Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-05-16

ruillan with an oath of disappointment.
g he is going at twelve O'clock" replied I,
&c he is, indeed.
"lfyou tell him. said the burglar hoarsely,
:" II you breathe but one word of my presence
here, 1T will be the death doom of you both.''
He had slipped into the alcove, and drawn back
the bed to its place in an instant Ny husband
entered Immediately afterwards and even willie
he was in the room, heard the awful threat
repeated once again through the thick curtain
behind me &c you do but whisper il, woman,
will kill you where you lie. Will you swear
not to tell him ?''
&c will,'' said l solemny, ssI promise not to
open my lips about the matter"
Your Uncle Frank leaned over the pillow to
kiss me and observed how terrified looked
sc You have been frightening y yourself about
robbers again, | suppose, you silly child"
Not L, Frank,,' returned I, as checrfully
as | could; s'I have only little headache -
but l said with my fingers so that he could
plainly read in the fire-light-s For Gods
sake, hush; there is a man behind the bed
head.'
Your Uncle Frank was as bold as lion, and
had nerves like iron, although he was tender
hearted and kind. He only answered, &c W here
is your sal volatile, dearest 10 and went to the
mantle piece to get it. thought he could not
have understood me, he spoke with such cool
ness and unconcern, until | saw his fingers re-
ply as ne took the bottle, Z" All right don't be
afraid.'' And then L was not afraid, Dick, or
at least. not so much for knew that l should
not be left one instant in that room alone and
L felt that my Frank was match for any two
men in such a cause. Only he had no weapon.
ss He has little life preserver,'' (pisto) said
|, with my fingers.
&c Your fire is getting rather low, Georgey, -
observed he, as he took up the poker.
(Ah: he had weapon thenD e. must leave
you good blaze to comfort you before CO."
He poked the fire and left the BOXER in, but
without ever taking his eye off me and the
bed-head. 's will just ring the bell and see
whether Thomas has got the portmanteau
ready" &c Mary" continued he to the maid
that answered the bell, &C send Thomas up.''
Then. when she had gone upon that errand =
.t BY Jove! never gave him that key where
is 1t, Georgey l have not minute to lose ::
if it is in your dressing case with the rest
there l shall be an age in looking for it.
Might l ask you to get out of bed an instant
and show me which it is ?'' He SAID with his
fingers, Jump!'' and 1 jumped, you may be
sure, Dickey, quickly enough, and was inside
the dressing-room, and with the door locked,
in half second.
s.Come in, Thomas - said your uncle; tecome
in ~ for Thomas was modestly. hesitating at
the chamber door; g. there's some blackguard
got into the house and behind my bed there
if he makes the least resistance, I'll kill him
with this hot poker"
AT these words the bed was pushed slowly
outward, and the burglar, without his Grape
mask, and with face as pale as ashes emerged
from his hiding place. Your Uncle Frank
knew him at once, as having been bank mes
senger, who had been turned out of his situa-
tion since the fire, upon suspicion of dishon-
esty.
go, sir, have pity upon me-" cried he; es 1
am an unlucky dog. If it had not been for
sneeze, should have had ten thousand pounds
in my pocket by this time.''
go, you came after that, did you 20 said my
husband, coolly. g Veil, please to give up that
lite-preservcr which you have in your pocket
before we have any more Conversations
90 And did your lady tell you that, too ?''
cried the villain, in accents of astonshment, as
he delivered up the weapon to the man servant;
90 and yet l stood by her yonder, and never
heard her utter a syIlable.''
&C l never spoke one word,'' cried I, through
the dressing -room-key- hole, for did not wish
the man to think that l had broken my oath
nor, to say the truth, was anxious TO make a
deadly enemy of him, in case he should be ever
at large again.
" Then it's judgment en- me-" exclaimed
the miserable wretch, ss and it's no good for
me to fight against it.''
:s It's not the least good" replied your uncle
Frank ,decisively, ''and we will go to the police
Office at once.''
So off the burglar went in their custody
leaving poor Aunt Georgy safe and sound af
ter all. And now, don't you think there may
be some use in learning everything, even so
small thing as a deaf and dumb alphabet,
Dickey2
{" Sometimes replied the small boy, cauti-
ously, not wishing to commit himself to the
general question.
&c 1t actually saved my life, you see,'' con-
tnued the old lady and I didn't break my
promise, either; did /, Dickey? l said |
wouldn't speak a word, and didn't; for what
did was what call speech without words.''