Middletown transcript., 1906-07-07

~ " - Aes4 HIhS q NlAAlA 10y IL
autumn, and the windows were
closed, but the afternoon snn-
sEine which fell upon the win
dows was SO bright that the
shades were partly drawn.
Venie had been dreamily gaz-
ing into space for q very few
moments, when she heard the
door open, and she naturally sup
posed that it was Danny An in
stant later her quick ear detected
the swapping of the deadlatch,
which surprised her, and with
ont turning she mentally queried,
What can Danny be locking peo-
laie out for? It was done so feis-
urely, however, that she wheeled
about to question the youth, and
as she came in viewof the door
she was startled at the sight Of
a stranger within a few feet Of
her desk.
At once Venie felt a Fremont
ton of danger, the click of the
doorlatch being its signal The
visitor was a man of about thirty
with an intelligent face, which
plainly showed signs of .dissipa-
ktion He wore rather shabby
garments, and did not look par
tieularly prosperous.
Venie could not conjecture the
character of the evil she feared
There were no yaluables outside
the safe, except a trifiing sum in
the cash drawer; and for that
matter there was nothing in the
safe but papers, which would be
of no value to anyone but their
owners. However, she was not
lleftin suspense long
I have come for those Northern
Ohio bonds; Mr.. McWilliams said
you would give me an order on
the Fidelity for them, said the
intruder, quite calmly, although
in an unusually low tone, as he
glanced hurriedly about the
room. lam somewhat in a hurry,
aud will be obliged if you will not
detain me, he said.
Venie was greatly surprised.
She knew Mr.. Barker very well,
and was not aware that the Wis
itor was employed by him, or was
connected with his business in
any way. 1t was too serious a
matter about which to make a
mistake, for the package contain
ed twenty-five bonds, each of the
denomination Of one thousand
dollars, and which were selling
far above par, the interest being
at the rate of six per cent. in gold.
They were probably worth thirty
thousand dollars, and were prac-
tically as negotiable as green
backs or gold to dishonest per-
son.
The girl hesitated to reply, but
finally she asked: Have you an
order from Mr. McWi1liams?
No; but he met Mr.. Barker on
the New York train yesterday,
and agreed to give him the bonds;
so the matter is all right.
Venie could scarcely believe
her senses, but she had taken
the alarm, for the affair had a
suspicious look, and in a second
she saw the safe path.
Excuse me, but I cannot fur
nish you the bonds without an
order from Mr.. McWilliams, or
a receipt from Mr.. Barker.
Not if | give you a receipt in
Mr.. Barker's name?
Only, as I have already said,
upon a receipt from Mr.. Barker
himself.
Venie shivered as the scene
approached dramatic climax.
/ am sorry to use this argu-
ment, Miss, but must have the
order Or
Here the fellow produced a re-
volver.
The girl was terribly frighten,.
ed; her face blanched and she
could scarcely command herself,
but her thoughts flowed rapidly.
Shall | give him an order on the
Seventh National, which is far
uptown, and then run around to
Sae Fidelity" and make sure
of the bonds, or shall | try to de-
tain him until Danny comes
The intruder evidently read
her thoughts, and said, very
sternly:
There must be no trifing with
me you know the penalty. I
want the order at onceon the
Fidelity Trust and Safe Deposit
Company, where the bonds are
stored.
Venie was IN despair. Again
: L =. 4. i