Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-11-02

th>n ], and I felt all the responsibility
secsed on me to save jacks property.
"Joe," said, II must 90 down to the
ofilce-can you 20 with me?"
Joe looked solemn. ''I'll have TO, miA
and let the houses watch themselves. Nc.
Lawrence said take caro- Of you, mise,
first Of ALL" l flew TO dress myself for
the street, and In two minutes pss ready.
Twenty minutes more and We were before
the Office door. The air was stitiing-1
felt - I watched the FIRE brands In the
cir and heard the roaring Of the flames
that the warehouses were doomed.
Joe found truck and box, and
loaded books and insurance papers into
them. I had Just finished when I heard
Mr.. 0askelPs voice bellind me. Miss
Lawrence, this 3 no place for you, but
It's like You to be hers FIRST" he added
quickly. "You have The books and
papers. see; Is this yors watchmsn9"
"Have him take them TO the house;
you must 60 with him, and leave me to
save wha. ! can. / hate to have you take
that money" he added, seeing the bundle
! hid under my shawl. perhaps, though,
Il will be safer with you than me, and
leave me free to wo.k."
lie put his hand on Joe's shoulder as we
reached the street. Take care OF her."
/ heard him say In q low tone. land this
night shall make better place for you"
He laid his hand on my arm one instant.
II will come as soon as I can leave; I'm
almost determined TO 60 now and see you
safe home arst."
'Joe will 10 ample protection" I
answered l,urr.sdly, and we parted; but
through oil the excitement. worry and
care. l was not discouraged. That thought.
full care enc ompassed me to make even
trouble lighter. The street was full Of
rushing, hurrying human beings. II was
hard for joe to force passage for his
truck, but VIC reached the house In safety
with orr store.
Joe PLACED the box In the hall. IA big
fire 10 the very time TO look out for thieves,
miss, but don't Ike scarcy, I'll keep q sharp
lookout" ! was not scarcy. knew Mr..
Gaskell would come to the house as soon
US the fire stopped his work.
l dreaded 10 hear Maggie's lamentations.
I knew any loss to Jack or me would be
more to her than ller own loss, 10 fore.
bore 70 wake her and made coffee myself
on tue gas range. 1could not move with.
out the money. 1t haunted me II laid
II down. Finally raised the lid Of tho
piano and Ibid II softly on the strings.
Then crawlcd upon the sofa in the
corner OF tic library. I did not mean to
close my eyes, but I was very, very tired,
! suppose, aud the next knew my eyes
were opened very wide indeed staring ct o
great tall dark man, who stood at the
front Of the sofa. I heard Joc's voice.
though mufilcd and I saw him with his
face cut and bleeding being dragged into
the hall. I gasped and closed my eyes.
Yes, that i just what I did, Eleanor
Lawrence, who have always had theories
on the subject Of conqucring burglars BY
outwitting them and showing no fight!
''She'll make us no trouble--her heart Is
In her throat already" the tall man said,
looking towards two others who held Joe
firmly bound In the doorway.
"Don't You dare touch q hair Of her
head" Joe cried, struggling to free him.
self.
"Be quiet. unless you want to be
Drained; we've told you we shouldn't harm
the woman. Tell us where you put the
money or II will be worse for YOU" said
the tall man again. saw he was the
leader. ~ g.
II never brought no money" Joe
answered; ''only books In the hull where
! showed YOU"
More words and the click Of q pistol.
All this time had seemed frozen TO the
sofa, but had brcathsd prayer and for
answer sense Of protection had come
over me, and realized that Mr.. Gaskell
might even now be on the why to did me.
l never thought Of his exposure to danger
In coming. felt he was equal to enler.
gcncics. II could only gain timc-and
like fash my old resolutions came over
me; and fear that had exposed poor
Joe to this awful danger and was resp0n,
sible for his life. With that thought
was Eleanor Lawrence, splnster, aud ID
my sound mind In moment.
rose from that couch suddenly, and
said; leave that young man alone, h,
Is telling you the truth--he brought M
money"
And stood by the library table and die
not so much as lAy finger on II for sup
port. The man guarding mo would no
have been any more astonished II corps,
had spoken, l believe. lie jumped two
feet ut least. and the other two fellows, o.
course, looking rough fellows, boil
grinned broadly rs they looked ut him.
EASY to deal with, pard, eh?" said on,
Of them, cOarsely.
Cant you hand the lady chair, Jims'
said the other.
"Quit your fooling," answered tho darl
man. CURLY. ''We'll bring the lady Il
terms without any trouble, guess"
1--WE know, madam" he continued
turning to me. 'that there was money Il
your safe last night; we know either 20,
or Mr.. Gaskcll saved It; he hasn't got It
so It's here. and we're bound to have It, o.
hand It over"
.'Iie hasn't got It," How did they know
that? For just ono second the room swan
before my eyes. Had they robbed Mr.
Guskell already and left him murdered
where the lire would obl.tcrate every trac
Of their crime: All this In u moment O
time flashed through my mind. 1t take
long In the telling, but 1t was quick In th'
thinking.
"Give the lady plenty Of time, do, pard,
sneered one of Joe's watchers. Well hav
to put the thumb screws ON the boy
make him speak," added the other. Tha
recalled NV thoughts to Joe; the othe
thoughts tried to Danish. ] must see 10
first.
"Are you fiends," asked the leader
''tl,at you harm IN Innocent mani"
"We'll not harm you, madam" he 81
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