, 1879-04-20

This suggested to me that could pierce the
tapestry In the same way with the sti!ettO used
in embroidery. I nastened to get mine from the
work-box. and pierced two cye-holes carefully
Just where-if they showed at all-thcy would
appear like embroidered black spots. Then. ar
ranging the night-light to suit my purpose, I let
the night-bolt fall and eusconced myself behind
the arras, just rs the great clock struck II, q
little too soon perhaps, for the quarter. half
hour and three quarters struck, and all was
profoundly still.
was very weary OF standing so long, and had
begun to think OF sitting in the room till heard
sounds outside, when, just US Il struck and l
was looking drearily through my eyeiet-holcs,
lsaw,. to my amazcmcnt, the night-bols slowly
rise Of itself and the door open. There had not
been a sound. II there had should have pulled
the alarum. Happily was so astonished that,
instead OF doing So at once. l watched the door
in silent awe. There entered WIN Wheeler, his
mother, and the bell-hanger. The tirst-N1ll-
made step towards the bed, but, with warn
in% gesture, his mother drew him back. She be-
lievel that under the influence of the opate the
old lady slept. And |, when l perceived that
robbery only was intended, Judged it prudent to
remove my hand from the alarunl-rope.
They advanced close to my hidug place-so
close that | feared they would see my eye CLEAN
through the cyelet-hole-but they were unsus-
picoua OF witness, aud did not even glance
towards my hiding-place by the side OF the bed.
was really startled, however, when the bell
t1At1&-lA1 ~ oI4s u AOIl hAos ~ uCIAGl3 lun4Ae3
hold Of the tapestry close to me, threw it back
over chair and displayed the door with i
richly-carVed bordering round it. held my
breath and gazed eagerly.
Airs. Wheeler pressed knob IN burch Of
roses, and suddenly the door fell back and
actually struck my lett shoulder. VIII aud the
hcll-hanger instantly disappeared, and Mrs.
Wheeler followed them. They had gone into
the closet!
In an instant I remembered the spring, and
of T
my whole strength on the door and pushed It
to. It shut with q clang, the spring closing at
once: and l heard 4 wild scream from Mrs.
Wheeler, and the cry, "Grcat Heaven, we can
never get out ~ i'll the housekeepcrs voice.
cited. [ seized the rope of the alarum and
pulled it. It came down upon my
head, covering me with dust. 1t had
been partially cut through, and touch severed
it. But one single stroke nevertheless was
given by my frenzied strength on the great
bell-one awful boom sounded on the night air.
Then rushed from my hiding-p1ace aud from
the room, locked the door outside, and went to
Aunt Helen, who was sitting up in bed, pale
and trembling. She had heard the one stroke
on the alarm and thought l had been mur-
me in her arms. weeping, aud murmured thanks
eivings when she heard what had done.
sit is impossiblc.''
lc1t Ael a1tcF awhile, anu IeLufHcu 10 Tile
drawinJ-roon, in order to zee if auy one would
answer that one stroke on the alarum. 4 fool
ish hope it seemed; yet, wrapped in large
shawl, I sat at the open window and looked
eagerly down the avenue. At length a sound
struck on my ear-the gallop Of borses; and
soon after saw two riders, distinctly defined
against the SHOW, approaching the hall door. I
leaned ont and cried, "Who comes?' and ut
tered glad cry when A1r. Denhan's voice
answered.
....A1.
unfas1encd the hall-door and admitted him.
He grasped both tny extended hands aud ex-
claimed:
,*sThank Heaven that you are safe. On, Lot
tic, have had terrible shock! Why did the
1laru1n stopE'
said, laughing historically :! and then led him
upstairs and told him ali that had happened,
his man holding his horse ut tue door.
telr quite abashed, he praised my courage
then aud there Tor the first time that Cecil
Denham loved me. He explained that the snow
had delayed his return, the road having to be
cleared, but he had arrived in the course OF
the evening; his housckeepcr, however, had
forgotten to give him my note till just us he
was going to bed. AS soon as he read 1t, he
gave orders Tor his horse to be saddled, and for
Ills man to accompany him. They had ridden
off at once, and had reused the villagers
and bddcn some OF the men and police
1nEu 10 AullDH lIElu1 IT'LL lucy uuTTlEU Ul.
Mr.. Denhanl had been greatly alarmed at
hearing that one'sullen ooou OF the alarun,.
He feared that further ringing had been stop
ped BY violence.
When we had thus mutually explained mat
tiers Mr.. Denhum thought he lad better see if
the robbers had any accomp1ices in the house,
and bade me go aud announce his arrival to
Aunt Helen. Meantime he aud his servant
searched the house.
Nc one was found in it except the maid-of-
all-work and the butler, both OF whom were
locked iu their several rooms, and we're, there
fore, apparently innocent Of the intended rob-
berry. Indeed old Wheeler was extremely i'll.
He had had fit, the maid sad caused by a
sudden shock, Mrs. Wheeler had told her, and
was quito unable to move. In the stable-yard
awaiting the return OF the thieves with their
booty.
By the time this search was concluded, the
rural police and soule nlcn from the village nr-
rived; but it was Thought best, as the conyicts
were known to be desperate characters, to keep
them III the safe custody Of tie spring till day
light.
Ben Hill, the bcl1-hangcr, was amongst our
friends who came to help, aud was very inlig-
naut ut finding that he had been impcrsnnated.
was out OIL tickct-of-lcave, and that the bell
hanger was probably s'pul'' OF his, and had
come down from London for the job
When day had full; dawned, the police, as
5lS[cu Dy AlFS. NelLH- Opcutu LllE ElOSEL NOuT,
and terrible spectacle presented itself. Mrs.
Wheeler and the two men lay Oh the floor III q
lcap, unconscious. Then FIRST We understood
yhY their shouts and cries had ceased. There |
vas no ventilation in the closet, and they had
consumed the ar. They were removed nj once;
out the old woman was past mortal aid-shc
was dead.
Tile men were s-orcd ythc wise means used |
1ndcr Dr.. Dcnlla1n's directions, and by the time
medical aid ca.ne had recovered consciousness |
They were taken away to jail. Will Wheeler |
confessed that hc had induced his |
mother to consent to the robbery Of Mrs. kcth's
boards, on condition that no harm should be
lone to the old tady-though, if Ill alarm had I
oecn gwen, that promise would not have been |
Kept The bcil-tlanecr's fourth wire had admit
cd them silently Into the bcd-room-hoW de-
line to cxplAitl-ard their apuroach was noise
ess because their shoes were covered with felt
was lrealfu1ly shocked At having, BY shut
ns il.e door, caused Mrs. Wheeler's death; but
slr. Dcnnam cunsoled me by reminding. me that
t wns through tic policeman and himself keep
hem in the closet till daylight, and not BY my |
lction that the catastrophe had occurred.
! hare little more to add The burglars had
ol,, term Of penal scrvitude imposed on them.
Old Wheeler survived his wife only few thlys,
mil they were buried together.
Mr.. Dcntam took OCCASION, from the crime
md misery which tile knowledge OF her boards
lad caused, 10 lecture Aunt Helen on the sin L
II avuricc Alltl the love OF money, and she i
ooI his rcbu!se meckly. It has borne good [
ruis. She has now. m establishment bcflttiny