The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-03-21

OSlCu- n lhdhSN IuI cap was pui1ou
down over his forehead and ears and
| T.andana handkerchief effectually con-
cealed the lower part of his face
In his hand he held a common case
knife, but both blade and point had
been sharpcned until they glittered
murderously. He seemed to make but
one stride to my mothers side, and
laying his hand on her shoulder said:
That's right. old lady. Don't you say
nothin' and you won't get hurt. As
for you, young woman turning to me
with sudden ferocity, IF you let out
so much as one yell I'll stick this knife
into you"
The threat was unnecessary, for l
was dumb with terror, and watched
him in mute fascination while he tied
my mothers hands together at the
back of her chair, and deity whipping
her handkerchief out of her pocket
bound it over her mouth.
Now then" he said, with evident
satisfaction in his work, you amt
a-goin' to run away, and if you should
feel like hollerin' you'll have "A chance
to think twice before doing it. Just
bear in mind, too. ma'am, that me and
this young woman are goin to take
stroll through the house lookin' for
valuables, and if you try to raise
fuss I'll cut her pretty throat before |
leave. Now get move on you" he
added, turning to me, threateningly.
i've had to waste a lot of time already
waitin' for you to get to bed. | never
see such folks for sittin' up" with
glance at the clock, which was Just on
the stroke of eleven.
| rose obediently, though with
trembling limbs, and, taking up
lamp from the table around which we
were sitting, started toward the door
We had, however, scarcely crossed the
threshold when my rude companion,
suddenly stopping, said: where's the
girl that works for you?"
Then for the first time | remembered
Hilda, and realized that she had not
been seen since the burglar had en-
tered, and a CLEAN of hope came to me
as l thought she must have Slipped I'M
der the table and was waiting a chance
to escape. but | stammered:
She 's-she's gone to spend the night
with some friends
$50 much the better" said the man;
mo need to bother about her then"
He gripped my arm and was pushing
me forward but my courage had come
back with the hope of help, and shook
his dirty hand off, saying haughtily:
'I'll show you where everything is
INIT won r,,,,St liz ,-p,,r. hands off ma
You seem to be getting over your
scare, said the man IN surly tone;
but that's all right: won't touch you
unless You try to get away, Now,
then. go ahead, and no monkeying."
What do you want frst?" l asked.
"Jewelry or silver?'
Now yer talllin'," said he approx
ingly: well go straight for that
silver
led the way into the dining-room
and pointed silently to the sideboard
where the accumulated treasures of
three generations shone temptingly.
The burglars eyes glittered GENEROUSLY.
This silver was my mothers greatest
pride. 1t had come to her through
mother and grandma Their, and was the
only substantial evidence remaining
to us of the former wealth and i'm
portance of her family. The care of
it was her chief duty, and its daily dis
play on the antique sideboard her
greatest pleasure. She had been
warned many times that she ought not
to leave it so exposed day after day,
but her one answer was that there
was no good in having it if she might
not use it and see it. Now the Nemesis
of pride had overtaken her, and as |
watched the greedy robber hastily pill
ing together coffee-pot, tureens, cups,
spoons, forks and platters and thought
of my poor mothers wrath and
sorrow when she should learn the ex-
tent of her loss my heart sank within
me and longed for some weapon with
which to strike the wretch to the
ground. Suddenly he raised his head
and listened intently. What's that?"
he said l. too, had heard the sound.
and knew it was the latch of the
kitchen door and felt sure it was Hilda
making her way out. Naturally
though, did not offer this explanation
to my companion, who, after a mo-
ment's close attention, resumed the
pleasant task of tying up our cherished
silver in one of our best titblecloths.
This done, he stood for little while
muttering and frowning asif undecided