The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-07
HER DOWRY.

In gold" said Miss Magruder, n little test
lily and quite determincdly. 81 owe this
to my niece, 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 possible sill
yer victory may have upon the financial
condition of the country. Once married
her husband may do as he likes"
Very WELL Miss Magruder," said
Cashier Holt. "Your request will be hon,
ored If for no other reason than to show
to you that this bank is amply able to
meet all demands"
The lady whom he addressed as Miss
Magruder was q spinster Of uncertain age,
regular features and q determined and
businesslike manner
Cashier Holt, a middle aged man with
snndyke beard and curly, fax colored hair,
had tried vainly to demonstrate to his
shrewd client that her money would be
safer in the vaults of the bank than in her
house.
Now he gave whispered order to the
only clerk the bank afforded. The latter
turned an inquisitivc face upon the spinster
and her companion, pretty country girl
of 20 summers When he returned from
the vault, he carried In his hand leather
satchel, which he placed ON the counter
before the cashier.
Here Is your $40, O0O," said Mr. Holt
whimsically Remember my warning!
Take good care of the money
Miss Magruder was not so easily salts
fed. She opened the satchel, took from it
buokskin bag and counted the money,
which was in $50 coins. Then she pushed
1t all back locked the bag and left the
bank, accompanied by the clerk, who car
ried the satchel and deposited it under the
buggy seat. AS the ladies entered their
conveyance they were accosted by tramp.
The fellow looked anything but progresses
ing, and Miss Magruder curtly denied him
! aid.
During the drive from New Brunswick
1 to the little hamlet which was their home,
Miss Magruder gave vent to her annoy
ance over the cashiers hesitancy to pay
her niece's legacy in gold. His warning
against robbers was especially distastcful
to the spinster, who had never been afllict-
ed with fear Of anything. Nora Wilson
listened to her aunt in silence. She was
not at all inclined to share her guardian S
!
the bank vault, but out of Difference to the
older woman she refrained from express
ing her opinion. Even when the money
was safely slowed away under Miss Ma
gruder bed, Nora felt uneasy. When bed
time came, she herself examined every
window and door, to sec that they had been
securely fastened by the servant. Anxious
dreams disturbed her slumber, which she
wooed In vain for a long time. In the
middle of the night the girl awoke with n
start. She was not certain at first whether
her imagination had played her trick, or
whether she had really heard a stilled
noise in the next room. She hearkeped
with bated breath, and was soon convinced
that what had disturbed her were stealthy
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 it might
only have been the vivid play of her i'm
agination, and she dreaded Miss Magru
ders ridicule So she unattached the door
that opened out into the corridor and
CROPPED her way to her aunts room. II
was ajar.
Nora Wilson scarcely breathed as she
listened. She could distinctly hear tht
respiration of two persons. One breathet
regularly and quietly; the others breath
came in short, stif1ed gasps A sweet
penetrating odor came from the room
Then all her doubts were dispelled.
There was robber In the room. HI
was searching for the hidden gold. Nora
was courageous girl. She pressed hel
lips firmly together, advancing carefully
with outstretched arms. Almost instantly
l-lxx to- ,ssl
The man-for 1t was a bnrglar-clutchet
her around the waist and held spongt
saturated with choloroform to her nose
Nora tried not to breathe, to keep from In
haling the noxious vapor. The girls flerc,
struggle made the burglar resort to othe
means to overcome her. He dropped tn,
sponge and plunged his hand into hi
breast pocket.
"He has pistol and he Is going to xii
mel" thought Nora. Quick as a fash sh
seized his hand the moment he withdrew
1t. Her fingers closed over the handle o
a large bowie knife, not the butt end of
revolver.
The marauder dragged Nora from tn
room, down the stairs and into the lowe
corridor There he Missed into her ear tina
he would kill her If she made an outer,
and did not release the knife. GATHERING
all his strength, he thrust her into tn
pantry, tho door Of which stood wide open
Miss Wilson made no reply but with al
almost superhuman effort attempted t,
wrench the weapon from him. She sue
ceeded in clutching few inches more 0
the long handle Of the knife, and the MAJ
uttered terrible oath. The blade ha,
sunk into his hand. Snatching his lei
arm from her waist, he struck her fear
full blow with his fist.
Realizing that she could no longer cop
with the robber, Nora turned quickly ant
dashed past him toward the door that Lee
out into the yard. 1t was open, but on tn
threshold the girl stumbled and fell prom
to the floor When she awoke few mo
ments afterward from the stupor causet
by the fall, two men were bending owe
her. They were graphing, and by thei