The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-15

ishly In the darkness. She heard the
cl0ek strike twelve. A moment after
ward she heard etep. tlow creepihg
step, in the hall. Her head started froI1
the pillow 20 listen; the sound ceased.
But her heart beat so furiously that any
fnconsiderable noise would have been
drowned. But now the house seemed
quite still; the darkness was intense.
Ellie strained eyes and ears, but saw
nothing, heard nothing.
cit Is just nervousness" she said,
after q while, lying down again. III
there was anything wrong, Sultan would
bark"
sultan did not stir, and she could not
see his bright, Aalfupened eyes.
But sleep would not come, and Elite
continued 10 heat faint Unusual sounds.
soy,i eghine seemed to whisper In her ear,
"There Is danger" Her hearb beat
heavily.
suddenly she heard, most distinctly, q
cautious step upon the stair. IL was NO
dream, no nervous fancy.
"Robbersi gasped Ellie. She startea
One entrance Of her room opened upon
the stairs-anothef upon chambers COM
munieating with distant staircase,
whereby she could reach PauPs room
the ssep was coming steadily UP as shs
leaped to the floor and flew to the opp0~
site entrance.
As she CROPPED for the door-handle she
heard yhe step enter the reom. The de0r
she was trying would not open; IL was
| locked from the other side. Sick with
horror, she looked ever her shoulder ana
saw In the gloom q tall hgure holses
lessly entering the apartment. lt turned
towards her. Shfiek after shrek parst
| from her lips.
There was a gFowl, a. leap, q bulky
| form flying through the darkness, q fall,
and then horrible, silent struggle.
Phe floor shook, the windows shfvefed In
their panels. A hollow groan. Then 1t
| was still Ellie, in her terfer, seemed TO
have lost her senses, when she heard
strong voice caffingheE.
s.Eiffep'
With three bounds Paul Lacy, with a
light in his hand, reached the top OF the
staircase.
| BY the distant locked door stood the
quiv ering white form or the young girl.
and prone upon the floor before him lay
the dsure OF a man, with the great
mastlK over him. sultan gave the up
| turned threat " snake AMI walked to ms
master.
sBllie, you are net hurt?' were Paul
Eacy's first words.
/ "No," she taltered.
Gle was a robbsr," said Lacy, holding
the light to the dead tace.> 'sAa my sad.
usvbieg are culleCJed for removal in the
room below"
| Hereturned down stairs, Ellie and the
| dog with him. In the -asket upon the
table were two Watches money! and La
bla silver. The unbroken thought IN
Eboth minds made tAem tufn towards 9 the
\ door OF the new servant.
i Paul knoekeds tlreu opened the door
i The apartment was unoccupied. The ie-
male, dlsguise, was streMn about, and be.
4 side the bed stood a pair of unmisLaka-
h hle mans bouts. Phere was a pistol
case open on the table, q scent of liquor
ia, the ro0m.i The new servant had been
u man.
| Paul opened the carpet bag. TT con
tanned burglars tools, firsk OF whisky,
a case OF jewelry, probably stolen, anu
black mask.
"We have iustescaped being murdered
i'm eur beds. Ii had not. beeH worried
SO for he4ly should have been more
| calItious,n p said Pauf Lacy.
4 SO. please don't get any more,'
| sobbed Ellie, even then not forgetting
| her grievance. 81 will keep house. t0l
you."
They then went back to examine the
ldead man. He was dark, eyil-looking
| fellow, with a black beardupon his chin
(which the bandage had concealed, and {
scar across. his cheek. All daybreak his
bouy was given in charge'ot the officers;
+ And what did Paul Lacy do tor nelpi
In three days Ellie abundantly proved
Ito, him. thai, she could maaiage the house
| hold. At the end of that time, there az
,rived, through Miss Emeralda's 9 not un
Elsind exertions, a stout aud taftbfu
Enegro girl, and PAUL Lacy married preuts
4, Ellie, and made her Chioe,s mistress
ITf he had searched the world oven, ht
eooull not have found better Wlfe-ai
Il time has proved.
IL 1Punctilaliby is tile Hinge Of Rusi.