The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-07-22

| ouOOh liU Ae'O an sAAAc NAAAAS
and whispered:
"It isn't rats. Listen moment and
see if you don't hear it too
81 held my breath and listened, and
sure enough there was some one walking
overhead In moment steps came
down the garrett stairs and the door at
front was tried, but finding it fastened
the whoever it was-mounted
again. | was dreadfully frightened, and
would Lave screamed had not Andrew
held her hand on my mouth and whis-
pered tiercely,
"Keep quiet Don't you dare make
noise"
ave lay quiet moment more, listen
ing, every nerve at its utmost tension,
and at last Audrey sprang up, saying:
"I can't stand this another moment.
I'm going to see who it is. Will you
come with me, or stay here AliceF
"Oh, good gracious" I whispered, I'll
go, of course; don't leave me" and l
creps tremblingly out of bed after her.
"'Light the candle, Audrey! I whis-
pered.
"'No, whatever we do must be done
in the dark she answered. I'VE have
the advantage over them of knowing
Just where the furniture is, so we need
not make noise. Hush! hear some
one on the front shed'
She took the revolver from the chair
by the bed, and we crept softly into the
front room. The blinds were down, but
on one OF them was cast the shadow Of
a man outside. felt like fainting, but
Audrey went noiselessly forward and
lifting up the end of the window shade
peeped out. There stood the wicked
looking tramp who had been at the door
that morning. He stopped to unlatch
the shutter. Audrey dropped the blind
and motioning me to stand back, held
the revolver close to the window and
fired There was a horrible oath and
scream Of pain, and the fellow leaped off
the shed.
Chloe, reused by the report of the
pistol, came rushing into the room, her
dusky skin changed to an ashy white,
and her eyes round as saucers with ter
ror. sat down on the floor and cried,
and Audrey, who had dropped into
chair, was trembling all over. 1t was
horrible watch we three women kept
that night, and the hours seemed to
crawl until the first tinge of dawn. AS
soon as it was fairly light we crept
down stairs to the kitchen, where we
waited till Jonas should come as usual.
Finally we heard him try the door, and
knock loudly, calling out:
"For Heaveu's sake, Chloe, let me in!
Is any one murdered
"We fastened to admit him, fright
ened and almost breathless, for he had
found blood all along the road and
traced it to the front of the piazza.
Well. to shorten my story, Audrey and
J. took an early train to the city that
morning and told the story. There was
general turning out here to search
for the burglar, and he was traced by the
blood to a little howell not far from here,
and easily caught, weakened and suffer
ing as he was from bad wound in his
shoulder Audrey had saved us all by
her bravery and presence Of mind, from
even murder, perhaps, for he proved to
be an escaped convict Of the worst type,
and had a very ugly-looking knife con-
cealed in his clothes. Now. do you
wonder that i feel safe with AudreyT
"Pshaw, Birdie, you make too much
of little matter" says Audrey, passing
her hand caressiugly over the golden
head.
"Hark what's thatf' says Alice, as
a footstep.falls on the gravel outside the
window.
We all think Of the burglar and press
close together but Audrey starts up,
her face lit up with some secret emotion,
and listens intently. The door opens,
and o tall figure enters, undistinguisha-
BILE to the rest of US by reason of the
heavy cloak and hat drawn down over
the face.
But with a cry of exceeding jov q
slender figure fits across the bright
kitchen floor, and in moment is clasped
close in the embrace Of Max.
'.Look, girls p cries Annie, "the shad-
ow kissing Audrey again-didn't tell
you it was his wrath come to give her
warningY'
"No shadow, Annie, but a blessed re-
atty" says Alice, as she quickly motions
| ma all IN follow her ont of the room.