The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-08-30


that they had looked everywhere.
This silenced them but Angie said Il
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 re-
ply, contemptuously
'Over the bookcase There's nc room
there, and if there We're, nobody but a
monkey could get up"
''1here's room enough" persisted An
gle, land I've often noticed, when sit
ting i'll the library, What a nice hiding
place it would be. What if he should be
up there now and hear what I'm saying !"
she added, in an agitated whisper
Nonsense said John.
'Well, there's no harm in looking, any
way" said Mrs. McLanc
Come along then" grumbed John.
''lou shall see for yourselves"
At this Bob shut his eyes, and turned
his face to the wall. The ostrich instinct
is the human instinct Of despair. He
tired TO fly away from himself and leave
his body there as a derelict The effort
was desperate, and seemed almost sue
ccaoiu But he could not quite sever the
connection, though his soul appeared to
be lowering over his body, only attached
by Il single thread thread which.
alas would not break.
moment atter. they all passed through
the door directly beneath him, and going
clear to the other end OF the library,
stood on tiptoe, and peered at his hiding
place. There seemed to he ewes III his
back, which felt their scrutiny. But the
lamp they carried did not suffice to bring
out his figure clearly.
''Im sure see something" said Angie
getting up on a chair.
''it's only the shadow of the tirelight,n I
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 burners.
An lnarticulate ejaculation fell from
every mouth. human figure was dis
tinctly visible, inclining along the top of
the bookcase, with his face toward the
wall. The ladies would have forthwith
run away but for the fact that one door
OF the room was directly beneath the
bookcase, and the other close to it. Upon
| Bob5 paralyZed senses fell the sharp
words Of John.
''We'ye got YOU. Get down. "
He did not move, but at the summons
his soul with ineXpressible reluctance
and disgust, began to return from the end
ot its floating thread, and relnhabit the
quarters for which it could not quite Shake
Oft responsibility.
''Get up or III shoot !" said George
"Oh, don't shoot him !" cried Mrs Me
Lane, while Bob, still motonless, dimly
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. He turned around and sat up, his
legs dangling over the edge Of the book
case, and his wet, white face blankly, di-
rected towards the group a most pitt
able figure.
Jump down" said John; land if You
try to escape YOU will get shot "
Bob let himself drop without regard to
how he was to alight, aud in consequence
was severely bruised against Il chair and
the edges Of the book case.
He stood facing the group. His eyes
mechanically sought Angles. What was
his surprise to see in her expression
vi iIIliSiN't tli it'SllN ttltl lil0Il lltll lilt
slightest sign Of recognition 4 glance
showed that it was the same with the
others John and George evidently sup
posed they were dealing with an ordinary
burglar, and the Others We're apparently
quite as devoid Of suspicion as to his
identity. His wig He had forgotten all
about it. That explained their singular
deneanor.
The bald man in stockings, trowsers
and shirt caught hiding in the library
after an attempt on the silver, quite nat
uralIy failed to recall to their minds the
youth OF rather toppish attire and luNu-
RANT locks who baue them GOOD night Il
few hours previous. As this fact and its
explanation broke upon Bobs mind he
felt IN immense sense of relief, instantly
followed by a more poignant perception
OF the lneNtllcable 1alSlty and cruel alb
surdity Of his position. He had little
time to think it over and determine his
best course.
John stepped forward and with the
point of his cane sword motoncd him into
a corner thus leaving the way clear 10 the
ladies', who at once hurried into the din
ing room, throwing glances Of fear and
aversion upon Bob as they passed. An
Gle paused at the doorway and asked.
"What are YOU going to do with the
dreadful man z"
Bob even now was able to notice that
he had never seen her So ravishingly
beautiful as now, and her golden hair fall
ING over her charming dishabille while
her eyes scintillated with excitement.
She would have blushed to have been
. | lA,h Him IN lual, ~, Z III
with al odd feeling of being double, he
perceived that she now regarded him as
She would have an animal
George and will attend to Linn. You
had better 90 to bed" replied John to
her question and then he sent George
after some cord meanwhile standing in
front OF Rob with cooked revolver. Had
he scanned his prisoner closely, he might
have detected something familiar in his
lineaments, but in careless attempts he
took him in with a sweeping glance as an
average burglar, whose identity was
question for the police
Bob had not uttered Il word. In the
complex ialsity of his position he could
not indeed muster presence OF mind to
resolve Oh any course, but regarded with
4 kind Of tatulty the extraordinary direc-
ton events were taking. But when
George returned with the rope, and or
dered him to put his hands behind him,
he said in a tone 50 quiet that it surpris-
ed himself:
Hold on Mr.. McLane this Joke has
gone far enough. am Robert Withers
at your service, and respectfully decline
to be considered in the light of a burglar
amy further"
Georges jaw dropped with astonish-
ment, and John was scarcely less taken
aback.
I'D d if it isn't" :" calculated the for
mer, after a moment in a tone Of incred-
ulous conviction, as he recognized at once
the voice and now the features of Bob; ;
"but where's your hair ~
Bob blushed painfully.