Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-07-28

ventured to suggest that it was hardly
safe to leave them there.
Don't you think they are too valu-
able to risk in this placer"
well, it's only for one night But
perhaps it would be wiser to keep them
in my own costody. And now we
must say goodnight, dearest"
Your sister will be wondering what
has become of US, You must tell her
why you spirited me away like this"
Kate knows. l told her before
dinner. We shall find her waiting
patiently for us in the drawing-room,
l expect"
AS Debonnaire prepared to go to
rest, her thoughts were full of happi-
ness and gratitude. What had she
done to be so fortunate
A short month ago she was living
almost in penury, supporting an invalid
mother by giving daily lessons in
town. One day, when she was crossing
State street, the collision of two han
SONS, with the overturning of one,
nearly brought about the end of her
existence. General CaInard sprang to
save her from dangerous fall-and a
new era in her life had begun.
A crowd rapidly gathering, a few
words hurriedly exchanged, and the
next minute she had found herself
seated in his brougham beside him
driving away towards her home
Three weeks later she was engaged
to him, and the good folks in Broad
shire were amazed to hear that the
most eligible bachelor in the county
was going to marry penniless girl.
That night, long after every one at
General Calnard's country house had
retired to rest, Debonnaire sat by her
open window, gazing out over the fair
domain of which she was to be the
mistress so soon. The vague outlines
OF park and meadow land were dimly
perceptible, and there was something
intoxicating about the surrounding
stiffness and soft, fragrant air.
At first she felt too excited to wish
to go to sleep, but at last the peace
full influence Gained her mind. and
she turned away from the contempla-
ton of future possibilities, and pre-
pared to go to bed. She swept back
her auburn tresses with both hands
as she lay down, whispering with a
little laugh: Glorious hair! love it. ;"
Her slumbers were not sound; cha
otic dreams disturbed them, and event
ually one more vivid than the rest
seemed likely to arouse her dormant
consciousness
She thought she saw a curious
blurred shape of some sort moving
! across the room and slowly approach
! ing her. AS it drew nearer and nearer
! a nameless sensation of horror crept
over her, but she could not move Sud
denly an icy finger was placed upon
her forehead, and the finger murmured
something which sounded like: Ills
ten, l come as the messenger of
! Death
J With a violent start she awoke to
find that some one was bending over
her. and that a revolver was pressed
against her head.
Hist said a hoarse voice to her
ear, ''if yer speak one word, you'll
never speak another
Debonnaire lay quaking and star
ing, but she did not utter a sound.
II wants them diamonds, and I
means to have 'em. Yer can git up
and hand 'em over, jest as soon as yer
like. But don't yer scream, or I'll
shoot yer, as sure as eggs is eggs"
Debonnaire had plenty of pluck, but
her teeth chartered like castanets
while she rolled to the other side of
the bed, and, stepping out of it, caught
up her dressing gown and flung it over
her
Between her trembling lips she
muttered, "The diamonds are not here
I have not got them, so l cannot give
them to you
20 yes, likely tale. I'll take yer
keys if yer's no objection, and run my
eye through yer trunks, etc."
She handed him bunch of keys,
and he coolly struck match and lit a
candle; instinctively she shrank back
from the sight of his villainous look
ing face, and watched him while, with
the experiences evidently learned by
long experience, he dived into her box
and searched through her wardrobe
and chest of drawers.
His exclamation of disgust at finding
so little pilfer made Debonnaire shud-
der and shake afresh.
He came, towards her with a threat
ening gesture, suddenly Selling her
hair, which still hung loosely over her
shoulders.
Look here, I mean to have them
dazzlers; just yer make no mistake
about that. Where has the gent put
'em, after yer was a-sportin' of 'em
downstairs? You show me round,
and hurry up about it."
Then the wretch had been watching
them in the library? Probably he had