Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-02-05

| dm HUI mlSGdhSu-1 saw Hlm
plainly, when stopped to get the grapes.
He is crouched under the cellar stairs
in the shadow; he means to rob US,
Kate"
"Oh, what can we do ?" l cried in
terror.
1--WE must take him prisoner r' said
Alice, firmly.
''Oh, we can't p l cried. "Let us get
out of the house instantly and run for
help, Alice -
Where ? | am afraid of those Dutch
men at the saloon as much as of him,
and there's no one else near. Besides, he
may have confederates outside, who
would not let us escape. We can't lock
him in the cellar, because mother has
the keys in her pocket. We must take
him, Kate, and very quick, too, before
he suspects"
Now I was terribly frightened, but in
general, Alice was much more of cow
ard than | was. So, when | saw her
courage rise to meet the occasion, | re-
solved not to be behind her, so | asked
her what we should do, and followed
her directions with heart beating pain
fully hard.
Alice quickly explained her plan, then
taking a strong linen napkin, she caught
up bottle of chloroform from the closet
shelf, and saturated the napkin with it.
Giving me slender, stout rope, which
hung behind the closet door, and bid
ding me hide it under nv overslsirt oho
gave me the lamp, and taking the wet
napkin from the shelf we went down
cellar.
"Now talk merrily, so he won't sus-
pect," she whispered. as we reached the
stairs, and then she said something in
laughing tone, but I'm sure l don't
know what she said, and don't believe
-she did We descended the stairs and
then-Alice sprang, swift as lightning
upon the crOuching form. flung her arm
about his neck, and held the napkin
with all her slender strength over his
mouth and nostrils.
"Quick ! Kate, quick 4! with your
rope" she gasped. flew to her aid,
and so sudden and unexpected was the
attack. that before the fellows struggles
could free him ] had drawn the ropes
half dozen times around him and pull
ed it as tight as l could, tying it with
all the force [ could command; and as
the chloroform began to take effect, he
rolled over before us like an inanimate
log.
Alice, bruised, painting and almost
fainting, dropped on the ground beside
him.
"Oh Kate Kate If some one was
only here !' she gasped. 81 don't know
how long he will stay under the infu-
ence of this, and if he comes to I'm
afraid he'll break the rope"
"They will surely be here soon ~ said
l. 81, Oh. Alice! | hear a buggy !!
Thank heaven some one is coming !"
And as the sound of wheels and voices
came to the side porch, l few up stairs,
flung open the side door of the dining
room, and, oh, joy, threw myself straight
into John Lippincott's arms Don't be
Mortified, reader, for John and L were
betrothed, and his arms had held me be-
FORE
AS quick as L could explained to the
astonished boys the situation we were
in. and we all went down together to
poor Alice.
She was still sitting on the ground
beside her prisoner, in great pain as
well as fright, for one of her wrists was
terribly sprained by the mans struggles.
"And you took this big fellow prison
er, you girls Well p was Johns CON-
ment as he bent over our captive. Then
: he raised Alice tenderly in his strong
3 arms, carried her up and laid her on a
lounge in the dining-room. Both he and
e George then went into the cellar, and
with a strong effort carried up the in.
e sensible ruffian and laid him on the
1 porch, to await Uncle Sammy's return.
b They tightened the rope so he could
t not possibly free himself till he came to
and then bestowed their care upon u'
e poor, frightened girls.
It Very soon Uncle Sammy and Aun
Sally arrived, and great was their con
sternatlon upon hearing what had jus
n happened. George Immediately rod,
d into the city after the proper officers t.
g take the burglar, who came to his sense
L before they arrived.
He cursed and swore terribly as sool
d as he could have use of his tongue, ant
said to Alice, with an awful oath, tina
p if he had dreamed she saw him befor
Il she went up stairs, neither she nor
le would have left that cellar alive.
le We were glad when the officers cam
and took him away, and then what a pc
,e and baby we made of Alice, and hoy
l tenderly we cared for her poor, little
W slender, sprained wrist.
or uhau irnnld have made q great fms