The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-07-06

az barge nuscular hand next ap-

peSred, holding up the lid Of the chest
With nOiselesS care, and the sight of it
aroused within NE mad kind of des-
perate daring such rs never supposed
I possessed. With wild cry to Hat
tie to awake. Spraug from the bed.
and. with all the strength l was mas
ter of. forced down the lid.
Help. Hattie. quick l cried. "or
we are lost
With Il single bound she was hy my
side her face rs white as Il sheet.
oh. Grace for Heavens sake. what
is it, she SaSpcd.
"A mana burCi7r-a murderer. for
al know. HOLD hard for your life"
replied.
The half SmOthered wretch. by vio-
lent effort, succeeded in forcing off one
hinge in such q manner as to admit
air enough TO preclude the possibility
of his being Suffocated in his strange
prison.
Another wrench. and the remaining
hinge was started. 4 second con-
vulsive movement. so violent as to
make the stout old chest quiver. and
five grimy fingers were thrust out in 4
vain attempt to clutch my throat.
| bore down with all my might, but
the terrible hand maintained its ad-
vantage, and inch by inch the lid was
slowly moved aside until only our
united strength held it in place.
Hattie did her best to aid my efforts:
but when two giaring black eyes APP
peared on level with the fearful
hand she lost all control of herself and
4 loud car-piercing shrek broke from
her aShen lips.
The nearest Hcighbnr lived half a
mile away. We were utterly alone,
and entirely at the mercy of the ruff
fan in the chest, who. should lie es-
cape, would doubtless murder us both
and burn the house afterward, per-
hapS. to hide the double crime.
The thought wa. appalling, and
though she had no hope of help reach
ing us. Hattie continued to scream at
the top of her voice. and every shrek
was like that of one in mortal agony.
Uark, Some one was coming. An
answ aring shout from the porch below,
a Shivering of glass and window sash,
and up the stairs, three at a time,
came Cousin Jack.
Hattie few to the door and unlocked
it. and then fell to the floor in a dead
faint.
What is the natter" exclaimed
Jack. as he entered. What in the
En-"
The man sprang from the chest and
made dash for the door. Jack in
stantly seized him. clapped n revolver
to the Villains ear. and in no gentle
tone admoniShed him to surrender if
he did not want 10 die there and then.
The rufiian. seeing that resistance
was of no further avail. Sullenly per-
mitted himself to be bound. He did
not speak word. but his GlitterinG
eyes told plainly of tn: fury raging in
his heart.
A plentiful use of cold water quickly
restored Hattie to consciousness. and
rs soon rs she was able to walk we
threw on our wrappers end went out
in the hall. where the burglar lay
pro.a on the floor, securely bound
hand and foot.
Il happened to be passing the house
at :he moment and l heard your
screams" explained Jack. $50 made
all haste to see what was the matter.
little expecting to find you in quite so
perilous fly. though l felt sure you
must be in sore need Of help, for
never before did | heal such series
of blood-curdling shriekS as those with
which Hattie has just been favoring
us"
Hattie shuddered. and crept closer
to strong. coura geous Jack. and not
till the next day did we know that the
man we had held captive in the old
oak chest for two mortal hours, was
Nick Billings. one of the most daring
burglars of the present generation.-
<-o.,. Eo,I-