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Speaker 1: Midnight in Beauchampbreau by Anna Catherine Green. It was the

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last house in Beauchampbreau, and it stood several rods away

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from its nearest neighbor. It was a pretty house in

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the daytime, but owing to its deep sloping roof and

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small be diamond windows, it had a lonesome nook at night,

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nonwithstanding the crimson hall light which shone through the leaves

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of its vine covered doorway. Ned Chivers lived in it

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with his six months married bride, and as he was

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both a busy fellow and a gay one, there were

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many evenings when pretty Lady Shiver sat alone until near midnight.

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She was of an uncomplaining spirit, however, and said little,

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though there were times when both the day and evening

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seemed very long, and married life not altogether the paradise

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she had expected. On this evening a memorable evening for her,

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the twenty fourth of December eighteen ninety four, she had

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expected her husband to remain with her, for it was

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not only Christmas Eve, but the night when, as manager

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of a large manufacturing concern, he brought up from New

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York the money with which to pay off the men.

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On the next working day, and he never left her

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when there was any unusual amount of money in the house.

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But from the first glimpse she had of him coming

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up the road, she knew she was to be disappointed

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in this hope and indignant. Alarmed almost at the prospect

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of a lonesome evening under these circumstances, She ran hastily

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down to the gate to meet him, crying, oh Nette,

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you look so troubled. I know you have only come

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home for hurried supper, but you cannot leave me to night. Kenny,

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their only maid has gone for a holiday, and I

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never can stay in this house alone with all that.

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She pointed to the small bag he carried, which, as

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she knew, was filled to bursting with banknotes. He certainly

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looked troubled. It is hard to resist the entreaty in

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a young bright's uplifted face. But this time he could

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not help himself, and he said, I am dreadful sorry,

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but I must ride over to Fairbanks to night. Mister

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Pearson has given me an imperative order to conclude a

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matter of business there, and it is very important that

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it should be done. I should lose my position if

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I neglect this matter, and no one but housebroken soft

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for knows that we keep the money in the house.

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I have always given hour that I entrusted to Hale's

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safe overnight. But I cannot stand it, she persisted, you

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have never left me on these nights. That is why

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I let Tenny go. I will spend the evening at

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the larches, or Petter still call in. Mister and missus

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talkin to keep me company. But her husband did not

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approve of her going out or of her having company.

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The largest was too far away, and as for mister

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and Missus Talcott, they were meddlesome people whom he had

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never liked. Besides, Missus Talcott was delicate, and the night

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threatened storm. It seemed hard to subject her to this ordeal,

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and he showed that he thought so by his manner.

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But as circumstances were, she would have to stay alone,

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and he only hoped she would be brave and go

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to bed like a good girl and think nothing about

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the money, which she would take care to put away

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in a very safe place, or said he kissing her

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downcast face. Perhaps you would rather hide it yourself. Women

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always have curious ideas about such things. Yes, let me

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hide it she murmured, the money, I mean, not the bag.

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Everyone knows the bag. I should never dare to leave

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it in that, and begging him to unlock it, she

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began to empty it with a feverish haste that rather

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alarmed him, for he surveyed her anxiously and shook his

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head as if he dreaded the effects of dis excitement

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upon her. But as he saw no way of averting it,

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he confined himself to using such soothing words as were

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at his command, and then, humoring her weakness, helped her

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to arrange the bills in the place she had chosen,

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and restuffing the bag with old receipts till it acquired

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its former dimensions, he put a few bills on top

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to make the whole look natural, and, laughing at her

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white face, relocked the bag and put the key back

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in his pocket. There dear a notable scheme, and one nutured.

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Relieve your mind entirely, he cried. If anyone should attend

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burglary in my absence and should succeed in getting into

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a as safely locked as this will be when I

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leave it, then trust to their being satisfied when they

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see this booty which I shall hide. Weear always hide

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it in the cupboard above my desk. And when will

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you be back, she murmured, trembling in spite of herself

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at these preparations. By one o'clock, if possible, certainly by two,

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and our neighbors go to bitter tend, she murmured. But

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the words were low, and she was glad he did

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not hear them, for if it was his duty to

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obey the orders he had received, then it was her

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duty to meet the position in which it left her

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as bravely as she could. At supper, she was so

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natural that his face rapidly brightened, and it was with

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quite an air of cheerfulness that he rose at last

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to lock up the house and make such preparations as

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were necessary for his dismal ride over the mountains to Fairbanks.

