The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-07-19

obdii'u shJ, bOluen dreams TIttGu be
fore her eyes.
The great building was very still
and dark: for all she knew. she was
tue only person in it, yet some one
laid a stealthy hand on the door of
the room She knew it was not Mr.
Merrlfield, so she kept very still and
waited.
The door opened noisolessly, and
burly, unkcmpt rulflan-a burglar, she
Thought, at once-entered, cautiously
looking to the right and left.
"lie amt come back yet," he NUT.
tered. "Ah-ha, my fine feller, yer
owe me one fur sending me aud my
pal fur ten years to Charlestown, fur
breaking open that bank safe. Now
that I've taken French leave of my
friends in Charlestown, I'll get first
the cash and then yer life, and yc'll
never send no one else down To prison
for trying to earn his living"
Poor Irene turned hot and cold by
turns as she heard the thlef's words.
Good heavens what could She do ?
If she made a sign, the brute ws5tiId
kill her, and then ki'!. -tsl1e man she
loved as soon he.2eaIne.
And. II she stayed still, Charles
Merritied would come in without
warning, and then the burglar would
murder him.
1t was almost time for him to re-
turn; in her anguish of mind, she
thought she heard his steps.
She must think Of some way to save
him; there must be some
AT that moment the man said, half
aloud: "Thc safe must be in the 9th
er room, and | know he had five thou
sand dollars paid him to-day so let's
60 and Sce."
So. with this, the would-be mur-
derer passed into the inner Office
where Mr. Merrifcld transacted his
private business.
Rreathlcssly Irene waited until she
heard the thief open the unlocked safe
door; then, with swift and nOselcss
movement, she ran toward the door
of the communication between the
two rooms, and grasping the handle,
brought the door toward her, closing
it sharply, at the same time turning
the key that, fortunately, was on her
side.
One moment Irene stood trembling
with her hand pressing her heart,
while in the inner room the burglar,
so uncermoniously distui bed at work,
gave vent to fearful oaths, and in a
mad frenzy, shook the door with all
his strength.
Irene knew that the escaped convict
could not fly by any other means than
by this door, for the rooms were in
the third story, and the man was not
going to break his neck by jumping
from the window into the street.
But she also knew that the door
would soon be opened, for those men
had instruments and keys which
would open almost any lock; so, filed
with terror and being Il woman, she
ran to the same window where, a min
ute before, she had been concealed,
and throwing it open, gave vent to Il
series of cries of:
"Hclp! Police Thiefm
She saw people running toward the
building, but she knew ere help ar
rived the burglars would have burst
open the door.
There was crash, and with terror
dilatcd eyes Irene saw the criminal
wrench the door open and run toward
the other exit but at the same time
there was Il rush of feet in the hall
outside, the door Of the outer Office
was thrown wide odcn, and the con-
vict fell into the embrace of two po-
licemen, while gentleman who was
just behind them ran toward the
brave girl, who, like a woman, now
that all danger was passed, quietly
tainted in the outstretchcd arms of
Charles Merrifcld.
At the door was little crowd of
people, looking curiously on while the
policemen snapped the handouts Oh
the wrists Of the prisoners.
"Well," this is luck said one of the
guardians Of the peace; "only a few
days ago you were reported to have
left Charlestown, and here we catch
you at your old tricks. Surely it will
be ten years more after you get
through with these ten."
The policemen led their prisoner
away, after telling Mr.. Merritleld that
his and the young la1y's evidence
would be needed to help again convict
the men.
In the meantime Charles Merrifeld
was frantlcally endeayoring TO restore
his beloved one to her senses.
At last she opened her beautiful
eyes and and looked around.
They were all alone in the room,
and she was lying on the lounge, while |,
her employer, on his knees before her,
and with his arms around her sbOul-
ders, was kissing her and calling her |
by every endearihg name he could re- |
call To his TemUry.
For q moment she thought she had
dreamed " all, and that even now she