The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-05


He could scarcely believe his fortune
when, a 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 gathered from their con-
versation that they had found one of
the fastenings in the basement in a con-
dition indicating that the burglar might
have escaped there.
Mrs. McLane and Angie. having sat
isfed themselves that the coast was
clear, descended to the diEing-room, and
lively discussion of all aspects of the
problem ensued, which was highly edi-
flying to Bob
Then the conversation became still
more interesting, as it turned on him
self He heard Mrs. McLane saying:
'' He must be hard sleeper, for
knocked several times on his door,"
Then one of the brothers grunted
something contemptueusly, and he
heard Angles voice excusing him on
the ground that he must be tired after
his long journey.
Are you sure you looked every
where in the library Z" was Mrs. Nc
Lanes next question, at which a cold
sweat started out on Bob's face. He
had just begun to feel quite comfortable
John and George, however, declared
that they had looked everywhere.
Did you look under the sofa ?'
Behind the window-curtains ?"
''In that dark corner by the book
case 2" asked the ladies, in succession.
Ingenious cruelty of fate Even An
gle was racking her brain to guess his
hiding place. What if it should be she
who hit upon it !
Bob drew a breath of relief as John
replied with some asperity, to all these
questions, that he had told them once
that they looked everywhere.
This silenced them, but Angie said
moment after:
Just let me ask one more question
" Did you look on top of the book -case?"
1t seemed to Bob that he died then,
and came to life again to hear John re-
ply, contemptuously
cover the bookcase? There's no
room there and if there were, no body
but monkey could get up"
"There's room enough,' persisted
Angie, sand have often noticed when
sitting in the library, what nice hid
ing place it would be. What if he should
be up there now, and hear what Pm
sayingl" she added in an agitated
whisper.
Nonsensel" says John.
"Well, there is no harm in looking,
anyway" said Mrs. McLane.
Come along, then," grumbled John,
+" You shall see for yourselves
At this Bob shut his eyes, and turned
his face to the wall. The ostrich in
stinct is the human instinct of despair.
He tried to fly away from himself, and
leave his body there as deRelict. The
effort was desperate, and seemed almost
successful. But he could not quite sever
the connection, though his soul appear
ed to be lowering over his body, only
attached by single thread-buta a 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 tip toe, and peered at
his hiding place. There seemed to be
eyes in his back, which felt their scru-
tiny. But the lamp they carried did not
suffice to bring out his figure clearly.
"I'm sure see something" said An
gle, getting up on chair.
"It's only the shadow of the fire.
light" 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 inarticulate ejaculation fell from
every mouth. A human figure was dis
tinctly visible, reclining along the top
of the bookcase, with his face toward
the wall. The ladies would have forth.
with run away but for the fact that one
door of the room was directly beneath
the bookcase, and the other close to it.
Upon Bob's paralyzed senses fell the
sharp words of John:
"We've got you. Get down |"