Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-07-01
demand the payment of the
$4,000 in gold" said Miss Ma


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 a posi-
BILE silver 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
hOnOred If for no other reason than to
show you that this bank is amply able
10 meet MI 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, a middle-aged man
with Vandyke beard and curly fax
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 whispered order to
the only clerk the bank afforded. The
latter turned an inquisitive face upon
the splnster and her companion, a
pretty country girl of 20 summers.
When he returned from the vault he
carried in his hand leather satchel,
which lie 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
lshed. She opened the satchel, took
from it a 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 accosted by tramp. The
fell0w looked anything but prepossess-
ing, ana Miss Magruder CURLY denied
him aid
During the drive from New Bruins
Wick to the little hamlet which was |
thelr 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 dstasteful to the spin
ster. who had never been afflicted with
rear 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
10 the older woman she refrained from
expressing her opinion. Even when
the money was safely slowed away
under Miss Magruder's bed. Nora felt
uneasy. When bedtime came she her.
self examined every window and door
10 see that 1t had been securely fasten-
ed Dy 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 n
start she was not certain at first
whether her imagination had PLAYED
her trick, or whether she had really
heard Stitied noise in the next room
she hearkened with bated breath. and
was soon convinced that what disturb
ell her were stcalthy footsteps.
Without a moments hesitation the
girl Jumped from her bed. 4 door led
from her room to her auut's chomber
nut this she would not open. After nil
II might only have been the vivid nl,v
OF her imagination. and she dreoded
Miss Magruder'S rdicule. So she nm.
latched the door that opened ont into
the corridor and CROPPED her way to her
aunt's room. 1t was aiar.
Nora Wilson scarcely breathed nc Sho
listened. She could distinctly hear tha
respiration of two persons One breath.
ed regularly and quietly. the others
breath came in short. stitled rasns A
sweet, penetrating odor came from tbo
room. Then all her doubts were dis.
PEELED. '''
There was a robber in the room IIo
was searching for the hidden gold
Nora was courageous girl. She nross
ed her lips firmly together adyarcinc
carefully with outStretched arms Al
most instantly she came in contoct
with human body. The man-for II
was burglarclutched her around
the waist and held sponge saturated
with chloroform To her nose \oro
tried not to breathe TO keep from inhol.
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.
He has pistol and he is going to
XIII me" thought Nora. Quick as n
nash she seized his hand the moment
he withdrew 1t. Her fingers closed over
the handle of II large bowie knife. not |