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She had the supper dishes to wash up in Tinny's absence,

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and as she was a busy little housewife, she found

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herself singing a snatch of a song as she passed

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back and forth from dining room to kitchen. He heard it, too,

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and smiled to himself as he bolted the windows on

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the ground floor and examined the locks of the three

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lower doors, and when he finally came into the kitchen

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with his great coat on to give her his final kiss,

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he had but one parting injunction to urge, and that

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was that she should lock the front door after him,

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and then forget the whole matter till she heard his

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double knock at midnight. She smiled and held up her

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ingenious face. Be careful of yourself, she murmured, I hate

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this dark right for you, and on such a night too,

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and she ran with him to the door to look out.

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It is certainly very dark, he responded, but I am

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to have one of Brown's safest horses. Do not worry

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about me. I shall do well enough, and so will

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you too, Or you are not the plucky little woman

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I have always thought you. She laughed, but there was

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a choking sound in her voice that made him look

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at her again. But at sight of his anxiety, she

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recovered herself, and, pointing to the clouds, said earnestly, it's

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going to snow. Be careful as you ride by the gorge.

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Ned it's very deceptive there in a snow storm. But

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he vowed that it would not snow before morning, and

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given her one final embrace, he dashed down the path

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towards Brown's livery stable. Oh what is the matter with me?

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She murmured to herself, as his steps died out in

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the distance. I never knew I was such a coward,

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And she paused for a moment, looking up and down

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the road, as if in spite of her husband's command.

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She had the desperate idea of running away to some neighbor,

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but she was too loyal for that, and smothering as sight,

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she retreated into the house. As she did so, the

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first flakes fell off the storm that was not to

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have come till morning. It took her an hour to

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get to her kitchen in order, and nine o'clock struck

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before she was ready to sit down. She had been

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so busy she had not noticed how the wind had increased,

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or how rapidly the snow was falling. But when she

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went to the front door for another glance up and

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down the road, she started back, appalled at the fierceness

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of the gale and at the great pile of snow

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that had already accumulated on the doorstep. Too delicate to

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breast such a wind, She saw herself robbed of her

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last hope of any companionship, and sighing heavily, she locked

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and bolted the door for the night and went back

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into her little sitting room, where a great fire was burning.

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Here she sat down and determined now that she must

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pass the evening alone, to do it as cheerfully as possible,

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and so began to sew. Oh what a Christmas Eve,

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she thought, and a picture of other homes rose before

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her eyes, homes in which husband sat by wives, and

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brothers by sisters, And a great wave of regret poured

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over her, and a longing for something she hardly dared

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say it, what lest her unhappiness should acquire a sting

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that would leave traces beyond the passing moment. The room

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in which she sat was the only one on the

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ground floor except the dining room and kitchen. It was

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therefore used both as parlor and sitting room, and held

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not only her peace but her husband's desk. Communicating with

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it was the tiny dining room. Between the two, however,

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was an entry leading to a side entrance. A lamp

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was in this entry, and she had left it burning,

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as well as the one in the kitchen, that the

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house might look cheerful and as if all the family

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were at home. She was looking toward this entry and

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wondering whether it was the mist made by her tears

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that made it look so dismally dark to her, when

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there came a faint sound from the door at its

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furthest end. But no further sound came from that direction,

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and after a few minutes of silent terror, she was

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allowing herself to believe that she had been deceived by

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her fears, when she suddenly heard the same sound at

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the kitchen door, followed by a muffled knock. Frightened, now

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in good earnest by still alive to the fact that

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the intruder was as likely to be a friend as

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a foe, she stepped to the door, and, with her

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hand on the lock, stooped and asked boldly enough who

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was there. But she received no answer, and, more affected

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by this unexpected silence than by the knock she had heard,

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she recoiled father and father till not only the width

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of the kitchen but the dining room also lay between

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her and the scene of her alarm, When, to her

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utter confusion, the noise shifted again to the side of

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the house, and the door, she thought so securely fastened,

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flung violently open, as if blown in by a fierce gust,

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and she saw precipitated into the entry the burly figure

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of a man, covered with snow and shaking with the

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violence of the storm that seemed at once to fill

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the house. Her first thought was that it was her husband,

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come back. But before she could clear her eyes from

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the cloud of snow which had entered with him, he

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had thrown off his outer covering, and she found herself

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face to face with a man in whose powerful frame

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and cynical visage she saw little to comfort her, and

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much to surprise and alarm. Boog was his coarse and

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rather familiar greeting, A hard night, missus enough to drive

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any man indoors. Pardon the liberty, but I couldn't wait

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for you to lift the latch. The wind drove me

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right in. Was was not the door locked, she feebly asked,

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thinking he must have staved it in with his foot

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that looked only too well fitted for such a task.

