Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-07-14

deiermiuedly. Il owe tnis 10 my hie'e'
who is about to be married. AS you
know | 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-
Bile silver victory may have upon the
financial condition of the country.
Once ma rried, her husband may do as
be likes"
Very well, Miss Magruder, said
Cashier Holt. Your request will be
hOnored if for no other reason than tc
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 determined
and business like manner.
Cashier Holt. middle-aEed man
with Vandyke beard and curly flax
colOred hair. had tried vainly TO dem.
onstrate to his shrewd client that her
money would be safer in the vaults OF
the bank than in her house.
Now he gave a whispered order 10
the only clerk the bank afforded. The
latter turned an inquisitive face upon
the spinster and her companion,
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.
Here are your ten thousand said
Mr. Holt, whimsically. Remember
my warming! Take good care of the
money"
Miss Magruder was not so easily sat.
fsfied She opened the satchel. took
from ii a buckskin bag and counted
the money. which was in $50 coins
Then she pushed ii 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 We're accosted by a tramp. The
fellow looked anything but prepossess-
ing. and Miss Magruder curtly denied
him aid.
During the drive from New Bruins
wick to the little hamlet which waa
their home. Miss Magruder gave vent
to her annoyance over the cashiers
hesitancy to pay her niece's legacy in
gold His warning against robbers
was especially diStastcful to the spin
ster. who had never been afflicted with
fear Of anything Nora Wilson listen
ed to her aunt in silence. She was not
ut all inclined to share her guardians
confidence that their house was as safe
as the bank vault; but out of Difference
10 the older woman she refrained from
-,
the money was safely slowed away
under Miss Magruder's bed, Nora felt
UnenSy. When bedtime came she her
self examined every window and door.
10 see that il had been securely faSten-
cd 10y thu 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 a
start She was not certain AT first
whether her Imagination had played
her a trick. or whether she had really
heard a stified noise in the next room.
She hearkcned with bated breath. and
WIS soon convinced that what disturb
ed her were stealthy footsteps.
Without a moments hesitation the
girl jumped from her bed. 4 door led
from her room to her aunt's chamber
but this she -TOuld not open. After all,
II might only have been the vivid play
of her Imagination, and she dreaded
Miss Magruder's ridicule. So she un-
atched the door that opened out into
!he corridor and groped her way to her
aunt's room. 1t was ajar.
Nora Wilson scarcely breathed as she
N-l.
respiration of two persons One breath
ed regularly and quietly. the others
breath came in short. stifled gasps. A
sweet, penetrating odOr came from the
room. Then all her doubts were dis.
PEELED.
There was n robber in the room He
was searching for the hidden gold
Nora was a 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 sponge saturated
with chloroform to her nose. Nora
tried not to breathe to keep from inhal-
Ing the noxious yapor. 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.
He has a pistol and he is going to
Kill mer' thought Nora. Quick as
lash she seized his hand the moment
he withdrew ii. Her fingers closed over
the handle of a 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 Missed into
her ear that he would kill her If she
made an outcry and did not release
the knife. Gathering all his strength
ne thrust her into the pantry the door
of which stood wide open
Miss Wilson made no reply. but with
an almost Superhuman effort attempt
cd 10 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 Suatching his left arm from her
waist he struck her fearful, biov
with lis fist
Esa.iain@ that 81" could no iuilc
''t" WiIh tie rvhIrr, Nora rUri:''
quickly and dashed past him toward
the door that led out into the yard.
Ii WAS open. hut on the threshold the
girl stumbled and fell prcne to the
floor. When she awoke few moments
afterwards from the stupor caused by
the fall. two men We're bending over |
her. They We're graphing. and by |
their voices Miss Wilson recognized
in one of them her auBt's gardener
The girl. brave as ever. came To his |
assistance.
Their combined cries for hep |