Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-07-31

my cousin, looking round the room for
something to place against the window,
my eyes fell on the fireirons, and a
bright thought entered my head;
would place the shovel against the
fastening of one window. and the tongs
at the other, In such way that.
should anyone open the windows from
the outside, these things would fall
down with a crash. To the French
window | placed the head of our sofa
bed, thus effectually barrlcading that.
Bertha was much amused at my pro-
ceedings, but she let me do as pleased
about 1t, for she saw l was nervous.
1.-THE fact Is, Nettle," she said, 1.-The
horrible stories we have heard to-day
have alarmed you; but It's all nonsense,
dear, and l have no doubt very much
exaggerated. Having now fortified our
citadel, come to bed" We always left
the gas burning a little all night, so
after attending to that l got into bed,
and fell asleep. l forgot to say the
course secured, and also the one out
of the little lobby leading to the hall,
but the one from our room into the
lobby we always left open.
was awakened by most terrible
crash, the tongs had fallen down on a
little marble table, on which were the
debris of our evening meal, and the
shutters were open. Annette" said
Bertha, "get up, child; they are getting
into the room," and she bounded to
the door into the hall and opened 1t. AS
for me, l was paralyzed with fright,
expecting each moment to see white
mask ent ar the room; whether the noise
alarmed them, l know not; however,
they did not do so; and Bertha, whose
courage and self-possession never left
tent, and refastened the shutters. "An-
etc." she said, "dress as quickly as you
can," herself setting me the example.
More dead than alive, l did as she de-
sired. All was silent for little time,
perhaps for ten minutes, although to us
1t seemed hours. when we heard the
servants window open, and whis-
pered conversation carried on In mems
voices. Another danger menaced us;
they were In the house. AS l sat watch
Ing the door from the lobby into the
hall, which Bertha had unlocked, the
idea flashed across my mind that they
would enter from there. 1.-The doorp
l said. Bertha understood me, and flew
to 1t and fastened It, Not one moment
too soonl for, as she did so. the handle
was turned, and muttered curse greet
ed her ear However, they were not to
be baffled SO easily, and thinking, no
doubt, they were all safe began picking
the lock.
OF course, our only chance lay In
alarming the house. Scream, Nettie,
as loud as you can," said Bertha, and
she seized the bellrope, pulling it fran
tically. Fright lent me power, and GER
talnly the horrible yells in which l In
dulged were enough to awaken the
dead The servants ran up after
time, but we would not open the door
to them. At last the landlady and the
other boarders were aroused, and
knocked at our door, and we let them
in. When Bertha opened the shutters
there was the window up. the pane
lust above the fastening cut away. We
told what had happened, and our be-
lief that there were robbers at that mo-
ment In the servants room. Margaret
and the cook turned as pale as death
at the remark; and when the two gem
tlemen went to search the house, they
stood with their back to their chamber
doors, daring them to enter. and they
did not
All the servants were discharged the
next day, and two weeks after the
whole of New York rang with the story
of one of the most horrible murders
that had ever been committed. One
of the victims was not quite dead when
the crime was discovered, although
she expired few hours after the fear
full injuries she had received. But she
lived long enough to be the means of
bringing the dread band to justice. a
widow lady, with her two grown-up
daughters, three younger children and
their governess, resided In one of the
new streets uptown; they were COM
fortably off, and the lady, whose name
was Maynard, was in the habit of keep
ing rather large sum Of money in her
desk.
Her house was broken into by men
with white masks, and the whole of
the family slaughtered with the ex-
/ ceptiom of the governess. who lived