Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-23

no way restricted of her liberty.
This sunny summer morning she
sat In the open doorway, knitting q
stocking of snow whito yarn. AS
she sat there, framed rs in n picture
against the dark background of tho
interior, she could scarcely have
! appeared, under any circumstances,
more attractive to the paSSCrby.
! Her checks glOwCd with the hue of
youthful health; the warm sunlight
lay upon her light brown hair; her
! rod lips We're parted in absorbing
interest in her occupation; II tiny,
slipperod foot protrudCd from DO.
meath her gown. All in all, she
formed most bowitChing part of
tho scone which greeted the eyes of
the ragged man rs he turned the
corner in the road and came in
sight of Morso's mill.
"Ah, James, is that yOu?" asked
Dolly, looking up with u pleasant
smile, as the man paused before the
door.
Yes, it's me, jim Billings, " re-
piled the other doggedly. "All alone,
amt YEP"
Yes; fathers gono away"
Il know It; met him on tho road.
Going to DO gone long,"
mo; he has only Como to the viii
lagc. He will be at homo this after
noon. You can SEQ him then if you
wish
"Waal, p'r'aps 1 will" said Bill
ings, looking up and down the road
in either direction and then turn
ing onoe moro to Dolly.
"Did-did you want him particu-
larly?" asked the girl, noticing his
apparent Discrimination to leave.
"Waal-er-no, but I'm dosprit
hungry, Dolly. Can't yer git Teller
something ter eat?"
why, yes" exclaimed the good
hearted girl, 'of course l will. "
She went unsuspoctingly toward
the pantry, closely followed by the
man. No sooner had he crossed the
threshold, however, than he slam
med the door to with his foot, and
| sprang like tiger at her throat So
sudden was the onslaught and so
tight his grasp upon her neck that
| she could neither struggle nor CRY
out. White with terror, she sank
upon her knees.
Nov, girl" cried the rufian,
where's your fathers money!"
She tried to speak, and the man,
seeing that she was unable to do so,
let go her throat and seized her by
| the wrists.
IF you Scream" he said, III
kill you. Where's the money? II
must be either that or your life, my
pretty Dolly"
Through Dolly's brain tho
thoughts flew quickly. Her first
parOXysm IF terror over, she began
to realize the necessity of subduine
her fears and summoning all he1
wit and re"Olution. She was a brave
girl, and with her to think was to act
Don't harm me-" she said. "Fa
Their money is in the oak chest IL
the attic.
"Ah" exclaimed Billings. SHOW
me the way TO it, and do We go be
fore me. 1t will go hard with We II
We lie 10 mo"
She tremblingly obeyed, and led
the way up stairs The room at the
head of the staircase was employed
as lumUur room. From this a lad
der led 10 the attic, the entrance tt
which WAS closed by n trapdoor il
the floor. Though Dolly had lifted
this door almost daily she failed tC
do SO now, and sank back upon the
ladder feigning exhaustion.
THE trap is too heavy for me, ;
she said Il cannot raise it"
With an ,&tiI the man pulled hel
down from the ladder, and placing
his shoulder against the trap raised
it, mounted to the attic, and helC
the door for her to follow. But like
n fash Dolly had sprung through
the door of the lumber room an(
had turned the keys in the grea
double locks, which, placed there a:
safeguard against assault from
without, now served to secure {
prisoner within.
In vain did Billings, on discover
ing the trick, hurl himself agains
the door with the most frightful i'm
precautions. The oaken barrier resist
ed his utmost effort, and the win.
dOws were barred with iron. With
no weapon or aid from without cs
cape was impossible
Shutting her ears to the mans
bowls of rage, Dolly fled down the
stairs, and out into the road. But
she had not run dozen yards be-
fore she heard a shrill whistle, and
the voice of Billings calling from
the window above:
"Cashel! Cashcl! Stop the girl
I'm locked in! Bring her back and
mako quick work of her"
At the call second ruffian sprane
out of the bushes few yards be
yond and ran toward her Dolly
turned about. Terror at this new
danger lent speed to the poor girls
feet, and she succeeded in regainine
the door of the mill and closing il
in the Villains face while his arm
was stretched forth to seize her
She quickly shot th6Ngreat bolts il
their places, and stood for n moment
with her hand upon her bosom
waiting for breath and to consider
what she should do next
Finding himself unable to force
the door, Cashel passed round the