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Not much, he chuckled. I suppose you to hospital for that,

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and his eyes passed from her face to the comfortable

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fire light shining through the sea is it refuge you want,

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she demanded, suppressing as much as possible all signs of fear. Sure, missus,

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what else? A man can't live in a gale like that,

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specially after a tramp of twenty miles or more? Shall

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I shut the door for you? He asked, with a

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mixture of pravado and good nature that frightened her more

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and more. I will shudder, she replied, with half a

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notion of escaping the sinister stranger by a flight through

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the night, But one glance into the swirling snowstorm deterred her, and,

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making the best of the alarming situation, she closed the door,

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but did not lock it, being more afraid now of

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what was inside the house than of anything left to

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threaten her from without. The man, whose clothes were dripping

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with water, watched her with a cynical smile, and then,

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without any invitation, entered the dining room, crossed it, and

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moved toward the kitchen fire. Uugh, uugh, but it's warm here,

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he cried, his nostrils dilating with an animal like enjoyment

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that in itself was repugnant to her womanly delicacies. Do

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you know, missus, I shall have to stay here all night.

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Can't go out in that gale again. Not such a fool. Then,

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with a sly look at her trembling form and white face,

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he insinulatingly added, all alone, missus. The sudden ness with

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which this was put together, with the lead that accompanied it,

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made her start alone. Yes, but should she acknowledge it?

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Would it not be better to say that her husband

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was upstairs? The man, evidently thought a struggle going on

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in her mind for each other, buckle to himself and

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called out, quite boldly, never mind, missus, it's all right.

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Just give me a bit of cold meat and a

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cup of tea or something, and we'll be very comfortable together.

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You're a slender slip of a woman to be minding

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a house like this. I'll keep you company if you

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don't mind less twise than til the storm lets up

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a bit, which ain't likely for some hours to come.

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Rough night, missus, Rough night, I expect my husband at

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home any time, she hastened to say, and, thinking she

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saw a change in the man's countenance at this, she

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put on quite an air of sudden satisfaction and bounded

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00:15:44,519 --> 00:15:48,039
towards the front of the house. There, I think I

239
00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:53,559
hear him now, she cried. Her motive was to gain

240
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,200
time and, if possible, to obtain the opportunity of shifting

241
00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,799
the money from the place where she had first put

242
00:15:59,799 --> 00:16:04,879
it into another and safer one. I want to be able,

243
00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,879
she thought of, swearing, that I have no money with

244
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,519
me in this house. If I can only get it

245
00:16:11,559 --> 00:16:14,679
into my apron, I will drop it outside the door

246
00:16:14,759 --> 00:16:18,279
into the snow bank. It will be as safe there

247
00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,799
as in the bank it came from. And dashing into

248
00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,720
the sitting room, she made a feign of dragging down

249
00:16:24,759 --> 00:16:27,919
a shawl from a screen while she secretly filled her

250
00:16:27,919 --> 00:16:31,000
skirt with the bills, which had been put between some

251
00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:36,840
old pamphlets on the bookshelves. She could hear the man

252
00:16:36,879 --> 00:16:39,840
grumbling in the kitchen, but he did not follow her front,

253
00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,759
and taken advantage of the moment's respite from his non

254
00:16:43,799 --> 00:16:47,679
to encouraging presence, she unbarred the door and cheerfully called

255
00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:54,720
out her husband's name. The ruse was successful. She was

256
00:16:54,799 --> 00:16:57,720
able to fling the notes where the falling flakes would

257
00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,039
soon cover them from sight, and, feeling more courageous now

258
00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,200
that the money was out of the house, she went

259
00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:07,559
slowly back saying she had made a mistake and that

260
00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,960
it was the wind she had heard. The man gave

261
00:17:13,039 --> 00:17:16,599
a gruff but knowing guff all, and then resumed his

262
00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,920
watch over her, following her steps as she proceeded to

263
00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,359
set him out a meal with a persistency that reminded

264
00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,200
her of a tiger just on the point of springing.

