The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-02
and capable, but very queer sometimes"

But you are not going to keep such a
large sum as fhat-Sl0,0 00-here in the |
house, are your
Eyes" said father. "When Fan carries |
the key to the safe it is all right"
No, Mr.. Livingstone it is all wrong. 1t
is too great a risk. Only an hour ago | re-
ceived a dispatch from Jacksonville asking
me to come there to identify some burglars
whom l had once sent to state prison. Nc
Afee, the leader of the gang. and whose wife
tried TO kill me once, is said to be hiding
here in this city. That was my business
here, Miss Fanny, to tell you this. and ask
you to wait an hour later for me to get back
from Jacksonville tonight. May ask?'
Certainly; why not?'
/ think l would have given up the ball If
he had asked me to do SO, much as l hoped
to enjoy it.
run to my train. Good-by till 10 o'clock
then"
Good by"
And he hurried away We watched him
running half the time as he went rapidly
down the street.
you had better go to the bank with this
money" father, said Kate, sefiOusly.
Nonsense: why, who is going to rob this
house with so many of us always present?
Then, who knows but ourselves if there is a
dollar in the house?'
While this conversation was going on
was in the closet, putting the money in the
safe. As / came out it certainly seemed-for
it was only observation-disclosures must be
some person besides myself in the closet.
With that feeling turned back and looked
for moment at everything in it; but there
was nothing unusual.
At o'clock a cattle trader called and took
father back with him to his hotel. A little
later Mr.. Burnett came with carriage for
Nelly and Kate. They left the house in
high glee, laughing at me and my matter-of-
fact escort who attended to his business
first before even the pleasure of the COVER
nor's ball.
When / was fully dressed and saw that l
had yet half hour to wait before Mr. Good
win would come, felt tired and weary
already. l rang the bell for Mary, the cook,
thinking would have her make me cup
of strong coffee beforge going. Sarah answer
ed the bell.
81 want Mary; please tell her to come up
a moment.
Mary has just gone out little. Her
cousin called for her."
This was not agreeable news. / did not
! care to leave the house alone with Sarah.
rs it anything | can do for you, Miss Fan
ry2"
| fire and see that there is hot water when L
come down"
would make the coffee myself when Mr..
Goodwin came; but l would have half glass
| of wine now, thought
| Then stood before the glass arranging
and rearranging the flowers in my hair. L
had small bunch of natural flowers too, in
my corsage which-needed setting into posi-
| ton. All this occupied 10 minutes ormore.
| The wine was below in the sitting room
| closet, and perhaps after all | had better not
| take the wine. IF the train was on time Mr..
| Goodwin would be punctual TO the minute
knew he would thank me for cup of
strong, hot coffee after his ride. l waited.
| It only wanted ten minutes of the time
when he should come, and was both inn
patient and nervous l was listening to
that tiresome pattering of the reservoir
| fountain.
l heard footsteps in the sitting room
| below; it must be Sarah; but why was she
| there? There was a light in the dining
room, but none in the kitchen, and / could
hear some one still moving as if in the hall
| below.
Going out into the hall and looking down
| from the head of the stairs, saw the light
shining out from the sitting room. Sarah
| must have left the door open.
/ ran down to the sitting room. The door
was open, and going in, the closet door was
also open. My heart was in my mouth, but
| stepped quickly to the closet Some one
was in it with light
was ready to drop with terror for a
moment. Then my hand rested on the key
in the door. Quick as the thought came to
me- | closed the door and locked it. The
sharp click of the lock must have alarmed
the person within, for in an instant some
one tried the door. There was muttered
curse in mans voice.
Mag, you DEVIL open the door,"
There was a great, old lounge or sofa
against the wall just beyond the door; in a
| moment l drew this against the door and
sat down on it. By this time the trapped
man in the closet was beating and banging
at the door furiously. L had him secured
for little time fast enough, but what if
there were more down stairs?
That thought nearly took my breath
away. Then my burglar was sill for a little
ana heard the dining room door open.
Some one was listening. perhaps. Then the
door closed softly. My burglar was still
silent. In secretary drawer close by was
fathers revolver, and had the key. In q
moment more L had the pistol in my hand.
Every chamber was loaded, and knew well
how to use it. Every Illinois girl does
not.
went lightly down the stairs, and then
could hear the chinking sound of the silver
ware which some one was handling in the
dining room.
Good luck favored me again. The key
was In the door and on the outside /
locked the door,
Then fastened back to the burglar in the
ClOSeI ne was strangely sllenI. linen L
heard the soft cutting sound of knife in
the door. He was cutting one of the panels
out of the door.
1 could not bear to shoot him dead, but 1
would stop his work on the door. l could
tell from the sounds OF his feet that he was
standing to one side of the panel he was cut
ting.
1 sent bullet through that panel, and the
report of the pistol frightened me more than
the burglar had.
There was perfect torrent of oaths. 1t
put out his light too, for could see through
the hole thatit was not light inside. He was
moving about
Caught again" he exclaimed.
| sat there with my revolver cooked wait
ing for what was to come next. If the bur-
plar down stairs released himself could 4