Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-04-17

II 10 al tutTc, CTleu L dlInOu1n knew
nothing about it; ''all except fifteen and six
pence in my purse, on the dressing table yon
der. There's silver mustard pots in the pan
try, and a couple of candlesticks in the study
only they are plated, for would not deceiv,
you, sir, on any account.
''Y Ou had better not, observed the burglar
grimly, ''or it viii be all the worse fol
you"
He produced key like that my husband
used, and approached the ion safe but al
he did so, his guilty ear caught the sound o
footstep upon the stairs.
"Who is that?' cried he.
My husband, sir" returned but pray
don't hurt him
''Is he not gone to town, then ?'' cried the
ruffan, with an oath of disappointment
''He is going at twelve O'Clock, replied L:
"he is indeed"
elf you tell him, woman, said the burg
lar hoarsely, eff you breathe but one word
! of my presence here. it will be the death
doom Of you both" He then slipped into
the alcoye, and drew back the bed to its
! place again in an instant.
Ny husband entered Immediately after
ward, and even while he was in the room |
heard the awful threat repeated once again
| through the thick curtain behind nc
''If you do whisper it, woman,l will kill you
where you lie. VIII You promise not to tell
/ him p
Il will, " said /, solemnly; II promise not
to open my lips at all about the MATTER
Frank leaned over the pillow TO kiss me,
and observed how terrified looked.
.'You have been frightening yourself about
robbers again, suppose, You silly child"
- Not !, Frank, " returned |, as cheerfully
a. | could u have a little headache =
But said with my fingers, so that he could
plainly read il in the freight, & For Gods
sake, hush there is man behind the bed
stead ~
Frank was bold as lion, and had nerves
like iron, although he waa 50 tender-hearted
and kind. He only answered
Where is your sal volatile. dearest ?"
and went TO the mantel-piece to get it. |
thought he never could have understood me,
he spoke with such co0lness and unc0ncern,
until saw his fingers reply, as he took up
the bottle, All right, don't be afraid -
And then | was not afraid, or at least not
much fer knew | should not be left alone
one instant and thought my Frank was
match for any two such men in such a case.
Only he had no weapon.
- He has a life-preseryer,' said /, with
nay fingers.
Your fire is getting rather low, Geor-
gle observed he, as he took up the poker.
(Ah he had a weapon, then } Il must
leave you good blaze to comfort You before
60"
He poked the fire and left the poker in,
without ever taking his eyes off me and the
bedstead
Il will Just ring the bell, and see whether
Thomas has got the portmanteau ready. !
Mary" continued he to the maid who an
swered the bell, send Thomas up Then |
when she had gone upon that errand, &" By |
Juye never gave him that key. Where Is |
1T, Csorgie? | have not minute to spare. !
II it Is in your dressingcasc with the rest. | |
shall be an age looking for it. Might | ask |
you to get out of bed for an instant, and |
show me where it is?' He said with his |
fingers, Jump" and l jumped, YOU may |
be sure, quick enough and was inside the |
dressing-room, with tho door locked, in half |
a second.
Come in, Thomas, said Frank, " come
in. " for Thomas was modestly hesitating at |
the chamber door. {" There's some black
guard got into the house, and behind my bed |
there. If he makes the least resistance, III |
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 az ashes, en-
erged from his hiding place Frank knew |
him at once as having been bank messen |
ger. who had been turned out Of his situa-
tion since the fire, on suspicion of dishoncs-
tY.
"Oh, sir, have pity upon me. cried he.
- am an unlucky dog. fit had not been
for a sneeze I should have had ten thousand |
pounds in my pocket by this time.
con You came after that. did you2''
said my husband coolly. Well, please to |
give up that life-preseryer which you have in
your pocket before We have any more CONVEX
sation.
And did your lady tell You that, too?"
cried the villain, in accents Of astonlsment,
as he delivered up the weapon to the man
servant - and yet l stood by her yonder.
and never heard her utter a single syllable.
" | never spoke a word, cried |, through
ths dressing-room key hole, for did not wish
the man 10 think that had broken my oath,
nor, to say the truth, vas ! anxious to make
a deadly enemy Of him in case no should ever
be at large again.
8. Then it's a Judgment upon me - ex-
claimed the miserable wretch ~ and it's no
good for me to fight against it y
.. It's not the least good, replied Frank,
decisiyely q and We'll 60 to the police Of
fee at once"
So off went the burglar in their custody,
leaving me safe and sound, after all. And
now don't you think there's some use in
learning everything, even 50 small a thing as
the deaf and dumb alphabet?