The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-08-17


humping himself all about the
room before he found the right door.
As he reached the foot Of the staircase,
voices were audible above, and lights
were cleaning down. His retreat was
cut OF; he could not get back to his
room without being discovered. lie
now distinguished the voice OF Mrs,
McI.ane in an agitated tone entreating
somebody 10 be careful and not get shot,
the gruif voices Of the brothers respond
ing, and then their steps rapidly de-
scending the stairs. Should he go up
and take the risk Of volley while an
nouncinc himself? II would make q
pretty tableau. Presenting himself In
such a guise and under such circum-
stances, what sort Of reception could ne
expect from John, who treated him
with undisguised contempt in the draw
ing-room. and whose study Il was 70
place him at a disadvantage? He might
have hesitated longer, but at this mo-
ment the voice Of Angie, crying down
TO her brothers to be careful, decided
him. He could not face her under such
terribly false circumstances and without
his wig.
vainly seeking safe refuge, he ran
round the apartment like rat IN a trap.
He already heard the brothers in the
dining-room picking up the silver .and
wondering to find Il all there, when,
obeying sudden inspiration, he clam
bered upon lofty bookcase that ran
across one end Of the room, arching
above the dining-room door, and reach
ING within few feet Of the ceiling. In
cold blood he never could have scaled
ii. Lying at full length upon the top Of
the bookcase with his back to the wall,
the bulge Of him was still visible from
the farther part II the room, in case Il
should occur TO his pursuers 70 look so
high.
The latter now entered the library,
and, peering over the edge Of the book
case. Bob recognized with singular SEN
sation the two gentlemen with whom ne
had been conversing little earlier in
the evening. Then they were arrayed
in faultless evening dress, and their man
ner, although supercilious enough, was
calm and polished Now he saw them
half dressed, with disheveled hair-John
carrying students lamp in his left
hand and in his right an ugly-looing
cane-sword, with blade painfully max
ed, while George held revolver at full
cock.
He could scarcely believe his fortune,
when, moment later, the two brothers
passed again beneath him back into the
dining-room.
From there they went on through the
rooms beyond, and the sound Of their
footsteps died away entirely.
Perhaps five minutes after, they re-
turned that is, as far as the dining
room-and Bob gatheredfrom their con-
versation that they had found one Of the
fastenings in the basement in a condition
indicating that the burglar might have
escaped there.
Mrs. McLane and Angie, having salts
fed themselves that the coast was clear,
descended TO the dining-room, and a
lively discussion Of all aspects Of the
problem ensued, which was highly edi-
tying to Bob.
Then the conversation became still
more interesting, as ii turned on himself
He heard Mrs. McLane saying:
/" lie must be hard sleeper, for
knocked several times on his door,
Then one Of the brothers grunted
something contemporary, and he heard
Angles voice excusing him on the
ground that he must be tired after hi.
long journey
.sAre you sure You looked every
where in the library?" was Mrs. Nc
Lanes next question, at which cole
sweat stood ont on Bob's face. He hat
Just begun to feel quite comfortable.
did you look on top Of the book
case? Pr
II seemed to Bob that he died then
and came to life again 10 hear John re
ply, contemptuously
lover the bookcase? There's M
room there, and, il there were, nobod,
but monkey could get up there
"There's room enough" persiste'
Angie, "and have often noticed, whel
sitting in the library. what a nice hiding
place it would be. What II he shout
be up there now, and hear what In
sayings- she added, in an agitated whis
per.
!. Nonsense,- said John.
We'll. there is no harm in looking
anyway" said Mrs. McIane.
"Come along, then, y grumbled Johr
+" You shall see for yourselves"
At this Bob shut his eyes, and furne
his face to the wall. The ostrich il
stinct i the human instinct Of despair
He tried 10 fly away from himself, an
leave his body there rs derelict. III
effort was desperate, and seemed almol
successful. But he could not quite se'
er the connection, though his soul al
pearcd 70 be lowering over his bod
only attached by a single thread but
thread which, alas would not break.
A moment after, they all passe
through the door directly beneath hin
, and, going clear 10 the other end Of II
. library, stood on tiptoe and pcered