Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-01-26
..pIsie. ~ sllrer is up stairs. !,

girl " said the man.
Hush you'll wake the child. and /
don't want to do him any HARM Mr.. Lang
ley" The woman's voice softened, ''He
never said a dozen words TO me in his life /:
but, look you, Vincent, / worshIpped
him."
That's right Tell me az, as I'm your
husband that is 10 be-" he said, with a
coarse laugh.
'tMrs. Kent has splendid jewels, too.
picked the lock TO look at them. You can
take as many Of those as you like. Come" ("
AS soon as the sound of their footsteps
died away, Flora snatched the deadly
handkerchief from her head and staggered
TO her feet, though dizzily. She was a
very spirited girl, and determined that the
PAIR should not escape. But what could
she dol II was vain TO think of getting the
cook TO alarm their neighbors at the corner,
for 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
|
second her resolve was taken, and she was
on her knees by Fred, kissing him and say
| ing
Erred. my darling, auntie is going to do
something very funny. You remember
how papa jumped you down from the bal
cony on Christmas day to run after the
monkey. I'm going to jump you down
now. Don't speak a word. Act like a
man. Therei"
Fred was just four years old, but great
boy for his age, and he always obeyed
Flora implicitly; SO he rubbed his sleepy
eyes wide open, and was carried TO the
window. The balcony, outside, was not far
from the ground. As Flora looked out,
carefully, she saw. under the corner gas
light, tail figure with gleam of brass
buttons.
Fred" she whispered, rapidly, ''run
fast TO the policeman, and tell him he must
come right here TO auntie; then 90 to Mr.
AlOIley's al the corner, and ring the bell
with all your nllght-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 a
man like papa!"
Over; softly, gently, over the low railing;
and then, with good shake of his small
person, Freds fat legs trotted swiftly off
toward the policeman.
Directly under the balcony voice said,
very softly:
What's wanted, ma'aml Can you
open the front door for mel"
81 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 neigLbors!'
There was no answer to this question, |
but the policeman easily followed her sug- |
gestion, and climbed up over the balcony. |
The fire had now died out In the room, the |
only light was FAINT glimmer from the |
hall.
''Walt J" whispered Flora, laying her |
cold hand on the policeman's arm as he
made motion TO go forward. They 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 reconnoitre; if the woman comes |
down to answer the bell, seize her. There |
is but one Nan; if want help l will call, |
and then You must rush up the front /
stairs"
''Are you not afraid asked the police
man, with some surprise; but Flora was
gone before he had finished the remark.
When she reached the stairs, 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 In her
room. Quick as flash, the little figure
glided up the stairs, slipping off her boots
on the lowest step; there was no light In
the hail, 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 1t; spring, sudden bang, and
tnen the click Of the key in Flora's
nervous fingers, as she turned it in the
lock.
A tremendous curse came from the cap
tured thief, as she leaned breathlessly
against the door. The same moment the
gaslight was turned on, and Alice con-
fronted Flora.
''You here, MADAME Well. you and l
are quits, anyhow. Open that door, or
I'll send bullet right through your head
You didn't think of my having the revolver,
did youl"
NO." said Flora, looking in the girls
furious eye with her peculiarly calm smile.
Then she shouted, ''Help. Police !"
You may sprt your pretty throat call
Ing, said Alice, seizing her savsgely by the
arm. '.No one will come; the cooks drug
ged, and you're at our mercy. Give me
the keyln
'I'll trouble you for that pistol" said a
stern voice behind Flora, as thick, strong
arm jerked the weapon away from Alice.
Alice, with a shrek, fell on the floor, for
she realized all at once. But Flora gazed
as if turned TO stone, for it was Langley
Temple that she saw.
''Ah, my God!" she exclaimed.
''Flora, don't be SO terrified" he said,
cit is my very self, no ghost. Take my
hand, love; see, it's flesh and blood like
your own"
The Motleys had time to think that
Flora was murdered before the pair opened
the door. Very much surprised were they
TO see instead of the policeman they ex-
pected to find, a very tall, handsome man,
a stranger, in undress uniform. Fred,
nOW lbut ulo Pdlt VI llC ldu W 40 OfCA, w
gan TO roar, and Flora took him up in her
arms, while the four gentlemen, assisted
by the policeman, opened the closet and
secured the prisoner.
Langley's story Is too long to be told
here; suffice it to say that, being on deck
when the Tecumseh sunk he had been able
to strike out from the sinking ship, and,
under cover from the smoke and war of
battle, swan ashore. There he was taken
prisoner and kept in confinement for
months, finally making his escspe.
Langley and Flora were married very
quietly soon after. Frank gave away the
lovely, BRIDE, whose fair, girlIsh bloom had
come back to her, and who, under the in
fluence of love, seemed different woman
from the pale, sad creature who had moved
SO qnietly about my house.
Man is like an engine-it will run |
-. I. - IL