265
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,359
But the inviting looks of deviance with which she was

266
00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,920
rapidly setting the table soon distracted his attention, and, allowing

267
00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,119
himself one grunt of satisfaction, he drew up a chair

268
00:17:38,799 --> 00:17:42,279
and set himself down to what to him was evidently

269
00:17:42,319 --> 00:17:49,440
a most savory repast. No beer, no ale, not not

270
00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,440
a soliday. Don't keep a bar, he growled, as his

271
00:17:53,519 --> 00:17:59,480
teeth closed on a huge hunk of bread. She shook

272
00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,920
her head, wishing she had a little cold poison bottled

273
00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:09,279
up in a tight looking jog. Nothing but tea, she smiled,

274
00:18:09,319 --> 00:18:12,279
astonished at her own ease of manner in the presence

275
00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:18,599
of this alarming guest. Then let's have that, he grumbled,

276
00:18:18,759 --> 00:18:21,759
taking the bow she handed him with an odd look

277
00:18:21,799 --> 00:18:24,319
that made her glad to retreat to the other side

278
00:18:24,319 --> 00:18:29,839
of the room. Just listen to the howling wind, he

279
00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,480
went on between the huge mouthfuls of bread and cheese

280
00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:37,640
with which he was gorging himself. But we are very comfortable,

281
00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:43,799
we two. We don't mind the storm doom. We shocked

282
00:18:43,799 --> 00:18:46,960
by his familiarity, and still more moved by the look

283
00:18:47,079 --> 00:18:51,440
of mingled inquiry and curiosity with which his eyes now

284
00:18:51,519 --> 00:18:55,359
began to wander over the walls and cupboards. She took

285
00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,359
an anxious step towards the side of the house, looking

286
00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,920
toward her neighbors, and lifting one of the shades, which

287
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,319
had all been religiously pulled down, She looked out a

288
00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:10,839
swirl of snowflakes alone confronted her. She could neither see

289
00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,759
her neighbors, nor could she be seen by them. A

290
00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:18,279
shout from her to them would not be heard. She

291
00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,079
was as completely isolated as if the house stood in

292
00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:26,880
the center of a desolated western plain. I have no

293
00:19:27,039 --> 00:19:29,440
trust but in God, she murmured as she came from

294
00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,960
the window, and nerved to meet her fate. She crossed

295
00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:39,920
through the kitchen. It was now half past ten, two

296
00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,839
hours and a half must elapse before her husband could

297
00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:48,880
possibly arrive. She set her teeth at the thought and

298
00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:55,599
walked resolutely into the room. Are you done, she asked,

299
00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,079
I am, ma'am he do you want me to wash

300
00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:06,839
the dishes? I can, and I will, And he actually

301
00:20:06,839 --> 00:20:09,279
carried his plate and cup to the sink, where he

302
00:20:09,319 --> 00:20:15,799
turned the water upon them with another loud guffaw. If

303
00:20:15,799 --> 00:20:18,559
only his fancy would take him into the pantry, she thought,

304
00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,160
I could shut and lock the door upon him and

305
00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:27,400
hold him prisoner till ned gets back. But his fancy

306
00:20:27,519 --> 00:20:30,200
ended its flight at the sink, and before her hopes

307
00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,559
had fully subsided, he was standing on the threshold of

308
00:20:33,599 --> 00:20:40,680
the sitting room door. It's pretty here, he exclaimed, allowing

309
00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,680
his eye to rove again over every hiding place within sight.

310
00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:50,319
I wonder now, he stopped. His glance had fallen on

311
00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:57,359
the cupboard over her husband's desk. Well, she asked, anxious

312
00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,920
to break the thread of his thought, which was only

313
00:21:00,079 --> 00:21:06,960
too plainly mirrored in his eager countenance. He started, dropped

314
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,440
his eyes and turning, looked at her with a momentary fierceness.

