Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-07-10
demand the payment Of the
$4,000 in gold" said Miss Ma

L gruder, little testify and quite
.determinedly. II owe this to my niece,
who IL about to be married. As you
know, I am her guardian, and do not
wish to diminish her legacy by any
oversight on my part just now. when
no one knows just what effect posi-
bic silver victory may have upon the
financial condition Of the country.
Once married, her husband may do rs
be likes
every we'll, Miss Magruder," said
Cashier Holt. "Your request will be
honored IL for no other reason than to
show you that this bank Is amply able
TO meet all demands"
The lady whom he addressed rs Miss
Magr,ider was spinstcr Of uncertain
age, regular features and determined
and business like manner.
Cashier Holt, a middle-aged man
with vandyke beard and curly max
.colorcd hair. had tried vainly to DEM
oustrate to his shrewd client that her
money would he safer in the vaults Of
the bank than in her house.
Now lie gave a whispered order to
che only clerk the bank afforded. The
latter turned an inquisitivc face upon
the splnster and her companion, q
pretty country girl Of 20 summers.
When he returned from the vault he
carried in his hand a leather satchel,
which he placed on the counter before
the cashier.
'Herc are your ten thousand" said
Mr.. Holt, whimsically. Remember
my warning! Take good care Of tho
money!
Miss Mngruder was not 70 easily sat
dsied. She opened the satcllel. took
from II a buckskin bag and counted
the money. which was In $50 coins.
Then she pushed It all hack. locked the
bag and left the bank. accompanied by
the clerk. who carried the satchel and
deposited It under the buggy scat. AZ
tho ladies' entered their conveyance
they were accosted by n tramp. The
fellow looked anything but progresses.
ing. and Miss Magrudcr CURLY denied
him aid.
During the drive from New Bruns-
wick to the little hamlet which was
their home, Miss Magrudcr gave vent
to her annoyance over the cashiers
hesitancy TO pay her niece's legacy In
gold. His warning against robbers
WINS especially dlstasteful to the spin.
ater, who had never been afflicted with
fear Of anything. Morn Wilson listen.
Cd to her aunt In silence. She was not
at all inclined to share her guardians
confidence that their house was rs saf 10
a. the bank vault; but out Of Difference
to the older woman she rcfrnined from
expressing her opinion. Even when
the money was safely slowed away
under Miss Magruder's bed. Morn felt
uneasy. When bedtime came she hcr.
self examined every window and door,
to sen that It had been securely fasten.
Cd by the servant. Anxious dreams
disturbed her slumber. which she WOO.
Ell In vain for long time. In the mid.
die Of the night the girl awOke with a
start. She was not certain mt first
whether her Imagination had played
her trick. or whether she had really
heard stified noise In the next room.
She hearkened with batcd breath. and
was soon convinced that what disturb.
ed her were stealthy footsteps.
Without n moments hesitation tho
girl Jumped from her bed. A door led
from her room TO her aunt's chamber.
hut this she would not open. After all,
II might only have been the vivid play
of her Imagination, and she dreaded
Miss Magrudcr's ridiculc. So she Un-
latclcd the door that opened out into
the corridor and CROPPED her way to her
aunt's room. II was njar.
Nora Wilson scarcely breathed as she
listened. She could distinctly hear tho
respiration of two persons. One breath
ell regularly aud quietly. the others
breath came In short. stifled g,ssps. A
Sweet, penetrating odOr came from the
room. Then all her doubts were dis.
PEELED.
There was robber In the room. Tic
was searching for the hidden gold.
Nora was a outrageous girl. She press.
ed her lips firmly together. advancing
carefully with outstretched arms. Al.
most Instantly she came In contact
with a human body. The man-for 1,
was a burglar-ciutched her around
the waist and held a sponge saturated
with chlOrOfOrm to her nose. Nora
tried not to breathe to keep from lnhal
ing the noxiOus vapOr. Tho girls fierce
struggle made the burglar resort "a
other means to overcome her. lilo drOD
ped the sponge and plunged his hand
into his breast pocket.
"He has q pistol and he Ia going ia
kill me" thought Nora. Quick as a
fash she seized his hand the moment
he withdrew 1t. Her fingers closed owe,
the handle of a large bowie knife, no,
the butt end Of a revolver
The mauraudcr dragged Nora from
the room, down the stairs ana into til,
lower corridor There he Kissed into
her ear that he would kill her IL sht
made an cutlery and did not releasl
the knife. Gathering all his strength
he thrust her into the pantry, the doOl
of which stood wide open.
Miss Wilson made no reply, but Will
an almost superhuman effort attempt
ell to wrench the weapon from him
She succeeded in clutching a few inch
es more of the long handle of til,
knife, and the man uttered terrible
oath. The blade had sunk into hi
hand. Snatching his left arm from he
waist, he struck her a fearful blow
with his fist
Realizing that she could no longe
cone with the rObber Nora turned