The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-30
The REDEMPTION Of JONAS Games.
BY W. }. LOCKE,
Author s"maria~ Etc,
Conxrishted. Isos. w. J.

And leaving the maid to digest the sar-
casm. he turned on his heel and went
away 10 bed.
He lived in the dilapidated cock-loft over
Inc stables, pace smelling evilly OF stale
straw, deeayed plaster, and the manifold
doors which drink, vile tobacco, and filth
mess manage to impart to a mans person
al belongings. A heap Of straw covered
With dlrty sacking formed his bed A
three-legged stool was the only other ar
ucle OF furniture. But the loft was lit
tered with rusty spades and mattocks,
ENDS OF rope, heaps of old widowed har-
ness, ana Worm-eating boxes containing
nothing but mustiness and black beetles
The pitch of the roof was so low that a
man could only stand upright in the mid
die Of the floor. The door opened the
whole hight of the loft, and was reached
from the yard by ladder
Jonas finished his supper sitting on the
threshold and dangling his legs. From this
position he commanded an oblique view
OF the trave.er's window, which was open.
the night being warm. But though there
was a light in the room, its occupier was
apparently not stirring, and all that Jonas
could see was a picture on the side wall
Yet he gazed intently. The kitchen
maids idle words had inspired within him
vague suggestions which were gradually
taking the form of a wild desire He
nursed it in his hatred of Mrs. Settle.
Iiefe was an opportunity of getting away
from his degrading slavery, from his mis-
tress' curt tongue, from the detested walls
OF the Blue Dragon, from the loathing and
contempt OF Turrell. To climb through
that window when the man was asleep
possess himself of the heavy leathern box.
ride away on the travellers horse--it would
be simple matter. And then to be his
own master again, to taste the wild Joys
OF freedom-his nostrils dilated and his
breath came quick at the thought,
But men did not travel alone with great
sums of money without taking due pre-
cautions. Suppose the man slept with the
money bag under his pillow; suppose he
awakened and sprang al him pistol in
hand Jonas felt a queasiness at his
heart. He neither loved danger nor long
ed for death. The plan was too desper-
ate. He rose and shut himself into the
darkness, abandoning the idea with sigh
He refreshed himself from a bottle of
Hollands that he kept in a secure hiding
place, undressed-that is to say, threw off
his heavy boots and lay down upon his
bed.
He could not sleep The thought of the
strangers money-bag set his brain on fire
If he closed his eyes showers of gold
cleaned red before them. If he opened
them the sockets seemed afame The
hours passed. A fiery demon within him
goaded him on to the attempt-at last con-
quered his cowardice. He rose and opened
the door. The moon had risen, and its
light flooded the courtyard and the old
gable-roofed in, and fell full upon the trav-
elers window. 1t was still open-seemed to
invite him. The wide-swung lattice was
like an arm held out in eXpectant welcome
Il will look in said Jonas to himself
A few moments later he had carried the
ladder across the courtyard, and was
standing with his arms on the sill, sur
veying the room.
The man was sleeping in the great four
poster, wrapped up to the head in the bed
clothes, with his face turned away from
the window. On a chair at the foot of the
bed, clearly distinguishable in the moon
light, was the leather box. To Jonas's sur
prise, he caught the glitter of the key in
the lock. From the window to the treas
ure it was only five yards Jonas thrust
in his head and listened The mans breath
ing was heavy and regular. He was sleep
ing soundly. With absolute quiet of move
ment success was certain. Jonas, barefoot
ed, slipped into the room. He took a eau
tious step and looked around him. Then
he noticed what he had not seen from out
side, great horse pistol lying on the Ia
bic, on the further side of the bed within
reach of the sleeper's hand. For a moment
the blood went from his cheeks and his
knees knocked together. He sank on all
fours and so crawled towards the leather
box. He stretched out his hand to lift it,
nut II was HedNy-toO neaVy TO be carried
with absolute noiselessnesS across the
| room and passed through the window. The
sweat broke out on his forehead
Then ray Of hope passed through him,
as he remembered the key. He turned il
softly in the lock, and lifted the long fiat
lid. Within the box, amid a quantity of
papers and a few small articles of attire.
were two great bags with the necks tied
up with Irvine. His blood danced in his
! veins as he lifted them out on to the floor.
| Then carefully he began to search the box.
| His hand struck against something cold
| beneath the papers. He grasped it and
drew it out. 1t was a long knife evidently
a curio of travel, such as he had never
| seen before, with narrow two-edged
| blade, and a cleaning haft that looked in
! the uncertain moonlight as ST it might be
| gold. He was in the act of deposlting it by
| the side of the bags when the blade
! knocked against the chalr-rail with a clear.
| sharp sound.
The sleeper moved uneasily in his bed
and muttered a few words. The thief's
| heart stood stiH. He thought of the deadly
| looking pistol, and he clutched the handle
of the knife. The sleeper coughed slight
" Jonas crouehed at the bed-foot and pre-
pared, if need We're. to sell mis- life dearly.
If the man rose he would spring at him
| and bury the knife in his breast Silence
! again. The handle of the weapon fitted his
4 grasp. seemed to caress his palm. His
mind, once turned to murder, rested on the
| thought
Why should he not kill him as he silent
! make certain of his own escape from the
/ room? His brain worked rapidly. If he kill
ed him, took only one bag, left the other
| conspcuously in the open box it would be
| evident to the authorities that robbery had
not been the object of the murder. Sus-