Year: 1872

embrace of the robber, but returned it,
for what will not necessity excuse p he
at length said:


Come along, then, and lead us
around. The devil trust you ladies of
rank but we will venture for once;
only let me tell you beforehand, that, if
you were twice as handsome as you are,
this weapon would cleaye your skull the
moment we saw the least disposition to
betray us. )"


Then it will be safe enough, and if
this were the only condition of my be-
ing put to death, | would outlive you
all, and even the Wandering Jew him.
self"


The Baroness smiled when she pro-
nounced these words, and hastily caught
up the nearest lamp as though she had
been as anxious as any of them to col
lect the plunder and be gone. conducted
the whole company through every apart
ment. opened every door, every drawer
and chest, assisted in opening them and
packing up the valuables, looking with
the utmost Indifference over the mangled
bodies, acted with the familiarity of an
old acquaintance to each one of the hor-
rid troop, and willingly aided with her
delicate hands in the most laborious oc-
cupations.


Plate, money, jewels, and other valu-
ables, were now collected together, and
the captain was giving the order for
marching. when his destined bride
caught him by the shoulder.


did | not tell you" said she, "that
you should not repent making friend
of me and sparing my life? You may
indeed have everything in places you
find open, but it is pity you cannot
come at the treasure that is concealed.
What do you suppose that among cof-
fers so full there is no secret place :?
Look here, and then you will be con-
vinced to the contrary"


She pointed to "a secret spring in the
Baron's desk they pressed upon it, and
out fell the sum of two thousand guild
ers


"Zounds !'' cried the leader of the
robbers, ''now see you are an incom-
parable woman. [ will treat you for
this like duchess.


"And perhaps better still" she re-
piled, laughing, ''when l tell you one
thing more. | am we'll aware you have
spies who informed you of the absence
of my tyrant, but they did not tell you
of the four thousand guilders which he
received yesterday ?"


''Not syllable. Where are they ?"


"Oh, safe enough under half-a-dozen
locks and bolts. You would certainly
not have found them and the iron chest
had it not been for me. Come along,
comrades; we've finished up stairs, and
we'll soon see what's to be found below.
Come with me down into the cellar.


The robbers followed, but not without
precaution. At the entrance of the eel
lar, which was provided with a strong
trap door, a man was posted as sentinel.


The Baroness did not take the least
notice of this. She conducted the whole
troop to vault at the farther extremity
of the cellar She unlocked it, and in
the corner of this recess stood the chest
she had mentioned.


"Here," said she, giving the captain
bunch of keys, ''unlock it, and take
what you can as wedding gift, if you
can obtain the consent of your compan-
ions as readily as you have gained
mine.'


The robber tried one key, and ther
another, but none would fit. He grew
impatient, and the Baroness seemed still
more SO.


'Let me try them" said she; q
shall find the way sooner. Indeed, i
you don't make haste, the morning may
overtake us. Ha! the reason why nei
ther of us could unlock it, is because
have the wrong lot of keys. I'll obtail
another


She ran up stairs, and presently the,
heard her coming down but she wen
slowly, as if out of breath with the hast
she had made.


"Ive found them" cried she at dis
tance. She was within about thre
steps of the man placed at the entranc
of the cellar, when she made a spring a
the wretch, who as much expected dis
ooluClOH VI UHo WOIlu DIS SuCu dIl dUCdCk
A single push with all her strengt
tumbled him down stairs from top t
bottom. In twinkling she closed tn
trap door, bolted it, and thus had th
whole company secured in the cellar
This was the work of single momen
In the next she flew across the court
yard, and with the candle set fire to


detached pig sty. The watchmen in tn
neighboring village, perceiving tn


flames instantly gave the alarm. In
: minute the inhabitants were out of thei