The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-08-11

handle Was CuIu uCu 9oI"'Ji
strange man looked in "a young man
with pallid, greasy, leerlng 1ace'
nrnameutei by a thievish look! ag
twisting OF hair on each side, Wh'ie
= linn CAP OF semi military cut was
stuck rakiShly on tue SIDE OF us
head. I noticed these deta!is me-
cbanically as sat petrlfied with sur.
prise and fright, and l also notlced
that his long dirty neck was without
tie or cellar, ashabby frock coat being
buttoned up to his ch n, and tnat
his dirtier hands sported more than
one ring.
This Individual, after darting a
swift glance round the room, slipped
in and locked the doc, saying:
slick. Popsy-wopSy, don't be
frightened, I'm not going to hurs
you-not. a bit of it. But, you see
Stop that" he growted; for, as
he approached me, 1 recovered my
self a little, and gave a good loud
rean.
Quick as thought he had his hand
over my mouth, holding my chin and
nose iu such a manner that l was
nearly sutfocated, then he gave me a
shake, saying:
III you Go that again I'll pay you
out, you little foo!. There-she is
going to be nice and quiet now, amt
she? A picter of good behavior, l
calls her."
Talking thus, he gagged me dex-
terously with some or my work
which, however, was pleasanter than
his hand-ugh, that grimy hand
and then, producing some cord from
his pocket, in minute or two l was
poor little feeble thing-bound
hand and foot in my chair.
He grinned at me as he remarked:
Now, you know, ducky wouldn't
have served you SO il you had the
sense to keep quiet l never could
tear to be rough TO the ladleS-nerer!
But me is short, and you might have
been hard to persuade; So perhaps IFS
the O6SG way dILeF dll.
While speaking thus, the fippant
rascal kept his e es around our neat
little rooms. l read disdain in his
glance; and at that moment a Sus-
icion darted into my mind that he
had come with the OBJ. ecC Of stealing
some or Teds Work-perhaps the
jewelled bracelets whith then were
under my feet With this thought
there came 20 me a firm lesolve to
save my brother such loss, if pos
sibly coul I; ay. even il | had to en-
dure Uortures, I would not speak. l
set my teeth hard, and watched the
man. His wandering glances soon
reverted to me.
Look here, dear; il loosen this
cloth a bit and you take breath, Will
you speak to me nicely? Cnly don't
tn hoo" -rzo-ouitc
nervous to hear you screamand, can't
DO you no good" How well I knew
that, in back room in a quiet
street, THE e-ain't it much more
romferrable?" e?"-looSening the cloth.
Tell me now, popsy-your brothers
got some vallybleS here, amt he:"
shook my head.
"Oh, but he has 80 you needn't
Jog your noddle like that! Better
tell ME where he's put them. 1t
will save lots of time, and be more
pleasant for you"
But l only shook my head the
more
did you ever see sjch stubborn
ness" m uttered the fellow, tying up
my m nth again. IL am afeerd
shall ha to make you speak d.
rectIy. But l never like to be un-
kind to the ladies-unless they drive
me to it-oh. never"
saying this he began an exanina-
tion OF the apartment, proceeding IN
what as I suppose. would be de-
scribed by "profes ional" as the
best style;" anyway, his movements
wrre characterized by extraordinary
celerity Within few minutes he
had gone to the bottom Of every
drawer and box in the roo II, and
also turned out the sofa bedstead
where Ted slept al night. A pretty
litter he made O. it all. But he had
not yet discovered the secret OF my
footstool. Can any one imagine what
endured as l sat there, helpless as
a poor little Chinese ''.oss." the cold
perSpiration Of fear on my forehead,
while l asked my=elt What will the
fellow do next
He turned round while pr ceedng
with his search, and, looking at me,
said:
'Hallo, Foppet, how pale you are!
Amt going to faint, are you? On,
don't laint, for | shall want you to
talk to me a bit. I'll open the win
dow and give YOU a mo thGul OF
fresh al. This room is precious
clo>e."
He went to the windoW--tne win
dow which dear Ted had cautioned
me not to touch that mOrnInG-Hn
fastened thr catch. and would have
let down the upper part; but he was
saved the trouble, for. the cord being
bruken down quick as shot came
the window, and. as luck would
have have it caught his eight fingers
tight between the upper and middle
frames.
The pain and the shock must have
been DREADFUL the window-frame be-
ing wide aud very heavy one. He
uttered how, then kicked franti-
callr: but all was in vain. There he
stood, with both hands held aloft.
caught in as nice a trap as could
have been devised for al evil-doer:
Then he glanced at me and the
sight. ME, ''pictur Of good be-
havior" that I was must have filed
his soul with rcnOrse since through
his own act 7 WAS rendered power