The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-10


'YeE didn't give the young oman too
much, did ycr9" 1t asked anxiously. ;
"Wish had," answered Alice's low,
stcalthy voice. 81 hate her She suspects
me.n :.
''Ha, ha |" gurglcd the man. She must
ha' been purity oncivil TO yer; yer usually
gets on the right side of 'cm. Is that 'cr
pitcher silver or rlatc2'
'Platc. The silver is up stairs, =
Flora shook as she heard the venom of
that low voice. "n"
She was MIR. Langlcy's lady-love- till
her old grandma stopped it,"
And what were Mr. Langley to yer, my
girl " said the man. .f"'
"Eiush you II wake the child. and l
don't want to do him any harm. MIR. Lang
ley" The woman's voice softcncd, "He
never said dozen words to nc in his life 4,
but, look you, Vincent, l worshlpped
him."
''That's right. Tell me all, aspm your
husband that is to be-" he said, with a
coarse laugh. y
Mrs. Kent has splendid jewels, too. 1
picked the lock to look ut them. You can
take as many of those as you like Come"
AS soon Us the sound of their footsteps
died away, Flora snatchcd the deadly
handkerchief from her head and staggered
to her feet, though dizzily. She was
very spirited girl, and determined that the
par should not escape. But what could
she do2 1t was vain to think of getting the
cook to alarm their ncigh6ors at the corner,
Tor the next lot was vacant, and she must
cross the hall, and 20 past the stairs to find
her. There would be no use in throwing
up the window and screaming; the house
was on Clinton avenue, far out, and the
policemen did not come past very often.
Flora wrung her hands, when a sleepy
murmur Of ''aunte |" startled her. In a
second her resolve was taken, and she was
on her knees by Fred, kissing him and say
ing.
erred! my darling, auntic is going to do
something very funny. You remember
how papa jumped you down from the bal
cony on Christmas day 10 run after the
monkey. I'm going to jump you down
now. Don't speak a word. Act like Il
man. Thcre!"
Fred was just four years old, but great
boy for bis age, and he always obcycd
Flora implicitly; so he rubbed his sleepy
eyes wide open, and was carried to the
window. 1he balcony, outside, was not far
from the ground. AS Flora looked out,
light, tall figure with a CLEAN of brass
buttons.
Fred" she whispered, rapidly, "run
fast to the policeman, and tell him he must
come right here to auntie; then 70 to Mr..
Motlcy's Mt the corner, and ring tho bell
with all your night-lt is low and you can
reach it-and tell George and Harry Mot
ley that Aunt Flora says there is thief in
the house. Don't be afraid, Fred; be
man like papa!'
Over; softly, gently, over the low railing;
and then, with II good shake of his small
person, Frcd's fat legs trottcd swiftly off
toward the policeman.
Directly under the balcony q voice said,
very softly:
whats wanted, ma'am2 Can you
open the front door for me2"
~ cannot" she painted; "there are bur-
glars in the house, and should be heard
Couldn't you get up here somehow? Has
the little boy gone to the neighbors?'
There was no answer to this question,
but the policeman easily followed her sug-
gcstion, and climbed up over the balcony.
The fire had now died out IN the room, the
only light was faint glimmcr from the
hail.
"WMt! !" whispered Flora, laying her
cold hand on the policeman's arm as he
made motion to 60 forward. '.Thcy are
up-stair, in my room, looking for
my jewels. If you will stand just be-
hind that door, will creep up the back
stairs and reconnoitrc; if the woman comes
down to answer the bell, seize her. There
is but one man; if want help l will call,
and then you must rush up the front
stairs"
care you not afraid2 asked the police
man, with some surprise; but Flora was
gone before he had finished the remark.
When she reached the stars, she found
by the sounds, that the man had evidently
gone into the silver closet, which stood on
the other side of the back stairs, and that
now she was between the two-for she
could hear Alice walking about III her
room. Quick as flash, the little figure
glidcd up the stairs, slipping off her boots
on the lowest step; there was no light IN
the hall, except that afforded by the burg
lars lantern, for the gas was turned down
low, and the lantern set inside the closet
door. That door opened outward, ane the
key was in it; spring, a sudden bang, and
then tho click of the key in Flora's
nervous fingers, as she turned it in the
lock.
~ tremendous curse came from the cap
tured thief, rs she leaned brcathlcssly
against the door. The same moment the
gaslight was turned on. and Alice con-
trontcd Flora.
''Iou here, MADAME Well you and /
arc quits, anyhow. Open that door, or
III send q bullet right through your head!
You didn't think Of my having the revolver,
did you?"
''No," said Flora, looking in the girls
furious eye with her peculiarly calm smile.
Then she shouted, "Hclpl Police i"
You may split your pretty throat call
ing, said Alice, scizing her savagcly by the
arm. mo enc viii come; the cooks drug.
gcd, and you're at ou: mercy. Give me
the kcy9"
''l'll trouble you fol that pistol" said
stern voice behind Flora, as Il thick, strong
arm jcrkcd the weapon away from Alice.
Alice, with shrek, fell Oh the floor, for
she realized all at once But Flora gazcd
as if turned to stone, for it was Langley
Temple that she saw.
'Ah, my Godl" she exclaimed,