Year: 1875

but us tc DO up the chores.


AS she spoke, NIargret stopped to
stroke old Tommy, but to her infinite
surprise, she saw that the animals paw
and tail were crect--here eyes had
changed to glossy green of rage and
terror, and with slow, panther like
tread, she was making her way to-
ward the door which opened upon the
cellar stairway.


And while she gazed, Margaret saw
with horror that the latch was slowly
lifting, and the next moment the door
opened with an ominous creak, and q
man stepped into the room. He was
a short, thick set fellow, with sandy
hair and whiskers, and a pale, fero
cious-ooking eye, set far back in his
head


$50 ho, my dear, "..said he, "you arc
sole proprietor, 1t appears 2


For an instant Margaret's heart
stood still, but she was naturally a
brave girl, and she was proud as well,
and would not allow this man to see
that she feared him.


81 have that honor she replied
coolly. "Who are you? And what
do you want ?"


II trust you will excuse me if | neg
lected to introduce myself said the
man, with much courtesy-"as for my
business, | am quite happy to inform
you about that. | want that eight
thousand dollars that the Judge
brought from Rindgely bank last
night, and depend on you TO point it
out to me-


The indignant blood rushed to Mar
garet's face, and she sharply answer
ed


"l will die before | will do what YOU
ask ~


"You shall have your choice.


He produced a revolver, which he
cooked deliberately, and pointed at
her head.


"Now show me the place where the
case is hidden, or III blow your brains
out.


Like lightning varied train OF
thought rushed through the head of
the glrl in that one instant of time
she thought Of score Of plans to
evade the rascal, and simultaneously
discarded them as impracticable.


There she was alone, a weak and
helpless girl, almost mile from any
other human habitatiJn, and in such a
storm it was by no means likely that
any one would be passing by from
whom she could claim assistance.


Fora second she thought OF r.sking
everything to escape by the other
door, and, trusting to the darkness
and her intimate knowledge of the
way, to attempt to reach Mr., Turner'S
and seek protection.


But the man seemed to divine her
thoughts, for he stepped between her
and the door.


"No my beauty. You don't play thai
game ON me-" he said, with a sardonic
grin. And now III give you just
three minutes to decide what you'll
do. Ifyou will show me only where
the money is, | will swear to do you
no harm ; if you refust, / swear to
kill you, and trust to luck to finding 1t
without your help"


lie took out his watch, and stood
regarding it and Margaret alternately.
As she stood there, faint and giddy
with fear, a new idea penetrated Mar
garet's brain, and she was just in that
state Of desperation which stops at no
sacrifice, however great. Come life
or death, she mus. save the money
for which her kind friends had toiled
50 long and earnestly and the loss of
which would involve them in ruin.
Aud shethought she sawa way to do it,
although it would compass her de-
struction.


"You may put up your pistol she
said calmly. Il will show YOU where
.he money is concealed"


"Thats sensible, my DEAR said the
nan. "It aiut of,en that sense and
pretty face 60 together. But you're
IN exception. Come you must be
lively now


She took a candle from the table,
selected one Key from bunch in the
basket hanging from the wall and
)ade him follow her.


She led HIM up the stairs to the
loor of the oak closet, applied the key
md opening the door, pointed to the
black box in the fartherest corner of