Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-05-19
The Leisure Hour.
OTR RTRG L.1RS.

| was in the middle of Il troubled dream
about the price of gold when Efie gave me
little pinch and woke me.
"Do you hear that noiseP'
"What noise? Where?'
"I think somebody is trying to open
window"
raised my head in the attitude of lis
tener for a moment, out of mere politeness.
Nonsense it IS rats you know the
house is full of them. Or, 1t may be the
wind rattling the easement. 1t would be
convenience my dear, ifI could be allowed
to sleep through one night without being
disturbed by thieves and hobgobbins."
spoke rapidly, and in no very gentle
tone. am not cross man. | repeat the
assertion with emphasis. | am onlya little
inclined to dyspepsia at times, and my
business affairs were just then all in mud
die.
Our house was an old fashioned castle of
building, which stood in the centre of a
half-acre lot. 1t was in the very heart OF
the fastest city on this continent The
grounds were filled with flowers and shrub
berry, and peas, and pumpkin vines, and
cucumbers. on every side of the old man
sion were verandas and side entrances,
and low windows, which mu st have looked
inviting to the light-fingered fraternity.
NV wife had suggested to me once or twice
that the fastenings on both doors and win
dows were time-worn and insecure, and L
had responded by promising to hire
| tinker by the day. l never wanted to have
her think much about such things, par
| ticularly when she ought to be getting her
| rest because it left white circles around her
| pretty eyes.
/ was having some such thoughts when
| there came vivid flash of lightning, fol-
| lowed by clap of thunder which set the
house auivering on its foundation. At the
| same instant my weli-toned ears caUeSt
| another sound like the breaking of pane
| of glass. | sprang out of bed and peered
through the half-closed shutter into the
ward below. 1t was pitch dark, and / Of
| course saw nothing. \ few rain-drops
spattered in my face. | hit my head
against the gas-burner as | turned to 60 to
the other window.
"What is the matter?" asked Fife in Il
sleepy voice.
"That is what l am trying to find out
"Don't bother yourself, Cynic; I pre-
sumo it is mouse in cologne bottle, or a
cat in the chimney
Another flash of lightning revealed to my
astonshed vision the figure of man dart
ing under the barberry bush.
"Efle! Eflie give me my pistol, quick T.
Alas it was in the bottom Of trunk in
the attic, and the key was on ring with
seventeen other keys in box in the china
closet in the dining-ro Fife has an
opinion of her own about having place
for everything, and keeping everything in
its place. Just then there came loud ner-
vous knocking at our chamb door.
opened it promptly, and found our cook,
Lizzie, outside, in a state of mortal terror.
She screamed her information. All the
burglars on the block must have heard
what she said. Her room was in the wing
on the ground floor. Her window opened
on a veranda When she awoke, n man
was just in the act of stepping aside. She
started to fly from the room, and he made
a quick movement as if to catch hold o
her. She escaped him, but in the passage
by the laundry she passed another window
at which man was at work trying to open
$50 there are two of them?" exclaimed
Enie.
"Three! | saw one myself on this side o
the house at the same moment" replied.
"Are you sure, Cynic2 You know Fid,
is often hopping about the yard
"Halloa, what's all this p cried my wife
brother Jerry, who occupied the room
with the arched ceiling on the opposite sid
of the hall from our own.
burglars r. / responded. "Come dow
with us and help chase them out"
"Have you pistolsH"
"Yes, but not at hand. We can pelt then
with chairs and crockery."
~ am your man."
He lighted his gas and so did / mine
We dressed ourselves and went for Hill
dragon who slept in the wing directly owe
the cooks room.
A., Ofcourse the rascals had had plenty O
time to make their wills and take journe
to Salt Lake, while we were preparing fo
battle. We went down stairs and foun
the coast clear. They had been ther,
though, that was plain enough the faster
I, ing of Lizzie's window had been cut with
very sharp instrument and one of my hill
of beans had been robbed of its pole
Is, make support for the sash. The fellow
tracks were on the carpet. The shutter ha
been taken from the window in the pa
sage, and the fastening broken. One of Il
panes of glass in the great north outer do'
Il" had been broken, and mans hand slippC
back the bolts.
We were safe, however, and so was
considerable sum of money which l hi
brought home with me, because | was Il
late for the bank.
We did. not sleep any more that nigl
A During the next and following days '
discussed the subject pretty efiectuall
Ellie recommended new locks and faste
ings, but was of the opinion that shou
ass be doing the community good service
% picking oil n regiment or two OF hous
breakers. exhumed my pistol loaded
and kept il under my pillow. l boug
the one for Hilldragon, and gave him sol
private instructions in respect to its use.
sh' provided Jerry with n sword-cane Il
. once belonged to my grandfather. and l.