The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-02-17

The mice kept up continual chatter,
but over and above it l began to hear
noises outside. There was o crunching
of the gravel as under some heavy
tread, and under the window heard
mems low voices. I jumped up and
went to the window.
''Hush. hush!' said one voice. .'Sho'll
take tit if she hears rs. Wen haveto
creep in quietly"
''You 60 through the hal" the other
voice answered. "ru take shorter
cut, and climb up here. I know the
shutter has no fastening"
Like lightning l remembered the in
spection the tramp had made of the
vine. 1t was he and an accomplice
with him. Girls, I was horribly fright
ened. but did not lose my senses. 1
was afraid to run down the corridor,
for the other ruffian would be there in
q moment, and besides, what protection
would Claire and Nina be?
determined to sell my life as dearly
as possible, but though I CROPPED about,
could find no missile but the pitcher
and basin, and two heavy candlesticks.
It was q starlight night outside, but
dark as pitch within.
My heart was in my throat when l
heard kind of scramble among the
vines. q low laugh, and an exclamation,
''By Jingo! it's q tougher job than
bargained for!''
heard him step over the railing OF
the balcony, and then saw the shutters
open. and the figure of q man sharply
defined in the dim light. 1 grasped
the pitcher. and threw it with all my
might; aud you know, girls, I'm great
on hitting mark.
l hardly know what happened. ]
heard the man say, "Thunderation!
and make a rush back to the balcony;
but l tell you. everything threw at him
went as straight as an arrow, and the
candlesticks hit him on the head as he
was striding over the baluster.
There was another Thunderstorm
a good deal louder than the first, and
then heard crash and knew my bur-
glar hadn't stopped to count the rounds
Of the ladder. had settled him. that
was certain. Then lost all control Of
myself and commenced screaming just
as loud as the veriest coward. threw
open my door, flew down the corridor,
screeching at every step, not thinking
of the burglar in the touse. 1 got
Claire's door open, and you may guess
what q rumpus followed. 1 don't know
which screamed the loudest. Claire,
Nina or I, but our united voices must
have been terrific.
In moment or two, man appeared
on the threshold. 1.-The other bur-
glar!' cried, selling chair and let
ting it fly at him.
"Oh, good Mr.. Burglar, don't MUIR
der us! You can take anything you
want" sobbed Claire. falling on her
knees and hiding her face with her
hands.
"You little gooseyr' the man said,
advancing in the room, and then q bot
tie of essence l had seized from the
table hit him plump on his shirt-bosom.
care you all mad?" he cried. "Hold
on! Claire. Claire, don't you know
me?'
MAX, Max!' was all I heard, and
then saw her fly into his arms, and l
sat fat down on the floor, for my
strength had gone.
Claire was SO hysterical she could
give no explanation. ASK Mag, she
can tell you," was all she said.
"Miss Bradford, l presume" he
said, smiling at me, "though' didn't
expect the pleasure of meeting you un-
til tomorrow. We've had very sharp
Introduction, " rubbing his chest, "and
I'll be much obliged If you'll tell me
what you were screaming about, and
why 1 should be met as if I was bur-
glar."
Because one did climb up into my
room, and -
1 was interrupted by a burst Of
laughter.
sit was Charlie,'' said Mr.. Gordon.
"He decided to return with me, and
not expecting Miss Bradford until to-
morrow, climbed up into his old quar-
tiers. The impatient fellow wouldn't
wait until the door was opened. I de-
clare. this is capital joker and he
fell in q chair, and laughed uproar-
iously.
sprang to my feet, and I can tell
you, my heart was in my throat ''Mr.
Gordon. Mr.. Gordon" I stammered,
Pm dreadfully afraid I've hurt him
with the pitcher and basin and candle
sticks! I think he fell through the vine,
too. for l heard q crash"
Seriously alarmed. Mr.. Gordon caught
up the lamp and ran down stairs, Claire
following him. remembered had on
nothing but a night gown, but stood
at the head of the steps until l heard
the hall door open, and then q confu-
sion of voices. At last Mr.. Gordon
laughed, and l heard him say:
BY Jove, old fellow! she nearly fin
ished you, though, didn't she? She's
spoiled your beauty for awhile, and look
at my shirt-bosom. She's left her mark
on u.s.
Putting my fingers into my ears,
fled to my room: l crept into bed.
utterly wretched and Inundated. ]
had won glory enough for one night,
surely. In few minutes, Claire stood
by my bedside, but by her voice, Icould
see that she was trying to restrain her
laughter.
"Charlie's all right, Mag" she said,
"and you muslin worry. He deserved
I'LL u0 SOC, AOr cOM'nS upon YOU III Cu8t
way. But, oh, such face as he hasr'
And then she laughed long and loud.
"His nose is as big as an orange, and
he looks as if he had been pummeled
by prize-fighter. Go to sleep, dear.
You won't need an introduction to
Charles tomorrow. did mean you to
strike him. make a deep impression, but
you've surpassed my expectations"
You may imagine, girls, l didn't close
my eyes that night. But the worst was
going down to breakfast the next morn
ing. Mr.. Gordon was very kind, and
tried to put me at my ease, but his
brother was pretty stiff, and his face,
scanned by sticking plaster, looked like
q rainbow.
think he tried to be agreeable, but
of course he must have hated me; and
when something was said jestingly
about my bravery, he laughed in an un.
pleasant, ironical manner, and said,
"Miss Bradford's shrieks were courage.
ously loud"
the man who frightened us had been
hired by Mr.. Gordon for q gardener.
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