Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-01-10

| IllttJ WIS very DTdNc, anu itu my IeS-
ular time for retiring went to my
room, cautioning Abram, as usual, to
see that the doors were all securely
fastened. After went upstairs |
weakened q little, and was on the
point of calling Betty to sleep in my
room; but, fearing that John would
laugh at my cowardice, summoned
all my courage to my aid and was
soon sleeping as peacefully as a baby.
| must have slept soundly, or
would have heard the creak of the
wardrobe door and the stealthy step
of the tall, lank figure that emerged
therefrOm.
AS it was, the first intimation that
| had OF the presence OF an unwelcome
guest was a hoarse whisper in my ear:
"Where is that iron box which your
husband brought home from the store
this evening""
Opening my eyes, was almost par
alyzed to see bending over me hide
| Gus face, the most tiendish one | had
ever seen. There was a bright fire in
the CRATE, and had fair view of the
william; but before Icould move or ut
! ter a cry, the cold muZzle of q revolver
was pressed against my head, and the
same voice Kissed, Stir or make q
noise at your peril You are in my
power, but if you do as | tell you,
will not harm you in the least. Iwant
the money in that box, and, fair or
foul, | intend to have it."
Fully realizing my helpless situation,
/ told him where it was. hoping that
in some way l might make my escape
when his back was turned. was just
measuring the distance to the door
with my eye, and wondering if it were
possible for me to reach it unseen,
when a key turned in the hall door be-
low, and my heart throbbed hopefully;
for that light, quick step that came
bounding up the stairs could belong
to no one but John. In an instant
the rObber was back among the cur
tains ut the head of my bed, and just
as John opened the door he whispered
"f you betray me in any way | will
! kill you both"
II left my watch lying on the bu-
reau, and as the train is an hour be-
hind time | concluded to run back
and get it," John said by way of eX-
PLANTATION. eff there is anything in
the world that man hates when
travelling, it is to be without a time
piece"
Did you find it," I asked, huskily,
hoping that he would request my as
sistance in the search.
Eyes. here it is, all right. Don't get
out of bed, dear, you will catch q chill.
How are you getting along?" returned
John.
THE stupid fellow" I thought.
"Why will he not give me a chance?"
but my lips faltered. Very we'll"
Then, as our eyes met, said with
my fingers: For Heavens sake, do
not leave me, John. There is robber
behind the curtains of my bed; but he
will kill us both if we try to escape"
Without seeming to notice what
had said, John turned round and re-
plenished the fire, saying as he did
! So
"You must keep a good fire all night,
Marion. 1t will keep you from feeling
lonely in my absence. Abram must
! bring another bucket of coal before he
goes to bed"
With the poker in his hand hecross-
ed the room and touched the call
bell; then, taking up his stand before
the fire, he said with his fingers:
REST easy dear; "I'll not leave you
alone for a moment"
Directly after, Abram made his
appearance, and John sent him for
the coal, calling after him to bring the
heavy shovel, that the fire might be
securely covered
When the big, stout fellow returned,
John said aloud: marion, please
Jump up and find that package you
wished me to leave with cousin
Marie. may have time to run
across the river when [ am in Chi
cago."
| did not wait for any other COM
mand, but sprang past John into the
wardrobe, just as he said: "Seize the
shovel Abram, and help me to brain
that scoundrel who is hiding away
behind the bed curtains"
Abram obeyed, and then John spoke
again; this time to the man who was
waiting among the shadows to despoil
our home.
''Step out and show your guilty face
if you wish to leave the room alive"
he commanded, IN a tone OF authority.
The next minute the wretch stood
before John, begging piteously for his
worthless life.
When the mask was torn off John
stepped back in amazement, for in the
features of the outlaw he recognized
the assistant cashier Henry Brown.
He pleaded for mercy, and /, woman
like, added my tears to his petition,
but John said the law must take it's
course, and gave him into the hands
of a policeman for safe keeping.
The fellow had been on the alert, and
sOhad kept trace of the disappearance
of the money, and naturally enough
had followed it up. 1t afterwards
came out that Johns dispatch to
proceed to Chicago at once was clever
forgery, of which Brown knew more
than he was willing to tell.
1t was a long time before | recover
ed from the shock | received that
night, and to this day John has never
asked me to stay alone during his alb
sence.
On account of some bIunder on the