The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-15
HER DOWRY.

lily and quite determinedly. II owe this
TO my niece, who II about 10 be married.
Az you know, am her guardian, and I
do not wish to diminish ber legacy by sny
oversight on my part just now, when no
one knows just what effect possible sill
yer victory may have upon tho financial
condition Of the country. Onoe married,
her husband may do as he Ikea"
"very well, Miss Magruder," aid
Cashier Holt. "Your request will be hon.
ored II for no other reason than to show
to you that this bank IL amply able TO
meet all demands"
The lady whom he addressed a. Niss
Magruder was q spinster Of uncertain age,
regular features and q determined and
businesslike manner.
Cashier Holt, middle aged man with
sandyke 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 hoe
house.
Now he gave whispered order to the
only clerk the bank afforded. The latter
turned an inquisitive face upon the spinster
of 90 summers When he returned from
the vault, he carried In his hand leather
satohel, which he placed on the counter
before the cashier.
"Here is your $10, ,000," said Mr.. Holt
whimsically. Remember my warningi
Take good care Of the money"
Miss Magruder was not SO easily salts
fled. She opened the satchel, took from IL
q buokskin bag and counted the money.
which was In $50 coins Then she pushed
IL all back, locked the bag and left the
bank, accompanied by the clerk, who CAR
ried the sstchel and deposited IL under the
buggy seat. As tho ladies entered their
conveyance they were accosted by tramp.
The fellow looked anything but prepossess-
ing, and Miss Magruder curtly denied him
aid.
During the drive from New Brunswick
to the little hamlet which was their home,
Miss Magruder gave vent to her annoy
ance over the cashiers hesitanoy to pay
her niece's legacy in gold. His warning
against robbers was especially distasteful
to the spinster, who had never been afilict-
ed with fear OF anything. Nora Wilson
listened 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 express
ing her opinion. Even when the money
was safely slowed away under Miss Ma
gruder's bed, Nora felt uneasy. When bed
time came, she herself examined every
window and door, to see that they had been
securely fastened by the servant. Anxious
dreams disturbed her slumber, which she
wooed In vain for q long time. In the
middle of the night the girl awoke with
start. She was not certain at first whether
her Imagination had played her trick, or
whether she had really heard stiaed
noise In the next room. She hearkeped
with bated breath, and was soon convinced
that what had disturbed her were stealthy
footsteps.
Without moments hesitation the girl
jumped from her bed. A door led from
her room to her aunts chamber, but this
she would not open. After all, 1t might
only have been the vivid play of her I'm
agination, and she dreaded Miss Magru-
ders ridicule. SO she Unmatched the door
that opened out into the corridor and
CROPPED her way to her aunt's room. 1t
was ajar.
Nora Wilson scarcely breathed as she
listened. She could distinctly hear the
respiration of two persons. One breathed
regularly and quietly; tho others breath
came In short, stifled gasps. A sweet
penetrating odor came from the room.
Then all her doubts were dispelled.
There was q robber In tho room. He
was searching for the hidden gold. Nora
was courageous girl She pressed her
lips firmly together, advancing carefully
with outstretched arms. Almost instantly
shc cane I'm contact with human body.
The man-for 1t was o burglar-clutched
her around the waist and held a sponge
saturated with choloroform to her nose.
Nora tried not to breathe, to keep from In
haling the uoxious vapor. The girls fierce
struggle made tho burlgar resort to other
means TO overcome her. He dropped the
sponge and plunged his hand into his
breast pocket.
"He has pistol and he is going to kill
mer' thought Nora. Quick m flash she
Seized his hand the moment no withdrew
II. Her fingers closed over the handle of
\ largo bowie knife, not the butt end Of q
revolver.
Tho maraudor dragged Nora from the
room, down tho stairs and into tho lower
corridor. There he Missed into her car that
he would kill her II she made nm outcry
and did not rclcaso the knife. Gathering
all his strength, he thrust her into the
pantry, tho door of which stood widc open.
Miss Wilson mado no reply, but with an
almost supcrhuman effort attempted to-
wrench the weapon from him. She sue
cccdcd In clutching few inches more Of
the long handle Of the knife, and the man
uttered terrible oath. Tho blade had
sunk into his hand. Snatching his left
arm from her waist. hes struck her fear
tul blow with his fist.
Realizing that she could no longer copc
with the robter. Nora turned quickly and
dashed past him toward the door that led
out into tho yard. It was open, but on tho
threshold the girl stumbled and fell prone
to tho floor. Whom shc awoke few mo-
ments aftcrward from the stupor caused
by the fall, two mon wcro bending over
ber They were srappling, and by their