Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-22


was rackiug her brain to guess his hiding
place. What if it should be she who hit
} upon it!
Bob drew II breath of relief as John re-
piled, with some asperity, to all of these
that they looked everywhere.
This slenced them, but Angie said
moment after:
Just let me ask one more question
Did you look on the top of the bookcase?"
1t seemed to Bob that he died then, and
came to life again to hear John reply con-
temptuolsly:
Over the bookcase? There's no room
there; and, if there We're, nobody but
monkey could get up"
There's room enough" persisted Angie,
land | have often noticed, when sitting in
the library, what II nice hiding-plade it
would be. What if he should be up there
now, and hear what Pm saying!' she
added, in an agitated whisper.
Nonsense!" sad John.
"Well, there is no harm in looking,
anyway" said Mrs. McLane.
Come along, then," grumbled John.
You Shall sec Tor yourselves
AT this Bob shut his eyes, and turned his
face to the wall. The ostrich instinct is
the human instinct of despair. He tried
to fly away from himself, and leave his
body there us a derelict. The effort was
desperate, and seemed almost successful,
Bat he could not quite sever the connee
ton, though his soul appeared to be hover
ing over his body, only attached by sin
gle thread--but u thread which, alas
would not break.
A moment after they all passed through
the door directly beneath him, and. going
clear to the other end of the library, stood
on tiptoe, and pcered at his hiding place.
There seemed to be eyes in his back, which
felt their scrutiny. But the lamp they car
ried did not suffice to bring out his figure
clearly.
Pm sure see something" said Angie,
getting up on chair.
"lLs only the shadow of the freight"
replied John.
Light the gas and let US make sure
said Mrs. McLane.
George stood up on ~ chair under the
chandelier and lighted one of the burn
crS.
An inarticuate ejaculation fell from
every mouth. A human figure was dis
tincty visible, reclining along the top Of
the bookcase, with his face toward tie
wall. The ladies would have forthwith
run away but for the fact that one door Of
the room was directly beneath the book
case, and the other close to it. Upon
Bobs paralyzed senses fell the sharp
words of John:
We've got you. Get down.
He did not move, but at the summons
his soul, with incxpressblc reluctance and
disgust, began to return from the end of
its floating thread, and renhabit The
quarters for which it could not quite shake
; off responsibility.
Get up, or I'll shootm said George.
"Oh, don't shoot himn' said Mrs
McIMnc, while Rob, still motionless, DIM
, ly hoped he would.
Get up!" reiterated John; and he did
get up. His own will was inactive, and
Johns was the force that moved his mus
cles lie turned around and sat up, his
legs dangling over the edge of the book
case, and his wet white, wretched face
blanky directed toward the group-a most
pitiable figure.
! Jump down,' said John; and if yout
try to escape, you'll getshotm
Bob let himself drop without regard Il.
to how he was to alight, and in conse-
qnencc was severly bruised against chnir
and the edges of the bookcase.
He stood facing the group. His eyes
mechanically sought Angles. What was
his surprise not to perceive in her EXPIRES
sion of mingled curiosity and fright the
slightest sign of recognition! A glance
showed him that it was the same with the
others. John and George evidently sup
posed they were dealing with an ordinary
burglar, and the others were apparently
quite us devoid Of suspicion as to identity.
His wig! lie had forgotten all about IT,.
That explained their singular demeanor.
The bald man in stockings, trousers,
and shirt, caught hiding in the library
after IN attempt on the silver, quite natur
ally failed to recall to their minds the
youth of rather foppish attire and luxnri-
ant locks who babe them goodnight few
hours previous, As this fact and its OK,
PLANTATION broke upon Bob's mind he fet
an immense sense of relief, instantly fol
lowed by II more poignant perception OF
his position. lie had little time to think Is
over and determine his best course.
John stepped forward, and with the
point of his cane-sword motioncd him in
to corner thus leaving the way clear to
; the ladies', who ut once hurried into the
dining-room, throwing glances of fear and
aversion on Bob as they passed. Angie
paused at the doorway and asked:
What are you going to do with the
dreadful man?'
Bob even then was able to notice that he
had never seen her 80 ravishingly beauti,
; ful us now, with her golden hair falling
over her charming deShabilie, while her
eyes scintilIated with excitement. She
would have blushcd to have been seen by
him in such in undress toilet, but with an
odd feeling of being double, he perceived
that she now regarded him as size would
have any animal.
, George and | will attend to him.
: You had better 90 to bed" replied John
to her question; and then he sent George
after some cord meanwhile quietly stand
ing in trout of Bob with cooked revolver.
Had he scanned his prisoner closely, he
might shave detected something familiar in
his ineaments, but in careless ceatempt
he took him in with II sweeping glance as
an average burglar, whose identity was
= question for the police.
! Bob had not uttered word. In the
complete Ialsty Of his position he could
not indeed mustr presence Of mini, 10 re
solve on any course, but regarded with u
kind of fatuity the extraordinary direction
events were taking, But when George
: returned with the rope, and ordered him
to put his hands behind him, he said in Il
tone so quiet that it surprised himself:
; Hold on, Mir. McLane; this joke has
gone far enough, | am Robert Wihers,
at your service, and respectively decline
To be considered in the light Of burgIa,
any further"
Georges jaw dropped with astonish.
mcnt, and John was scarcely less taken
: back.
"D-d if he isn't!'' calculated the for.
! mer. after moment, in ii lone OF incredu-
lous conviction, us he recognized al once
the voice and now the features of Bob;
, but where's your hair?n
Bob blushed painfully
:" wear wig he replied, land 10.
night, coming down stairs after you We're
all abed, to get my ring which had left
on the table here, did not fully dress.
Going back, it was my luck To stumble
over that cursed stand in the other roomn'
But what did you hide for?' asked