Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-07-17
= demand the payment of the
$40 600 in gold" said Miss Ma

ao+arminadly. 81 owe this to my niece,
Who 10 about to be married. AS you
know. l am her guardian, ana do not
wish TO diminish her legacy by any
oversight on my part just now, when
no one knows just what enect posi-
bile 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
honored 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 a determined
and business like manner.
Cashier Holt, middle-aged man
with Vandyke beard and curly haX-
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 to
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 warning! Take good care of the
money!
Miss Magruder was not so easily sat
isfied. She opened the satchel, took
from it buckskin bag and counted
the money, which was in 500 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
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
hesitancy to pay her niece's legacy in
gold. His warning against robbers
was especially distasteful 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
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 Magruder's bed, Nora felt
uneasy. When bedtime came she her
self examined every window and door,
to see that 1t had been securely fasten-
ed by the servant. Anxious dreams
disturbed her slumber which she WOO
ed in vain for 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 trick, or whether she had really
heard a stif1ed noise in the next room.
She hearkened with bated breath, and
was soon convinced that what disturb
ed her We're stealthy footsteps.
Without q 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
- CHI Cd
Miss Magruder's ridicule. SO she I'M
latched 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 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 a 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 a 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 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 a pistol and he is going to
kill mew 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.