Year: 1876

that she feared him. ......-. -:


"I have that honor" she said, coolly; "who
are you, and what do you want ?"


81 trust you will excuse me if l neglect to
introduce myself" said the man, with much
courtesy. "As for business, am quite happy
to inform you about that want the eight
thousand dollars that the judge brought from
Ridgeby last night. and depend on you to
point it out to me"


The indignant blood rushed to Margarets
face, as she answered him sharply:


II will die before will do as you ask p


"You shall have your choice!


He produced pistol, which he cooked de-
liberately, and pointed it at her head.


"Show me where the tin is, or l will blow
your brains out."


Like lightning varied train Of thought
passed through the head of the girl. In that
one instant of time she thought of a score of
plans to evade the rascal, and, as soon as en-
tertained, discarded them as impracticable.


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


For a moment she thought of risking eve
rythiug to escape by the outer door, and,
trusting to the darkness and her knowledge
of the way, to attempt to reach Mr.. Turner's
protection.


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


"No, my beauty, you can't play that game
on me" he said, with sardonic smile. "And
now I'll give you just three minutes to decide
what you'll do. If you show me where the
money is, I swear not to harm you if you
refuse, swear to kill you, and trust to luck
for finding it without your help"


He took out his watch, and stood regard
ing it and Margaret, alternately. AS she
stood there, faint and giddy with fear, new
idea penetrated her brain, and she was just
in that state of desperation which stops at no
sacrifice, however great. Come life or death,
she must save the money for which her
friends had toiled so long and earnestly, and
the loss of which would involve them in ruin.
And she thought she saw way to it, though
it would compass her destruction.


"You may put up your pistol" she said,
calmly. ri will show you where the money
is concealed"


"That's sensible, my dear. It's not often
that sense and a. pretty face 60 together. But
you are an exception. Come, be lively.


She took candle from the table, selected
one of bunch of keys from basket hang.
ing on the wall, and bade him follow her.
She led him up stairs to the door of the closet,
applied the key, and opening the door, point
ed to black box in the corner Of the closet.
She stepped back for him to enter, but he
seized her by the wrist and pulled her along
with him.


II know your game" said he; "you would
get me into that close hole, and then lock the
door on me. Take out that key and fling it
down stairs, and then come in with me. l
shan't eat you" ....


She obeyed him literally, and as they stood
together in the sitting place, which was scarce
ly large enough to contain them, Margaret,
with hand which the man had left free,
seized on the door and pulled it to. 1t shut
with sharp click-shut and locked at the
Same time. r'-'7--r'a-cs


A fierce oath burst from the lips of the
burglar. "What do you mean ?" cried he.
"Hell and furies! shall sufocate! Open
the door, or I will shoot youp ..-.


"Do as you please" said Margaret, defiant
ly. "The door has spring lock, and can
only be opened on the outside, and unless
some one comes to release US, we shall remain
here until we die, which will be only few
hours at the most"


"You she-devil, why did you do this? he
demanded, hoarse with rage. "Don't you
know that you will die, too ?"


Certainly; but prefer death to the ruin
of my best friends. If we die here-and we
shall without doubt-the money will be
saved"


The oaths and threats and curses of the
man were fearful, but Margaret felt no fear.
Something above and beyond herself sustained
her, and she was happy in the consciousness
that her life would purchase the old home for
her kind benefactor.


The close, torpid air weighed upon her like
lead Already had the wretch, who was her
companion, sunk stupe6ed to the floor. All
her past life came up before her-she remem-
bered things long forgotten-she saw faces
dead and buried-she heard voices mute be-
meath the grave clods, and then life and sense
faded, and she knew no more.


Judge Wallace found his sister better, but
the storm coming on, it was deemed better to
remain all night, and early next morning set
out for home, accompanied by his wife,


Arriving in sight of the house, he was sur
prised to see the shutters still closed, and the
chimney giving out no smoke Of welcome.
At the gate young man was tying horse,
and the Judge exclaimed to his wife:


"Bless my soul, Annie! that's Algernon.
There's no mistaking him. He's home a
month earlier than we expected him. But l
greatly fear there's something amiss with
Magl She's an early riser, and the shutters
are yet closed"


He whipped up his horse, and soon had his
long absent son by the hand. The first warm
greeting over, the judge raped at the fast
ened door, but eliciting no response, his alarm
increased, and after shouting for Margaret at
the top of his voice and receiving no reply,
with Algernon's help he burst open the door
and entered the kitchen. .-.


All was as she had left it the night before,
and the black brands covered the hearth the
chamber door stood suggestively open. Faith
er and son ascended the stairs, and half way
up the judge stumbled over the key Of the
oak closet.


"Good heavens" he exclaimed "the key
to the closet where left the money! great
ly fear that something has befallen Mar
garet!'


He found the closet door locked, and to
their repeated knocking there came no re-
sponse from within.


Algernon applied the key, and the open
door revealed fearful sight. With fright
fully distorted, purple face, the robber lay on
the floor, stone dead, and little removed
from him. male and uniet lay Margaret. Al