West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-14

an apartment perhaps 80 feet long by
20 vide, with door leading into hall
AT the back end, and midway on the
north side a 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-
tectod by combination. they were
locked or unlocked by a key, and the
lock could be readily attacked by a
burglars tools and implements. Kneel.
ing before the door, the man took a
lock pick from his bag and began work.
He was bit nervous, but nevertheless
ne 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 food 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 thisi'
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 10
years old. 1t was very pale as he found
1t 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
stupid for a moment.
"Beni 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 know what I'm doing
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, want
you to fetch it to me-
"Ben Johnson turned burglarl' gasp
ed the girl. ''Ben Johnson here in her
ladyship's private rooms to rob her Oh,
Ben, can't he awake and in my senses !
You surely haven't become so desperate
all at once
Keep quiet, you foolP' he Kissed as
he dropped his arm to take hold of her
wrist with savage grip ri told you
last Sunday that nobody would give me
show and that / intended to 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 bounded aud marked down
for bad man."
But you turned poacher, Ben, she
replied, "and you refused to work like
other young men. ="
''Poacherl Aye, that's the law of the
country as made by these bigwigs. II
a poor man wants q bit of game now
and then, he must risk the Jail to get
1t. But what are you doing hereY"
''Her ladysbip 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. Go
the way you came, and none but MS
shall ever know that you entered the
castle"
''Are you fool, Nary" he savagely
exclaimed. II came for the swag, and
I'll not go without itp'
'ADd we love each other--have passed
our words and are 10 be married i'm the
falll' she moaned as she put out both
hands to seize the arm he had extended
again.
''More's tho reason why I should
make the haul haven't had enough
money the past three months to pay the
wedding fee. Hands of. you idiotr'
Ben, 90 you love mc2'
Hush This is no time for non
sonsel Go fetch any stray jewels from
the old gals room while clean out
this box. ="
you shall not touch iti You shall
90 away Go now--at Once~--or viii
call for helpr'
Dye see thisg" nc Whispered 81 he
drew long, keen knife from it's sheath
and flashed il before her eyes.
AYE. : see IL, Bon johnson, and
would TO God 700 had driven it 70 my
heart before learned how base and I'm.
worthy and wicked you had becomei
Father and mother were right, and i
! have been hoadshong and Obstinate
Both Of them have always disirusted
F you-have said that you were bad at
heart
II don't care = curse what they have
thought nor for your own opinion either
! am here for the swaQ, and I'll
have it and your life as we'll II You
trouble me further. Hands OIL Get
away, wenchp
+ ftad " been another man in the place
Of Ben Johnson, the girl would have
screamed Ont az sight of him She had
barely restrained herself ~ IL was, and
only because che had instantly recog-
nized her lover e face ~ the light fell
Upon Is She had softly opened the door