The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-25

hated pistoIs before and scolded Ned
when he bought this one) she started to
her feet and slid her hand into the
drawer. But it came back empty. Ned
had taken the weapon away with him.
For moment surge of the bitterest
feeling she had ever experienced passed
over her; then she called reason to her
aid and was obliged to acknowledge
that the act was but natural, and that
from his standpoint he was much more
likely to need it than herself. But the
disappointment, coming SO soon after
hope, unnerYed her, and she sank back
in her chair, giving herself up for lost.
How long she sat there with her eyes
on the door, where she momentarily ex-
pected her assailant to reappear, she new
or knew. She was conscious only of
sort of apathy that made movement
difficult and even breathing task. In
vain she tried to change her thoughts.
In vain she tried to follow her husband
in fancy over the snow covered roads
and into the gorge Of the mountains.
But imagination failed her at this
point. Do what she would, all was misty
in her minds eye, and she could not
see that wandering image. There was
blankness between his form and her,
and no life or movement anywhere but
here in the scene of her terror.
Her eyes were on a strip of rug that
covered the entry floor, and so strange
found herself mechanically counting
the tassels that finished its edge, grow
ing wroth over one that was worn, till
she hated that sixth tassel and mentally
determined that if she ever outlived
this night she would strip them all off
and be done with them.
The wind had 1essened, but the air
had grown cooler and the snow made
a sharp sound where it struck the panes.
She felt it falling, though she had cut
off all view Of it. 1t seemed to her that
pail " as settling over the world and
that she would soon be smothered under
its folds. Meanwhile no sound came
from the kitchen, only that dreadful
sense of doom creeping upon her-a
sense that grew in intensity till she
found herself watching for the shadow
of that lifted stick Oh the wall of the
entry, and almost imagined she saw the
tip of it appearing, when, without any
premonition, that fatal side door again
blew in and admitted another man at
once SO ominous and SO threatening
that she succumbed instantly before
him and forgot all her former fears in
this new terror.
This second intruder was a negro Of
powerful frame and lowering aspect,
and as he came forward and stood in
the doorway there was observable in
his fierce and desperate countenance no
attempt at the insinuation of the other,
only fearful resolution that made her
feel like q puppet before him, and drove
her, almost without her volition, to her
knees.
Money, is it money you want?" was
her desperate greeting. eff SO, here's
my purse and here are my rings and
watch. Take them and co.
But the stolid wretch did not even
stretch out his hands. His eyes vert
beyond her, and the mingled anxiety
and resolve which he displayed would
have cowed stouter heart than that Of
this poor woman.
keep de trash,' he growled. "I
want de company's money. You've got
it-$2, 900. Show me where it is. that's
all, and I won't trouble you long after
close on it.
''But it's not in the house, - she cried.
ST swear it is not in the house. Do you
think Mr.. Chivers would leave me here
alone with So, 900 to guard?''
But the negro, swearing that she lied,
leaped into the room, and tearing open
the cupboard above her husbands desk,
seized the bag from the corner where
they had put it.
"He brought it in this he muttered,
and tried to force the bag open, but
finding this impossible he took out
heavy knife and cut a big hole in its
side. Instantly there fell out the pile Of