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

issuing from below, with now and then
dnll, solid thud, like the muffied blow
of some heavy implement
Now. as she looked down she saw
that the door at the foot of the stairs
had been forced open, and that the
burglars we're working upon the great
snfe itself.
One Of the men was busy with fan
nel-swathed crowbar, which he was us
ing as o lever to pry open one of the
safe doors; the second man was drill
ing holes in the other door with very
strengthening implement, the like Of
which Margaret had never seen before :;
mile the woman was lighting these
operations with lamp held aloft in
one hand, these had their backs TO the
staircase.
This entire picture Margaret's eyes
took in at a glance. They took in one
thing more-the bunch of keys with
which they had opened the door at the
head of the stairs
This bunch of keys was lying on the
lower landing, close to the cellar door
that had been forced open. Could she
but obtain possession of it, she saw not
only way of escape for herself, but n
way by which the thieves might be
caught in their own trap.
The peril was tremendous the
chances apparently but one in hun
dred of her being able to creep dow n
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 adopt
ed it with Characteristic boldness and
fearlessness.
Slowly, inch by inch, and with nc
more sound than shadow, she stole
into the doorway, and then down the
staircase, step by step, counting them
one by one by the palpitation of her
own heart as she proceeded.
She reached the bottom of the steps,
fifteen in all, without causing them to
turn a look.
The next difficulty was to pick up
the KEYS. which were threaded on q
steel ring, without detection.
Even this difficulty was conquered
at last. She took the keys up from
the floor without so much as n rustic,
and had proceeded three steps on her
perilous upward journey, when there
was a sharp report Of a pistol, and as
Margaret set foot on the topmast step,
she felt something strike her near the
shoulder blade.
But she staggered forward into the
corridor, wheeled quickly around, and
flung herself-head, arms, body
against the oaken door, which, yield
ing to her strength, turned on its
well-oiled hinges and, with n little
triumphant click, shut up, as in trap,
the 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 sho heard the two men inside
tearing and beating at it like mndmen
in their desperate efforts to get out
Still holding her bunch of keys she
ran out of the Office and down
passage that led to tho side entrance
Of the bank. She was trembling oil
over now, sld had hardly strength
enough remaining to unfasteu the
heavy outer door.
At last she sped down the silent
street in search of assistance. For
tunately, upon reaching the first
corner she nearly tumbled into the
arms of policeman. who wos coming
from the opposite direction.
What sort of incoherent story sho
told him she could never afterward
quite remember; but il must have
been to the purpose. The policeman
at once summoned some comrades to
his assistance, and strong posse Of
officers reached the bank and took the
burglars in custody.
1t turned out that the rascals were
none others than certain so--called
Major Woolford, his wife and his ser
want, who had some four months pre-
viously become the tenants of an
empty house that stood next door to
the bank. OF course they we're sub
sequently 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.
Il saw Margaret about two years
after that adventure, said my friend,
the detective, in concluding HE
narrafiva "Her husband was doing