Year: 1873

ing by MS Sl0e.


Eleven O. clock, and still no change
for the better. The fire was burning
low and l took the coal scuttle to re
pIenish it with coal. AS I knew the
wind would extinguish the lamp, I
thought that I would find my way to
the coal house in the dark As |
stepped upon the kitchen porch 1
started, thinking that l heard the
sound Of voices. Robberies had
been frequent, particularly during
the last few months, and for the first
time that night I thought Of the large
sum of money now lying in the
house. I was not mistaken. Not
withstanding the violence of the
storm, could hear persons convers-
ing in the coal house; and silently
approaching. 1 could distinguish the
words. To my amazement, the
voice was that Of Mr.. Tremain


'.Are you perfectly sure" he said,
''that she has had no opportunity to
send the money back to Lee &
/ Brother.


Sure! OF course I'm sure" an
swered the other. Haven't watch
ed the house all the evening? She
came to the door two or three times
and looked up and down the street;
but no one would be out such night
as this


"Iave you seen Gordon?"


Yes. She sent me for the doc,
tor, and I hid myself bit, and then
went and told her the doctor would
be there in half an hour Gordon
breathed SO loud that you could hear
him all over the house; his face was
purple. almost black, and he appear
ed not to know anything


Yes, 1 suppose so, 1 gave Tom
the wink to give him strong dose.
Did you remove the bolts and win
dow fastenings from the store room p


Yes; I did that when I went to
tell Mrs. Gordon about the doctor"
!. You have done we'll. If we sue
/. coed you shall have three thousand.
/. How about that shanty Of yours on
| Pigeon Lake? Can we take her
there, and will there be anybody to
take care. of herr:


"Of course. have an Indian
wife there and two grown daughters.
She must be gagged and wrapped
up in the buffalo robes; for the last
sixty miles you must hire Indians to
carry her. But what will you do
with the child? VIII you take that,
tooT'


No. / shall leave that with Cor
don. If he lives--which is doubt
full, for he took a strong dose-he
will think that his wife stole the
money and deserted him and the
child. Be careful to replace the
bolts and leave everything secure
but the front door. Ihave made
Gordon think that his wife is discon-
tented. tired of her hard life, and
longing for ease and wealth."


when will the sleigh be here ?a'


''At ten o'clock precisely. You
must be ready for action then. but
now YOU had better see that all is
safe.'


had stood as one spell-bound
while the Williams discussed their
plans, and now 1 dragged myself
wearily into the kitchen, closed and
bolted the door, and then went back
to the bedside Of my husband l
took my sleeping baby from its crib
and laid it by its fathers side, and
taking the money from the drawer
placed it under his pillow. A revolt
yer lay on the secretary, and Harry
had taught me how to use it. I ex-
amined the barrels to see that all
were loaded and primed, and laid
it on the table by tie bedside; then,
after one prayer for Divine aid and
protection, I seated myself once
more by the bedside Of my apparent
ly dying husband, to battle his head
and breast, and to do what little l
could to arouse him from the fear
full stupor which I now feared must
end in death. That was terrible
watch, dear Anna. The strong arm
that had always been able to protect
me, now lay weak and powerless as
an infants; and ], frail and timid
woman, was left alone to defend my
self and my dear ones from the
cruel Villains already on the watch to
invade our peaceful home,


Twelve o'clock! How soon it
came! Not quite one; but there was
slight noise at tie store room win
dow. Ny ears we're strained to
catch the slightest sound a door
opened softly and muflea steps
were heard crossing the kitchen
floor. I raised the revolver with my

finger on the trigger; then two men
with masked faces, bending forward
and peering carefully around them,
stole slowly into the parlor they
were jast opposite my bedroom