Year: 1872

hesitate to murder me-" So she resolved
to make one effort to save herself and the
money too. She remembered that as she
glanced around before putting out the
lights, she had noticed standing in one cor
ner of the fireplace, an old-fashioned iron
poker And now while he was busy look
ing over the drawer for the money, she
noiselessly crept across the hearth, pos.
sessed herself Of the poker, and with a
prayer in her heart for aid, swiftly and si-
lently made her way behind him and with
all her strength she brought it down upon
his head. With deep groan he sank down
upon the floor. 1t was but a moment for
Marion to secure the money, close and lock
the drawer, removing the keys which he
had left hanging in the lock, and possessing
herself Of the lantern, left the room. She
closed and locked the door upon the vii
lain, and fastened up the stairs to arouse
Dennis. Receiving no answer to her
knocks and calls she opened the door and
looked in. He was not there, but his boots
were sitting beside the bed, which looked
as though he had lain down on the outside.
terrible suspicion broke upon her mind !;
the thief down stairs and Dennis were one
and the same. He had overheard Mr..
Clifford when he was talking about the
money to her ; for although he had left the
room, he could not have got out Of hearing


and made up his mind to gain possession
Of it. And now if he should come to him.
self and escape from the room where she
left him, he could easily overpower her and
Mrs. Watson, for he well knew there was
no one else i'll the house, and the nearest
neighbors lived half mile off. With these
thoughts in her mind she hurried to Mrs
Watson's room, and awakened her by vio-
lently shaking her by tie arm.


Good gracious, Marion, what is the
matter /" she exclaimed 'you act ~
though you had seen ghost -


II have not, returned Marion; ''but
there is a man in the sitting room, with a
mask on, and believe it is Dennis


Dennis Wen, what does lie want with
a mask p


Il cannot tell il may nuJ - he, but
why is he not in his room N


Mrs. Watson was now thoroughly
awakened, and had began y comprehend
what Marion was saying.


She arose hastily from her bed, and
dressed herself, and having fastened the
door, Marion related to her what had trans
pired. She was, if possible, more fright
ened than Marion had been, fearing that
he would come and murder them. Marion
assured her that he could not She had
locked him into the room, and besides, he
lay senSeless upon the floor But she in
sisted that he might recover and break
open the door, ahd he would be sure to
come there he would be enraged at losing
the money, and it would have been much
better if Marion had left him keep it,
and crept out and left him there.
''She was sure she could hear him coming
up the stairs, now And thus she kept
Marion and herself in torture. until dav-
light began to dawn


With increasing light her courage began
10 return, and she consented to accompany
Marion down to the sitting room door and
ascertain If they could, if he Was still alive.
They listened intently before venturing TO
enter the room, but could hear no sound
Summoning all her courage Marion opened
the door and looked in. The room was
empty. An open window revealed the
way the villain had secured his liberty He
had clambered down by trellis that sup
ported some vines by the window. and
made good his escape; and although Mr.
Clifford, on his return, offered reward for
his apprehension, he was never heard of in
that part Of the world again.


Many years have passed since then, and
Marion is now the mistress Of happy
home, the cherished wife Of Howard Cliff
ford ; and she has been heard to say more
than once, that that night Of terror
brought her the greatest happiness Of her
life