The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-15

"If it amt nine o'clock-bed time"
"Why, so it is. Uncle Dick, your
room is down stairs, the south bedroom,
said Bell.
"Yes, and no fear Of burglars now"
said Ralph, who, during the evening had
told his Uncle Dick about his father hav-
ing six thousand dollars in the house.
Father keeps it in his study. The
man that he owes it to is coming after il
tomorrow, he had said.
1t was midnight Ralph, who had been
strangely sleepless for ore who usually
slept so sound, lay in his bed, listening
to the twelve twanging strokes of the
clock down stairs. The wind whstled
mournfully around the corner of the
house, and Ralph was wondering if the
storm had ceased and thinking of his
father being at the depot waiting for his
uncle Dick when suddenly his curiosity
was aroused by far off, faint noise. He
listened intently; slight rasping noise
came up. it seemed to him from his faith.
er's study, which was directly below.
"What can that be ?" he said to him
self as it continued, and slipping out of
bed and drawing on his pants and stock
ings he opened the door and stole softly
down stairs. The sitting room door was
ajar, and as the noise had stopped Ralph
was about to open it and 60 in when he
heard half stihed curse. lie stopped
short and carefully opening the door a
crack farther he peeped in. The study
door was on line with his vision, and
wide open, a lamp stood on his fathers
desk turned down SO that it gave but
feeble light, but by it Ralph saw the fig
ure of man bending over the lock.
He had apparently almost succeeded
in opening the desk, but had met with
some unexpected difficulty, and it was
this that had caused the curse that had
warned Ralph. lie stood startled for q
moment and turning quickly, went noise.
lessly up stairs he was going into Bells
room when the door opened and she came
out. She started back at sight of Ralph
and exclaimed, why" and was going
on when Ralph put bis hand over her
mouth
'Sh Bell, there's a man down stairs
robbing fathers desk"
"Robbing fathers desk ~ gasped Bell.
"Yes, and am going for my gun,"
said Ralph, as he disappeared in his ROOM
He was back again in an instant with his
gun in his hand.
"You wont shoot him ?" said Bell ner.
vously.
"What can | do?" he exclaimed, 81
can't get to Uncle Dicks room without
going right by tho study"
"Call Polly" said Bell.
"Polly what good would she do, and
how am | going to call her when she
sleeps over the kitchen"
"But you will be hung if you kill him."
demonstrated Bell, with tears in her eyes.
But Ralph was too excited to heed
what his sister said and replied
"You 60 into your room Bell and I'll
90 down stairs and fire at him and then
run up stairs"
So saying he crept down and looked
cautiously into the room. The man had
got the desk open and was examining the
contents
Nov is my time" thought Ralph,
nerving himself as he raised the gun, and
trying to steady his hand, which shook in
spite Of himself, he took a quick aim at
the form outlined in the dim light and
pulled the trigger. There was a snap
but no report, the cap had missed fire.
The burglar wheeled around Mt the sound,
and seeing Ralph had jerked the hammer
of the gun up and was raising it to his
shoulder, seeing which, the man with the
quickness of thought drew revolver, lev
eled it with a
Course you. take that !" discharged it.
Ralph heard the hiss of the bullet as
it passed his head, and feeling deathly
faint, aimed at the figure rushing towards
him through the binding smoke, and
fired. There was ringing report, and
dropping his gun Ralph ran up stairs
with thrill at his heart as he heard a
groan from the study showing that his
shot had taken effect.
lie rushed into his room, exclaiming
breathlessly:
"I've shot him I've shot him !"
And he sank down on the bed beside
his sister, who had lighted lamp and
was trying to quiet Freddie, who, fright
cned at the noise, was crying loudly for
his father.
80, what shall we do ?" said Bell to
Ralph, who, now he had time to realize
how near he had come to death, was al
most as frightened as his sister.
ave must get to Uncle Dick some.
how" answered Ralph. 81 should have
thought he would have been in here be-
fore this, he must have heard the noise. "
They waited few minutes, but all
was still below.
"I'm going down" said Ralph at
, length, 81 cant stand this I'm going
, down to rouse up Uncle Dick and Polly"
/ So, quickly but silently going down he
crossed the sitting room. The study
7 door was shut.
"IIe isn't killed, anyway" thought
S Ralph, and feeling greatly relieved hur-
ried to his uncles room and raped loud
l ly, but got no answer he impationtly
tried the door; it yielded to his touch
: and he entered the room. 1t was empty
and the bed smooth and and untouched.
r "George Harry !" exclaimed Ralph il
: amazement. "What does this mean -
$ and he threw the rays of his light into
every corner of the room but he found ne
Q Dick.
!, "What are you doing? What is til,
y matter Ralph ?" said soft voice behipt
him.
"Is that you, Polly ?" he said, turning
| quickly.
n "Yes, it is me-" said Polly, what hav,
You been doing2 | heard noise ike
" cannon going off and dressed myself an'
hurried down stairs TO see what the mat
d ter was"
= "Matter enough Polly there is ma
4 | l. l.aL 4