The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-07-15

for 6Reen years roaming over the world
changes . man.
Why father has gone to the depot to
meet you, Uncle! exclaimed Bell.
Has heg expected to meet him there,
bat got through with my business ia The
city sooner than expected, aad seeing
an old acquaintance coming this way, !
came on With him, thinking to meet your
father on the way, bat did not see any
thing OF him
The evening flew away on wings; I'm
Gle Dick had an incxhausiible fund OF
stories and kept them all laughing, aud
when at length Polly looked up at the
clock, she exclaimed 10 surprise:
fit sin't nine o'clock-bed time.
Why, so Is. Uncle Dick your room
is down stairs, tile south bed room, said
Bell.
Yes, and no fear Of burglars now, said
Ralph, who, during the evening had told
hi. Uncle Dick about bis father having
six thousand dollars in the house.
Father keeps It iu bis study. The man
be owes il to is coming after II to-mor-
row, he had said.
II was midnight Ralph, who had
been strangely sleep'ess for Que who us.
ually slept so sound, lay in his bed, list
ening to the twelve Changing strokes Of
the clock down stairs. The wind whist
led mourniully around the house, and
Ralph was wondering If the storm had
ceased aud thinking of his father being
AT the depot waiting for his Uncle Dick,
when suddenly bis curiosity was awak.
ened by far oil, faint noise. He listen
ed iniently; slight, rasping noise came
up, il seemed TO him from his fathers
study, which was directly below.
What can that be? he said to him el {,
as It continued, and slipping out of bed
and drawing on his pants and stockings,
he opened the door aud stole softly down
stairs The sitting room door was eiIr,
aud as the noise had stopped, Ralph was
about TO open ii and 20 in, when he
heard half stih,d curse. lie stopped
short, aud carefully opening the door a
little farther, 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 II gave but a
feeble light, but by it Ralph saw the fig
ure of man bending over the lock.
He had apparently succeeded in al
most opening the desk, but had met with
some unexpected difficulty, and it was
this that had caused the curse which had
warned Ralph.
lie stood startled for moment, and
turning quickly, went noiselessly up
stairs; he was going into Bells room,
when the door opened and she came out .
She started back at sight of Ralph, and
was about to make some exclamation,
but Ralph put his hand over her mouth.
'oh, Bell! there's a man down stairs
robbing fathers desk.
Robbing fathers desk gasped Bell.
Yes, aud am going for my gun, said
Ralph, as he disappeared in his room.
lie was back again in an instant with
his gun in his hand.
You won't shoot him2 said Bell, nerv-
ously.
What can do? he asked. can't get
to Uncle Dicks room without going
right by the study.
Call Polly, said Bell.
Pollyl what good could she do, and
how am going to call her when she
sleeps over the kitchen?
But you will be hung II 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 III
90 down stairs and fire at him and then
run up.
SO saying he crept down aud looked
cautiously into the room. The man had
got the desk open and was examining
the contents.
Now is my time, thought Ralph, new
Ing himself, IS he raised the gun, and
trying to steady bis hand, which shook in
spite Of himself, he took quick aim at
the form outlined in the din light aud
pulled the trigger There was a snap,
bat no report, the cap had missed fire.
The burglar wheeled round a, the sound !,
aud seeing tnat Ralph bad jetket the
hammer OF the gun up, and was raising
It to his shoulder, the man with the
quckness Of thought drew revolver,
aud leyeiing il. said
Curse you, take that! discharged il at
Ralph.
Ralph heard the hiss OF the bullet as il
passed bis bead, aud feeling deathly faint,
aimed at The figure rushing toward him
through the blinding smoke, aud ii ed
There was ringing report, aud drop
ping bis gun Ralph ran az stairs with a
thrill at bis heart as be heard groan
from the study showing that bis shot had
taken effect.
He rushed into Bells room cxclaiming
brealh!essIy:
I've shot him! I've shot hinl
And he sank down on lie bed beside
his sister, who had lighted lamp aud
was trying TO quiet Freddie, who, fright
ened at the noise, was crying loudly for
bis father.
o. what stall we d5l saij Bell to
Ralph, who, now be had lime to realize
/ how near he had come to bis death, was