was
the calm reply.
At the leaders, command Margaret
pointed out tho key that opened the
at which the Bangshaw Brothers gen
orally sat, II facing the other.
"A small jet of gas, commonly used
Tor melting scaling-waX. was then
lighted II bag, containing u number OF
housebreal1ing Implements, swathcd in
thick folds of flannel, was next produc-
ed and the desk drawers wcrc spccdi-
~ forced open and searched. But no
key was to be found.
He consulted in whispers with his
companions u moment, and then re-
quested Margaret to point out the kew
that opened the top collar door, saying
that they would have to burst open tho
lower one. She indicated the Dropcr
key. when he resumed
~ must compliment you on your
sensible conduct in the affair. Now,
however, you must excuse me if | am
compelled to make you IL prisoner for
awhile. Dear friend, the cord"
The last words were addressed to the
masked woman, who up to this time
had been IL mere lookcr-on, but who
now started into sudden activity.
She placed Margaret with her back
to a large iron pillar, which supported
the ceiling, and then, producing from
some hidden pocket a coil of long. thin
cord, she proceeded to tie Margaret
firmly to the pillar.
Her arms were left at liberty till the
last, when they were bound together
at the wrists with q band of some
strong woven stuff, which held them
as securely as if they had been riveted
there.
"You see, 1 would not cause yor, I'M
necessary PAIN" said the courteous
burglar, when all was made fast land
to have fastened your arms down to
your sides Tor a couple of hours would
have been the refinement of cruelty.
But Il point still remains. You
must give me your word of honor that
YOU Will not cry out, nor in any way
call for assistance while here other
wise | shall be under the unpleasant
necessity of having you gagged.
u give you my word" assented the
d~oorkeeper's daughter, after a moment
OF silent thought, mot to cry out while
| remain here"
n began to breathe more freely when
they left her to herself, as they now at
once did, with nc other company than
the tiny faintly-burning gas Jet already
mentioned, by which she could lust
make out the familiar features of the
0ld-fashioned, but richly-furnished pri-
vate Office of the banker brothers.
a few desperate efforts to free her
self only served to convince her oftheir
futility. Then she resigned herself to1
her bonds and began to think.
She knew hat before q single SOW
ereign in the Bangshaw Brothers
strong box could be touched, the bur
glars would have to force open two
iron doors of immense strength. and
knowing but little of the modern i'm
provements in the science of house
breaking, she made no doubt that those
doors would prove impregnable to all
attempts.
Many dreary minutes passed and her
cramped attitude and the tightness of
the cords that bound her gradually
caused her such intense pain that she
could scarcely refrain from crying out.
Suddenly, in the midst of her tor
ture, IL thought flashed into her brain
AI-A IfA