St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-01

then there was Il slight rustic in the
room adjoining that in which | sat. Il
careful step, and as | turned my head
toward the half open door connecting
the two apartments, Il pair of sharp
grey eyes met mine.
do not think | started, but the eff
feet of that glance was like breath
| from the North pole; | shivered and
my hands grew cold as ice on that bright
June morning Mechanically. almost
unconsciouSly, | surveyed the intruder
ia stout form cOarsely clad. Il rough.
bearded face. an old cap pulled closely
down over the shaggy hair. and the
brown knotted hand on the door. fear
| fully suggestive of strength. oh that
neglected lock in the hall below. Why
had been So careless, What had be
come of cook and Bridget ? How could
/ those heavy boots have assembled the
stairs without my hearing them 7 What
should dO2 1t seemed to me that
had ample time for thinking of Il hun
dred things III that brief minute
''Nhat do you want 2" | asked.
trying to steady my voice, but it did
not sound natural, even to myself.
Don't trouble yourself. ma'am.
/ see what | came for, and can get at it
without much bother" was the cool re-
| ply.
/ Little bother. indeed! The accom-
| pllshing of his scheme would lie only
too easy.
Il am not alone can call for help
/ began. half rising as | spoke: but the
knowledge that there were only cook
and Bridget to answer the call. intimi-
dated me far more than nv suggestion
did him.
Its no use. You needn't he troub-
ling yourself. ma'nm; just sit still" he
responded in the same guarded tone aS
before: and | sank into my chair again
as if the words had been a most fear
ful menace. iii help myself to what
| want. and he disappeared from the
door.
Ii was n relief not to see him. even
though | knew he was so near. But in
a moment the dark face was thrust for
ward again with ominous remark ''l'll
make clean job of it. and he sure Ia
leave no tracks, ma am SO ,vou needn't
he thinking of that
Ii seemed useless to he thinking of
anything: Int could not help my
thoughts. and remembered with una
vailing chagrim. my watch and chain
left thoughtlessly exposed upon tot
let-tahlc Il roll of bills sent me the day
before as treasurer of benevolent So
cicty. dropped loosely int" a bureau
drawer: and various valuable pns>css-
ions of Thaddcus's and nv own living
III temptingly convenient places. There
was little doubt that our burglariou>
IL L.. 4.
as he had said. | heard him moving
cautiously about. rolling n chair ont of
his way. and an occasional rattle of
some steel or iron implements knock
ing against each other. | was sure
from the sounds that he had commcnc-
ed in one corner where n small sccreta-
ry of Thaddcus's was standing. Ii was
locked. hut that would make no differ
cnrc. \ slight noise as of hammering
and boring reached me. and | wonder
ed grimly that he hadn't demanded the
keys. since he had been 81 kind as To
assure me that he would leave no
/ tracks.
just then a sudden thought made my
heart stand still in terror. What had
that vague threat meant NO otracks -
no clue 10y which he could he discover
ed and brought to punishment Was
. ii probable. then. that he would depart
/ with his booty. leaving me unharmed
and free To give information. when |
had seen his face 81 fully. and had So
fair an opportunity to examine both his
dress and features For the first time
my vague dread and alarm took def
mite form a> | cumprchended that some
thing worse than robbery might hctall
my very life WAS in danger.
glanced about the room with the
eagerneSs of desperation during those
slow moving minutes. No weapon.
nothing that could he made available
as one. was in sight. Even Thaddeus'S
revolver had been haniShcd from the
| apartment. lest the fearful thing should
lire itself off in some unlookcd-for way.
All the grouIdlcSs fears of our hours
of security. into what real peril do they
sometimes lead us. | WAS defcncclcSS.
helpless. The open window near me
overlooked only back yards /; the front
room. with all the busy life of the city
just below it. held the keen eyes and
murdcrous hands from which sought
to escape.
If | could but reach the street. On
! ~ IL lew dluS HUN Illt llItIt WIS al
door leading into an upper hall, and
once there | might descend the stairs
hut to reach it | must pass directly 10y
the open door of the adjoining room,
and risk detection from its occupant
There was no other hope and as the
clicking and grinding of his lawless
work fell again upon my ear, warning
that what did must he done speedily.
! I Il Il, .
might he no sound, not the faintest
rustic of my dress. paused for an in
stant. glanced ut my tiny, sleeping
Blossom, and longcd to snatch her in
my arms and take her with me. Bat
dared not lest her awakening cry should
betray my movement; so | did what
only Il woman would have thought OF
doing at such stopped and
kissed the little sleeper, then nerved
myself for the effort. Cautiously, 81
lently, vet with my heart heating 81
loudly that it seemed as if the whole
town might hear, made my way to-
ward the hall, crossed the open space
before the door without once turning
my head could not summon courage
to look in that direction, even to dis
cover if | were watched-and 40 reach
ed the stairway.
There was no stir- no sudden motion
of pursuit, and | began to descend.
Always before had thought those
stairs firmly built, and the carpet that
covered them thick and soft but that
day every step had Il voice of its own,
and creaked and groaned lis if it were
in league with the enemy. Yet
reached the street door safely. 1t was
locked. The man had evidently intend
u ed to nreXent intrusion from without.