The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-09
belief gave him the character OF

belief gave him the character OF a
miser.
Itwas impossible, 80 the villagers
argued, that q man with SO small a
family to feed and olothe, and with
so goou a trade as Abner Morse,
could be otherwise than rich. The
common belief in his wealth was
strengthened by the precautions
taken to guard the buildings against
marauders. The only door was OF
oak, ironbound and riveted. The
windows were barred with iron.
Was it to guard his money, the peo-
pie wondered, or his pretty daugh-
ter, that these precautions were tax
en-?
1t could scarcely have been for
the latter reason, for Dolly was in
no way restricted Of her liberty.
This sunny summer morning she
sat in the open doorway, knitting a
stocking of snow white yarn. AS
she sat there, framed as in picture
against the dark background Of the
interior, she could scarcely have
appeared, under any circumstances,
more attractive to the passerby.
Her cheeks glowed with the hue Of
youthful health; the warm sunlight
lay upon her light brown hair; her
red lips were parted in absorbing
interest in her occupation; tiny,
slippered foot protruded from be-
meath her gown. All in all, she
formed most bewitching part Of
the soene which greeted the eyes of
the ragged man as he turned the
corner in the road and came in
sight of Morse's mill.
s'Ah, James. is that you?" asked
Dolly. looking up with a pleasant
smile, as the man paused before the
door.
"Yes, it's me, Jim Billings" re-
piled the other doggedly. "All alone,
amt ye?"
eyes; fathers gone away"
"I know it; met him on the road.
Going to be gone long?"
''No; he has only gone to the vii
lage. He will be at home this after
noon. You can see him then if you
wish"
"Waal, p'r'aps 1 will, 4" said Bill
ings, looking up and down the road
in either direction and then turn
ing once more to Dolly.
"Did-did you want him partiou-
larly?" asked the girl, noticing his
apparent disinolination to leave.
"Waal-er-no. but I'm desprit
hungry, Dolly. Can't yer gita Teller
something ter eat?"
..Why, yes" exclaimed the good
hearted girl, .scf course I will. "
She went unsuspectingly toward
the pantry. closely followed by the
man. No sooner had he crossed the
threshold, however, than he slam
med the door to with his foot, and
sprang like a tiger at her throat. So
sudden was the onslaught and SO
tight his grasp upon her neck that
she could neither struggle nor cry
out. White with terror, she sank
upon her knees.
"Now, GIRL" cried the rufian,
where's your fathers money!"
She tried to speak, and the man,
seeing that she was unable to do SO,
let go her throat and seized her by
the wrists.
eff you scream" he said, "I'll
kill you. Where's the money? 1t
must be either that or your life, my
pretty Dolly
Through Dolly's brain the
thoughts few quickly. Her first
paroxysm of terror over, she began
to realize the necessity of subduing
her fears and summoning all her
wit and resolution. She was a brave
girl, and with her to think was to aot.
"Don't harm me, she said. "Fa-
ther's money is in the oak chest in
the attic.
"Ah!' exclaimed Billings. "show
me the way to it, and do ye go be-
fore me. It will go hard with ye if
ye lie to me"
She tremblingly obeyed, and led
the way up stairs. The room at the
head of the staircase was employed
as lumber room. From this lad
der led to the attic, the entrance to
which was closed by trapdoor in
the floor. Though Dolly had lifted
this door almost daily she failed to
do so now, and sank back upon the
ladder feigning exhaustion.
"The trap is too heavy for me, "
she said. IT cannot raise it..
With an oath the man pulled her
down from the ladder, and placing
his shoulder against the trap raised
IL monntad to the attic. and held