315
00:21:12,079 --> 00:21:15,000
But as she did not let her own glance well,

316
00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,000
but continued to look at him with what she meant

317
00:21:18,039 --> 00:21:21,200
for a smile on her pale lips, he subdued this

318
00:21:21,319 --> 00:21:26,240
outward manifestation of passion, and chuckling to hide his embarrassment,

319
00:21:26,839 --> 00:21:30,720
began backing into the entry, leering an evident enjoyment of

320
00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,839
the fears he caused with what she felt was a

321
00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:39,319
most horrible smile. Once in the hall, he hesitated, however,

322
00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:45,039
for a long time. Then he slowly went toward the

323
00:21:45,079 --> 00:21:49,279
garment he had dropped on entering, and stooping, drew from

324
00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:54,200
underneath its fold a wicked looking stick, giving a kick

325
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,559
to the coat, which sent it into a remote corner.

326
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,920
He bestowed upon her another smile, and still carrying the stick,

327
00:22:02,039 --> 00:22:09,119
went slowly and reluctantly away into the kitchen. Oh God,

328
00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:15,240
Almighty help me, was her prayer. There was nothing for

329
00:22:15,319 --> 00:22:19,519
her to do now but endure, so, throwing herself into

330
00:22:19,559 --> 00:22:21,920
a chair, she tried to calm the beating of her

331
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:26,119
heart and summon up courage for the struggle which she

332
00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,720
felt was before her. That he had come to rob

333
00:22:29,799 --> 00:22:32,720
and only waited to take her off her guard. She

334
00:22:32,759 --> 00:22:36,400
now felt, certain and rapidly running over in her mind

335
00:22:36,559 --> 00:22:40,160
all the expedients of self defense possible to one in

336
00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:44,279
her situation. She suddenly remembered the pistol which Ned kept

337
00:22:44,279 --> 00:22:48,119
in his desk. Oh, Why had she not thought of

338
00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:52,680
it before? Why had she let herself grow mad with terror,

339
00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,960
when here within reach of her hand lay such a

340
00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:00,160
means of self defense? With a feeling of joy. She

341
00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,759
had always hated pistols before, and scolded Ned when he

342
00:23:03,839 --> 00:23:07,480
bought this one. She started to her feet and slid

343
00:23:07,559 --> 00:23:11,119
her hand into the drawer, but it came back empty.

344
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:18,279
Ned had taken the weapon away with him for a moment,

345
00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,359
as search of the bitterest feeling she had ever experienced

346
00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,519
passed over her. Then she called reason to her aid,

347
00:23:24,599 --> 00:23:28,240
and was obliged to acknowledge that the act was but natural,

348
00:23:28,519 --> 00:23:31,240
and that from his standpoint, he was much more likely

349
00:23:31,279 --> 00:23:35,920
to need it than herself. But the disappointment coming so

350
00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,559
soon after hope unnerved her, and she sank back in

351
00:23:39,599 --> 00:23:46,039
her chair, giving herself up for lust. How long she

352
00:23:46,079 --> 00:23:48,720
sat there with her eyes on the door, through which

353
00:23:48,759 --> 00:23:52,880
she momentarily expected her assailant to reappear, she never knew.

354
00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,799
She was conscious only of a sort of apathy that

355
00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:01,799
made movement difficult, and even breathing a task. In vain,

356
00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,440
she tried to change her thoughts. In vain, she tried

357
00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,319
to follow her husband in fancy over the snow covered

358
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:13,680
roads and into the gorge of the mountains. Imagination felt her,

359
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:18,000
at this point do what she would. All was misty

360
00:24:18,039 --> 00:24:20,599
in her mind's eye, and she could not see that

361
00:24:20,759 --> 00:24:25,079
wandering image. There was blankness between his form and her,

362
00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:28,279
and no life or movement anywhere but here in the

363
00:24:28,319 --> 00:24:33,920
scene of her terror. Her eyes were on a strip

364
00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,240
of rug that covered the entry floor, and so strange

365
00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,960
was the condition of her mind that she found herself

366
00:24:40,079 --> 00:24:44,640
mechanically counting the tassels that finished its edge, growing wroth

367
00:24:44,759 --> 00:24:48,119
over one that was worn till she hated that sixth tassel,

368
00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,960
and mentally determined that if she ever outlived this night,

369
00:24:52,079 --> 00:24:57,640
she would strip them all off and be done with them.

