Year: 1872

from their homes. Only now anu GneH
a solitary traveller was to be seen. These,
business had driven forth; and they
walked with rapid steps, anxious to
again get under shelter.


In vine wreathed cottage on a flow
er sprinkled lawn the supper had been
waiting over an hour for the master of
the house, whose business had necessita-
ted his being absent from home all day.
Mr.. Jacobs was the tax collector of the
township, and consequently could not
wait the return of pleasant weather be-
fore pursuing his journey. Therefore
he had equipped himself in his India
rubber garment in the morning and had
gone about his business, leaving his wife
the promise of an early return in the
evening, but the supper hour had come
and gone without his making an appear
ance. Mrs. Jacobs, however, was not
anxious as yet. Such delays were too
frequent to cause this one to give her
any uneasiness of mind.


She disrobed her two little ones, and
put them to bed, and when the nj ght
shadows turned into an inky. blackness
she seated herself by the lamp and be-
gan to sew, still the supper table spread,
and the food on the stove keeping warm
for the return of her husband. But the
little clock on the mantle shelf had told
the hour of ten before his step was heard
at the door, He came in hurriedly, and
strobe to a seat without removing his
dripping outer garments or his muddy
boots.


"Was detained. Am in awful hurry.
Going to Winchester tonight" t." driving
his hand into a pocket Of his inner coat,
and glancing anxiously around the room.


''To Winchester !'' repeated his wife
in dismay. Twenty miles in the storm. y


Cant be helped" he returned .
Business is business, you know


He removed his hand from his pocket,
and took off his hat, and brushing back
his hair, revealing the rather handsome
face of a light complexioned middle
aged man. He had large gray eyes, but
they wore an anxious expression and
their glance wandered restlessly about
the department.


Jane" he said suddenly, again div
ing his hand into the troublesome pock.
ct, ''do you suppose you could take care
of large sum of money till tomorrow. .


"Why, YES" she answered, looking W
in surprise.


II have collected five thousand dol
lars" he continued, land it is too latt
to get into the bank, and | do not care
to carry so much with me-


"Well you can leave it here as well as
not. Not one would think of my hav
ing such sum of money"
He drew large wallet from his pock
ct and placed it in her hands.


1T belongs to the Government, anc
if you let it raise from your hands l an
ruined" he commented. And he arost
as if to depart.


"You are going to eat some supper 2
she inquired.


'No. [ have no time to lose. | mus
make Winchester by midnight. Good
bye. Take care of the money, and fast
en- all the DOORS


He gave her hurried kiss, and tn
next moment he was gone.


But the sound of his footsteps hat
scarcely died away before Mrs. Jacob
began to feel a strange fear creepin
over her. Why it was she knew not
She had lived there seven years an
slept in the house many night withou
the door being shut. Now they wer
locked and bolted, she could not thin
of going to bed. She was likewise to
nervous to work. She put the money i
her dress pocket, and clasping both tight
ly in her hands, she sat very still, gas
ing anxiously into nothingness, and lii
tening so intently that silence became
fearful mingling of discordant sounds i
her ears.


An hour passed 1t had been an az
to her.


Il am glad that am not rich," 81
whispered as the clock struck eleven
''What task it must be to watch one
gold p


I Presently she heard sound. 1t w
not the rain, for there was lull in Il
storm. 1t could not be neighbor f
she lived in the outskirts of the villag
several blocks from any one, and she W
not likely to be called in cases of sic
ness.


Again she heard it. 1t seemed as


a window sash was being slowly raise


Strange that she could have forgotten


fasten them down


"Why didn't John leave me his


volver % she mused, 81 have nothi


with which to protect myself in case tt
8 [ should be molested tonight. 1t v


really an oversight in him p


Again she heard the sound. 1t seen


to come from the bedroom 1t v


purely the raising of sash. II


there was the sound of movement