The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-30
BLOOMSBURY PA, FRIDAY. AUGUST 80. 1s7s

word or warning, flashed out of bed, banged
% the closet door and turned the key in the
ock
There may be more burglars In the house,
Tilly,' she exclaimed in voice of suppress
ed excitement but I've got one of them
in here-quck help me to bar the door rp
Never was the heavy, old-fashioned bed
whirled on its creaking castors so expedite
ously. According to her sisters peremptory
directions, Matilda assisted in pushing the
bead board close against the closet door and |
then, there being considerable distance be-
tween the foot-board and the side wall of the |
room, she herself suggested that they should |
wedge together other pieces of heavy furni. |
ture across the space, thus forming strong
barrcade.
Now said Victoria, breathlessly, if he
escapes, it viii have to be through the
ventilator'
'Mighten he cut through panel p asked
Tilly all the while agoniaingly conscious of
the gaping darkness of the hallway.
He can't do that in hurry, even if he
has the tools. am more afraid of some
body from the outside coming in. He prob
ably has accomplces. The best thing we
can do is to sit down here close by the win
dow, so that if we hear anything suspicious
we can throw it open and scream
How do you suppose he go. in Vic
tora?
He must have secreted himself in the
closet yesterday, and was just preparing to
come out when you heard him and woke
me-
Wouldn't it have been dreadful, said
Matilda, if we had searched the house be.
fore going to bed and had found him? What
in the world would we have done Just to
think that went in and out of that closet
hanging up my clothes p So had Victoria
To tell the truth, not only was the burglar
locked safe and sound, but so was the wear
ing apparel of these estimsble ladies, for be
ing methodical to a fault, they never lef
their dresses and skirts lying about owe
night. 1t was no small portion of their dis
tress of mind to be reduced to the necessity
of draping themselves in the bedclothes with
out the hope of better things until rescued
from their peril
, Both sisters were delighted to find thu
night so far spent, yet the hours until dawl
were filled with unspeakable dread auc
) weariness. Once only did they hear anything
to confirm their belief in the robbers pres
ence in the closet and though nothing NOR
f terrible than a stihed sneeze, it caused then
: to cling conclusively to each other, ,and men
} tally arrange climax of screams-'P Police
: thieves, fire, murderp for which there prove
to be no need.
, At O'Clock, Mr. Pinnet, who kept tn
dry goods shop opposite where the Msse
Burney had bought no end Of needles, tap
f and har-pins, opened his doors and bega
e to sweep out the store. To beckon him owe
] even on the most urgent errand, while he
: sister and herself were in such sorry pligt
r seemed to Miss Matilda too horrible to b
r thought of. He was an old bachelor, gossi
said, because Matilda Burney had refuse
r him.
At 6 O'Clock the milkman came, and I
r him Miss Victoria was enabled to detail he
:, desperate situation. He kindly volunteers
t to go for an officer, ,whersupon, wrapped in
quilted patchwork comforter, Tilly fled il
s contnently to back room, leaving her 81
e ter to open the front door. Though swatht
in pair of blankets, Miss Victoria was nj
d without dignity she was enabled to col
verse with Special O'Shaunessy through
Y crack in the sitting room door, and to gi
e the details of her capture.
l. After reconnoitering the situation, he we
e away and soon came back with two or thr
IS policemen, and again went up stairs, payir
3. Miss Victoria a compliment for her pluck
d so loud tone that she could not help b
e overhear him. Consequently, though it W
k cold enough in the sitting room to freeze
lie ideas in ones head she was conscious of c'
N tain inward thrills at the thought ofthe re
ar utation she would now have among h
" friends Nay, though she hated nothi
ID more than notoriety, what il her name shot
ut creep into the morning papers under so
a. such laudatory heading as Another Brs
10 Woman or, "A Remarkable Instance
" Presence of Mind?'
v, Meanwhile Tilly, who had been rumm'
IN ing around to see if their treasure was ss
IN came shiverng in from the kitchen, sayin
ed What a fearful noise they are making
lit stairs Pm sure hope they won't kill
p- poor wretch =
In nj he
ed feet, noise of grutf voices, and rolling alb
re of furniture as was never before heard
he that quiet house since the day they
be moved into it,
of The silence that ensued was more difliC
le. to endure than the noise, and by the t
o. somebody came down stairs and knocked
Ter the sitting room door, both sisters were a
ay pale with suspense and terror.
rt. Its me Shaunessy,' said voice. :
Ily have got him, and would like you ladie
es step up stairs
np Very well, sir replied Victoria, If
,se will kindly bring US down two pairs OF
nv pers and a couple of wrappers, we will 80
tly directly
up The delicate errand was happily pertol
lat ed and Miss Victoria and Miss Mat
,es were presently ascending the stairs,
ag They found their chamber in unparalt
it disorder, inyadedby mud and tobacco ju
lst Several men, in uniform and out, were sta
in ing around in various attitudes.
he The heartless wretches, thought Ii
er, they look as if it was the greatest JOKE
ct- the world to catch human being like a
in hole
p Her tender heart utterly misgave her
n the part she had played, Not so Nictori
en- Motioned forward by a graceful wav
O'Shaunessys hand, she stepped gravely
rp ward the closet the door of which stood "
re. open. Prepared to answer a look of ma
to nant hate by a severe one of moral dis
proval, she reached the closet, Tilly tin
as ously following. Both looked in-and th
| Al In ia