370
00:24:57,759 --> 00:25:00,640
The wind had lessened, but the air had grow cooler,

371
00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,559
and the snow made a sharp sound where it struck

372
00:25:03,599 --> 00:25:07,200
the panes. She felt it falling, though she had cut

373
00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,960
off all view of it. It seemed to her that

374
00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,680
a paul was setting over the world, and that she

375
00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,240
would soon be smothered under its folds. Meanwhile, no sound

376
00:25:18,279 --> 00:25:21,240
came from the kitchen, only the dreadful sense of a

377
00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,960
doom creeping upon her, a sense that grew in intensity

378
00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,319
till she found herself watching for the shadow of that

379
00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,480
lifted stick on the wall of the entry, and almost

380
00:25:31,559 --> 00:25:34,799
imagined she saw the tip of it appearing, when without

381
00:25:34,839 --> 00:25:38,319
any premonition, that fatal side door again blew in and

382
00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,960
admitted another man of so threatening an aspect that she

383
00:25:42,039 --> 00:25:46,079
scumped instantly before him and forgot all her former fears

384
00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:51,720
in this new terror. The second intruder was a Negro

385
00:25:51,839 --> 00:25:55,279
of powerful frame and glowering aspect, and as he came

386
00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:59,000
forward and stood in the doorway, there was observable in

387
00:25:59,039 --> 00:26:03,119
his fears and deustpered countenance now attempt at the insinuation

388
00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,440
of the other, only a fearful resolution that made her

389
00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,359
feel like a puppet before him, and drove her almost

390
00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:19,160
without violition to her niece. Money is it money you want?

391
00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:23,160
Was a desperate greeting. If so, here's my purse, and

392
00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,720
here are my rings, and watch take them and go.

393
00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,039
But the stolid wretch did not even stretch out his hands.

394
00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,000
His eyes went behind her, and the mingled anxiety and

395
00:26:37,079 --> 00:26:40,440
resolve which he displayed would have cowed a stouter heart

396
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:46,799
and that of this poor woman. Keep the trash, he growled,

397
00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:52,519
I want the company's money. You've got it two thousand dollars.

398
00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,079
Show me where it is, that's all, and I want

399
00:26:56,079 --> 00:27:01,319
trouble you long after I close on it. But it's

400
00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:04,519
not in the house, she cried, I swear it is

401
00:27:04,599 --> 00:27:08,160
not in the house. Do you think mister Shivers would

402
00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,920
leave me here alone with two thousand dollars to guard?

403
00:27:14,079 --> 00:27:17,880
But the negro, swearing that she light, leaped into the room, and,

404
00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,359
tearing open the cupboard above her husband's desk, seized the

405
00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:27,319
bag from the corner where they had put it. He

406
00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,119
brought it in this he muttered, and tried to force

407
00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:34,000
the bag open, but finding this impossible, he took out

408
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,279
a heavy knife and cut a big hole in its side. Instantly,

409
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,880
they fell out the pile of old receipts with which

410
00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,920
they had stuffed it, And seeing these he stamped with

411
00:27:44,039 --> 00:27:48,079
rage and flinging them in one great handful at her

412
00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:52,599
rush to the drawers below, empty at them, and finding nothing,

413
00:27:52,960 --> 00:28:01,559
attacked the bookcase. The money somewhere here. Fool me, he yelled.

414
00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:04,920
I saw the spot your eyes lit on when I

415
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,759
first came into the room. Is it behind these books?

416
00:28:08,799 --> 00:28:12,240
He growled, pulling them out and throwing them helter skelter

417
00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,079
over the floor. Women is smart in the hiding business?

418
00:28:17,279 --> 00:28:22,799
Is it behind these books? I say they had been,

419
00:28:23,319 --> 00:28:26,319
or rather had been placed between the books, But she

420
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,480
had taken them away, as we know, And he soon

421
00:28:29,519 --> 00:28:32,240
began to realize that his search was bringing him nothing.

