Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-03

yer husband that n tCEdDc, said tn
other, with coarse nigh.
MRS. Kent has SPLEEN 3iewels toe
| picked the lock to look at them.-
You can take as many of them a
you like. Comew
As soon as the sound of their foo
steps died away, Virginia snatchet
the deadly handkerchief Off her heat
and staggered to her feet, though diz
zily. She was a very spirited cir
and determined that the pair shoult
not escape. But what could she do
1t was vain to think of getting thu
cook to alarm the neighbors on tn,
corner, for the next lot was vacan
and she must cross the hall, and g1
past the stairs to find her. Their,
would be no use In throwing up the
window and screaming; the house
was on Clinton Avenue, far out anG
the policemen did not come past very
often
Virginia wrung her hands when 8
sleepy murmur of "Auntic Y startled
her. In asecond her resolve was Ia
ken, and she was on her knees by Fred
kissing him and whispering i'm his
ear: =.
Fred, my darling, auntie is going
to do something funny. Yoh remem.
Der how papa jumped you down
from the balcony Christmas day te
run after the monkey? am goin 9
to jump you down now. Don't speak /
a word now. Act like a man. There
now"
Fred was just four years old, but q
great boy for his age, and he always
obcyed Virginia implicitly, so he rub.
bed his eyes wide open and was car
ried to the window. Tho balcony
outside was not far from the ground.
AS Virginia looked out carefully, she
saw, under the corner gaslight, tall
figure with CLEAN of brass buttons
"Frcd," she whispered rapidly
"run fast to that policeman, and tell
him to como right here to auntie
then 60 to Mr.. Motley's at the corner
and ring the bell with all your might
1t is low, and you can reach it--and
tell George and Harry Motley that
aunt Virginia says there is thief in
the house. Don't be afraid, Fred :
be man like papa!n
Over; gently over, the low railing
and then, with good shake of his
small person, Fred's fat little legs
trottcd swiftly off towards the police
man.
Directly under the balcony a voice
said softly:
"What is wanted, ma'am Can you
open the front door for me r.
81 cannot, she painted, there are
burglars in the house, and I should
be heard. Can you get up here some.
how? Has the little boy gone 10 the
neighbors p
There was no answer to her ques-
ton, but the policeman easily follow
cd her suggestion, and climbed up
over the balcony.
" ait!' whispered Virginia, lay.
ing her cold hand on the policeman's
arm, as he made motion to GO for
ward. "They are upstairs in my room
looking for my jewels. Ii you will
stand just behind that door, will
creep up the back stairs and recon
noiter; il the woman comes to an
swer the bell, seize her. There is
only one man; if want help l will
call, and then you will rush up the
front stairs"
"Are you not afraid? 2" asked the
policeman with some surprise but
Virginia was gone before he had fin
ished his remark.
When she reached the stairs, she
found by the sounds that the man had
evidently gone into the silver closet.
which stood on the other side of the
back stairs, and that now she was be-
tween the two-for she could hear
Alice walking about in the bedroom.
Quick as flash the little figure glid-
ed up stairs, slipping OF her boots on
the lowest step; thelr was no light
in the hall, except tliat afforded by
the burglars lantern. for the gas was
turned down low, and the lantern set
inside the closet DIOR. The door
opened outward, and the key was in
it; spring, sudden bang, then the
click of the key in Vtrginia's nervous
fingers, as she turned it in the lock.
A tremendous curse came from the
captured thief, as sht leaned breath
lessly against the door. The same
moment the gaslighl behind her was
suddenly turned ont and Alice con-
fronted Virginia.
"You here, madam? Well, you
and are quits, any low. Open that
door or I'll send q bullet through
your head! You didn't think of my
having the rcvolyet did your
"No," said Virgiiia, looking in the
girls furious eve With her peculiarly
calm smile. "Heli! Policcr'
"You may split ybur pretty throat
calling" said Alicy seizing her saw
agely by the arm. mo one will
come; your cookj drugged, and you
are at our mercy. Give me the key y
.'Tll trouble yo} for that pistolw
said stern voice behind Virginia, as
a quick, strong arh jcrkcd the weap-
on away from Aike.
Alice, with a bhriek, fell on the
floor, for she rallied all at once.
But Virginia, gasping, "Ah, my God Y
gazed as if turnedto stone, for it was
Langley Temple that she saw.
virginia don't be terrified" he
said, sit is my very self, no ghost.
Take my hand, lote; sec, it is flesh
and blood like your own, dear -
He had her in his arms. The door
bell was ringing furiously, but he
would have let the ueighbors pull the
wire till it broke, before he would
have left her in that dumb, shocked
state. As he touched her, she trem-
blcd violently; then the light came
back to her eyes, and with a sob of
joy, Virginia flung herself on the
breast of him whom she had MOURN
cd as dead.
The Motleys had time to think that
| Virginia was murdered before the
pair opened the door. Very much
surprised were they to see, instead OF
the policeman, a very tall, handsome
lyoung man, o stranger, in undress
navy uniform. Fred, now that his
part Of the fun was over, began to
roar, and Virginia took him up in
her arms, while the four gentlemen,
assisted by the real Simon-purc po-
liceman, brawny son of Erin, open.
ed the closet and secured the prison.
CT. Within the next fifteen minutes
the other servants had returned-fol
the burglary took place before IL
o'clOck-and Alice, having focovered
from her swoon, was carried to tho
station house.
don't know how Langley and
Virginia were occupied till my re
turn. but when Frank thrust his
latch-key into tho door, Virginia
flew out Of the library, and tried
with few incoherent sentences, tt
prepare me for seeing something
The consequence was, that when
pushed open the door in a very be
wildered frame of mind, and saw
Langley smiling at me, was terrified
nearly out of my senses, and cam'
ncar fainting.
To the best of my recollection, til,
household sat up nearly all night
though finally, after had heard th'
whole story, been speechless owe
Nirginia's bravery, and huggcd Free
now asleep in the armchair
Frank dragged me Off to bed.
j don't know that Langley and Vir
! ginia sat there till morning, but Ger
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