Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-07-01
T demand the payment of the

bic silver victory may have upon the
financial condition OF the country.
Once married, her husband may do as
he likes"
Every WELL Miss Magruder," said
Cashier Holt. Your request will be
hOnorcd if for no other reason than to
show you that this bank is amply able
to meet all Demands
The lady whom he addressed as Miss
Magruder was a spinster of uncertain
age. regular features and Il determined
and business like manner.
Cashier Holt, n middle-aged man
with Nandyke beard and curly flax
colorcd hair. had tried vainly to dem
onstrate to his shrewd client that her
money would he safer in the vaults of
the bank than in her house.
Now he gave a whispered order to
the only clerk the bank afforded. The
latter turned an inQuisitive face upon
the spinster and her companion, Il
pretty country girl of 90 summers.
When he returned from the vault he
carried in his hand leather satchel,
which he placed On the counter before
the cashier
Here are your ten thousand" said
Mr.. Holt, whimsically. "Remember
my warning! Take good care of the
money!
Miss Magruder was not so easily sat
is1ied. She opened the satchel. took
from it n buckskin bag and counted
the money. which was in $50 coins.
Then She pushed it all back. locked the
bag and left the bank. accompanied by
the clerk who carried the satchel and
deposited it under the buggy seat. AS
the ladies entered their conveyance
they were accostcd by tramp. The
fellow looked anything but progresses
ing, and Miss Magruder CURLY denied
him aid.
During the drive from New Bruins
wick to the little hamlet which was
their home Miss Magruder gave vent
to her annoyance over the cashiers
hcsitaIcy to pay her nece's legacy in
gold. His warning against robbers
was especially distasteful to The spin
Stcr. who had never been afflicted with
fear of anything Nora Wilson listen
ed to her aunt in silence. She was not
at all inclined to share her guardians
confidence that their house was as safe
as the bank vault: but out of Difference
to the older woman she refrained from
expressing her opinion. Even when
the money was safely slowed away
under Miss Magruders bed, Nora felt
uneasy. When bedtime came she her
self examined every window and door,
to see that it had been securely fasten-
ed by the servant. Anxious dreams
disturbed her slumber. which she WOO
ed in vain for a long time. In the mid
die of the night the girl awOke with
start. She was not certain at first
whether her imagination had played
her a trick. or whether she had really
heard stifled noise in the next room.
81: hearkencd with bated breath. and
was soon convinced that what disturb
ed her were steaithy footsteps.
Without a moments hesitation the
girl jumped from her bed. A door led
from her room to her aunt's chamber.
but this she would not open. After all.
1t might only have been the vivid play
of her imagination, and she dreaded
Miss MaGruder's ridicule. so she I'M
latchcd the door that opened ont into
the corridor and CROPPED her way to her
aunts room. 1t was ajar.
Nora Wilson scarcely breathed as she
listened. She could distinctly hear the
respiration of two persons One breath
ed regularly and quietly, the others
breath came in short stifed gasps. A
sweet, penetrate ting odor came from the
room. Then all her doubts were dis
PEELED.
There was a robber in the room He
was searching for the hidden gold.
Nora was courageous girl She press
ed her lips firmly together. advancing
carefully with outstretched arms. AL
most instantly she came in contact
with human body. The man-for it
was a burglar-clutched her around
the waist and held a sponge saturated
with chlorOform to her nose. Nora
tried not to breathe to keep from inhal-
ing the noxious vapor. The girls fierce
struggle made the burglar resort to
other means to overcome her. He drop
ped the sponge and plunged his hand
into his breast pocket.
"IIe has a pistol and he is going to
kill mel! thought Nora. Quick as a
flash she seized his hand the moment
he withdrew it. Her fingers closed over
the handle Of large bowie knife. not
the butt end Of a revolver
The maurauder dragged Nora from
the room. down the stairs and into the
lower corridor There he Kissed into
her ear that he would kill her if she
made an cutlery and did not release
the knife. Gathering all his strength
he thrust her into the pantry, the door
of which stood wide open.
Miss Wilson made no reply. but with
an almost superhuman effort attempt
ed to wrench the weapon from him.
She succeeded in clutching few inch
es more of the long handle of the
knife, and the man uttered a terrible
oath. The blade had sunk into his
hand. Snatching his left arm from her
waist. he struck her fearful blow
with his fist.
Realizing that she could no longer
cope with the robber. Nora turned
quickly and dashed past him toward
the door that led out into the yard.
1t was open. but on the threshold the
girl stumbled and fell prone to the
floor. When she awoke few moments
afterwards from the stupor caused by
the fall, two men were bending over
her. They We're graphing. and by
their voices Miss Wilson recognized
in one of them her aunt's gardener.