422
00:28:32,759 --> 00:28:36,559
For leaving the bookcase, he gave the books one kick, and,

423
00:28:36,599 --> 00:28:39,559
seizing her by the arm, shook her with a murderous

424
00:28:39,559 --> 00:28:45,799
glare on his strange and distorted features. Where's the money,

425
00:28:45,839 --> 00:28:52,519
he hissed, Tell me, or you're a goner. He raised

426
00:28:52,519 --> 00:28:56,720
his heavy fist. She crouched, and all seemed over. Then

427
00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,319
with a rush and a cry, a figure dashed between them,

428
00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,319
and he fell, struck down by the very stick she

429
00:29:03,359 --> 00:29:06,279
had so long been expecting to see fall upon her

430
00:29:06,319 --> 00:29:09,400
own head. The man who had been her terror for

431
00:29:09,519 --> 00:29:13,160
hours had, at the moment of need, acted as her protector.

432
00:29:16,319 --> 00:29:19,480
She must have fainted, but if so, her unconscious was

433
00:29:19,519 --> 00:29:23,799
but momentary, for when she again recognized her surroundings, she

434
00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:30,160
found the tramp still standing over her adversary. I hope

435
00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,440
you don't mind, ma'am, he said, with an air of umbleness.

436
00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,680
She certainly had not seen in him before. But I

437
00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:40,920
think the man's dead, and he stirred with his foot

438
00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:47,880
the heavy figure before him. Oh no, no, no, she cried,

439
00:29:49,119 --> 00:29:54,160
that would be too fearful. He's shocked, stunned. You cannot

440
00:29:54,200 --> 00:30:01,279
have killed him. But the tramp was persistent. I'm fraid

441
00:30:01,319 --> 00:30:05,319
I have, he said. I'd done it before, and it's

442
00:30:05,359 --> 00:30:09,039
been the same every time. But I couldn't see a

443
00:30:09,079 --> 00:30:12,599
man of that color frightening a lady like you. My

444
00:30:12,759 --> 00:30:16,319
supper was too warm in me, ma'am. Shall I throw

445
00:30:16,359 --> 00:30:22,720
him outside the house, yes, she said, and then no,

446
00:30:23,319 --> 00:30:27,319
let us first be sure there is no life in him. And,

447
00:30:27,599 --> 00:30:30,960
hardly knowing what she did, she stooped down and peered

448
00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:37,400
into the glassy eyes of the prostrate man. Suddenly she

449
00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:42,079
turned pale, No, not pale, but ghastly, and cowering back,

450
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,359
shook so that the tramp, into whose feature a certain

451
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,519
refinement had passed since he had acted as her protector,

452
00:30:50,279 --> 00:30:53,759
sought she had discovered life in those set orbs, and

453
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,599
was stooping down to make sure that this was so

454
00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:01,960
when he saw her suddenly lean forward and impetuously plunging

455
00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,799
her hand into the negro's throat, tear open the shirt

456
00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:13,920
and give one look at his bare breast. It was white.

457
00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,799
Oh God, oh God, she moaned, and lifting the head

458
00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:22,720
in her two hands, she gave the motionless features a

459
00:31:22,799 --> 00:31:29,599
long and searching look. Water. She cried, bring water, But

460
00:31:29,759 --> 00:31:33,519
before the now obedient tramp could respond, she had torn

461
00:31:33,599 --> 00:31:37,200
off the wooly wig, disfiguring the dead man's head, and

462
00:31:37,319 --> 00:31:40,720
seeing the blonde curls beneath, had uttered such a shriek

463
00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:43,839
that it rose above the gale and was heard by

464
00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:49,720
her distant neighbors. It was the head and hair of

465
00:31:49,759 --> 00:31:56,720
her husband. They found out afterwards that he had contemplated

466
00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:00,519
this stuff for months, that each at every precaution possibly

467
00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:04,400
to a successful issue, to this most daring undertaking had

468
00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,960
been made use of, and that but for the unexpected

469
00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,920
presence in the house of the tramp, he would doubtless

470
00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:14,039
have not only extorted the money from his wife, but

471
00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,000
have so covered up the deed by a plausible alibi

472
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:21,400
as to have retained her confidence and that of his employers.

473
00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:27,000
Whether the tramp killed him out of sympathy for the

474
00:32:27,079 --> 00:32:30,839
defenseless woman or enrage at being disappointed in his own

475
00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:36,200
plans has never been determined. Missus Shivers herself thinks he

476
00:32:36,359 --> 00:32:42,160
was actuated by a rude sort of gratitude, end of

477
00:32:42,279 --> 00:32:43,759
midnight in Beauchampbreaux