The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-02

hide the light ana then listened in vain
for the heavy breathing of a person in
sleep that he took the dark lantern from
the bag in which he carried IL and
threw its light around the room. 1t was
an apartment perhaps 30 feet long by
20 wide, with door leading into hall
AZ the back end, and midway on the
north side door which the burglar at
once decided communicated with her
ladyship's bedroom. The man had no
eyes for the elegant surroundings. but
flashed his lantern here and there until
the light fell upon the door of an iron
safe built into the south wall. He had
heard of that safe and its contents.
That was the magnet which had drawn
him to the castle that June night
which had made him turn burglar
which was to change the current of his
life.
In those days no house safe was pro
tected by a combination. They WEE
locked or unlocked by key, and re
lock could be readily attacked Nv
burglars tools and implements. X j
ing before the door. the man took
lock pick from his bag and began work
He was bit nervous, but nevertheless
he worked with caution and patience
Inside of ten minutes he had shot the
bolt, and he was just pulling the door
open when hand was laid on his shout
der. He had placed the dark lantern on
chair behind him, so that the flood of
light fell full upon the door. 1t also
fell upon his head and face as he worked.
"My God, Ben johnson, but have
you come to this!"
1t was the voice of woman. She
had knelt beside him and uttered the
words before he could obey the impulse
to spring up. The voice was familiar to
him, and the face of the woman, half
brought out by the bullseye, was not
strange TO him. No, not the face Of a
woman, but that of girl not over IS
years old. 1t was very pale rs he found
it within two feet of his own, and the
big blue eyes had look of horror III
them as they gazed into his black ones,
He had been SO suddenly and so com
pletely surprised that he was rendered
stupid for moment
"Ben Benz Do you know where you
are-what you are doing?" whispered
the girl as she laid hand on the arm
outstretched to pull the door open.
''Aye, you mink. It's you, is it?' he
growled as he drew a breath of relief.
"Of course l know what I'm doing. l
could have got along without you had
you been asleep, but as you are here I'll
make use of you. l suppose the old gal
is asleep in her bedroom? If she's got
anything worth taking in there. l want
you to fetch it to me. -
"Ben Johnson turned burglar!" gasp
ed the girl "Ben Johnson here i'll her
ladyship's private rooms orob her! Oh,
Ben, / can't be awake and III my senses
You surely haven't become so desperate
all at once"
keep quiet, You fooll' he Missed as
he dropped his arm to take hold of htr
wrist with savage grip. II told you
last Sunday that nobody would give me
show and that l intended ITO do for
myself. Because I've been man enough
to take what belonged to me I've been
sent to the Jail and outlawed. This
very Lord Dudley, who has no more
right to wealth than have, has had me
watched and hounaed and marked down
for bad man.
"But you turned poacher. Ben" she
replied, land you refused 10 work like
other young men,.
"Poacherl Aye, that's the law of tho
country as made by these bigwigs. il
a poor man wants bit of game now
and then, he must risk the Jail TO get
it, But what are you doing here!"
''Her ladyship is i'll tonight. and !
am sitting up with her. She is asleep
just now, but may awake at any mo-
ment. Ben, listen to me. Go away. Gc
the way you came, and none but us
shall ever know that you entered the
castle"
"Are you fool, Maryt" he savagely
exclaimed. II came for the swag, and
I'll not go without itr'
"And we love each other-have passed
our words and are to be married in the
fall" she moaned as she put out both
hands to seize the arm he had extended
again.
''More's the reason why l should
make the haul. haven't had enough
money the past three months to pay the
wedding fee. Hands off, you idiotP'
"Ben, do you love me?"
'Hushl This is no time for non
sensel Go fetch any stray jewels from
the old gals room while l clean out
this box.
"You shall not touch it! You shall
go away Go now-at once-or l Will
call for helpl"
"D'ye see this?" he whispered as he
drew long, keen knife from its sheath
and flashed it before her eyes.
AYE. l see it, Ben johnson, and
would to God you had driven IL to my
heart before learned how base and I'M
worthy and wicked you had becomel
Father and mother were right, and l
have been headstrong and obstinate.
Both of them have always disfrusted
you--have said that you were bad at
kooxk