Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-06-01

declared she must die II left alone with
the servants, and Amy felt obliged 10
postpone her visit for n few days at
least. Mollie could go on as she had
intended, and she would follow as soon
as Aunt Hetty could spare her. Thus
It happened that Mollie arrived home
alone.
"Amy will certainly come up next
week" she assured John; ''but / could
not wait another day. IL seems an age
since went away
It was so pleasant to be at home once
more, and mistress Of all she surveyed;
a note from Amy saying she would come
on the following Saturday set her mind
completely at rest She was really sor-
~ to hear John say, one morning
81 think we had better take that run
down to Camden's to-day. We must
90 some time this month. and Of course
you won't want to 60 after your sister
comes"
"John, you know we cannot stay away
all night; 1 gave Jenny leave Of absence
until Friday, and it won't do to leave
the house alone"
'rll get Tom to come and sleep
here"
Mollie had no other reasonable objec-
tion to offer after this, so she prepared
to 60.
There are three keys" said she, as
they left the house. "You can give one
to Tom, and will leave one with Mrs,
Gates, next door. The house might get
on fire, and then it would be better to
have KEY handy. so they could get in
the house and bring out the things"
"Yes," said John, sarcastically; ''or
might hire squad ofpolicemen to watch
the house day and night"
About eleven o clock that evening Miss
Amy Arden alighted from an express
and looked about the depot as If expect
ing some one.
"They could not have received my
second postal" she. concluded, after
waiting nearly half an hour in the ladies'
room. "Well. / can very easily find
their house."
A hack soon deposited her in front of
the pretty cottage on Lake street; all
was dark, and Amy pulled the bell sew
eral times without hearing a sound from
within. Where could Mollie and John
have gomez There was a bright light in
the next house, and Amy remembered
hearing her sister speak of her kind
neighbor. Mrs. Gates; perhaps they were
spending the evening with her, or, at
any rate, she might know oftheir where
abouts. Amy ran across the small grass
plot which separated the two cottages,
and rang the bell. Mrs. Gates soon ex-
planned matters.
"You do look little like Mrs Acker-
man when you laugh" she said in con-
clusion, $50 suppose it's all right to let
you have the key; but she wasn't look
ing for You until Saturday."
''She probably did not receive my Sec
ond postal, which / mailed yesterday
morning.
'Well, Pngive you the key, ofcourse;
but are you not afraid to stay alone in
the housep''
"Oh, I'm not at all timid," laughed
Amy.
"But there's gang of burglars about
the city," urged Mrs. Gates. They've
been in three houses on this street, and
only last Sunday night there was adread-
full robbery on State street, and awoman
.nearly killed. You are welcome to come
in and sleep on our parlor sofa if you
are afraid"
mo, shank you," Amy said. II will
| risk it for one night, and you say John
| and Mollie will return tomorrow"
| She let herself into the deserted house,
not without some thrills of fear it must
be confessed. How quiet everything
was! Oh, if Mollie were only there! She
took survey of the rooms, the neat
kitchen last Of all, where she concluded
to look for something to eat. Hark!
what was thatp Only the silver-toned
clock, striking the midnight hour.
THAT woman's talk about burglars
has made me nervous she thought,
continuing her search for eatables.
| Hark, again! Surely that was key
turning in a lock; then door opened
and shut quietly, and there were foot
| steps in the hall. Amy's small stock
of courage went down to zero. What
would happen next? Instinctively she
grasped the poker lying on the range near
her. The next instant the door opened,
and great broad-shouldered man with
blaekened face and hands stepped into
the room. Amy felt herself growing
white with fear, but she raised her poker
threateningly; for moment they stared
at each other in silence, then the man
spoke. XII
WHO the-who are youp"
| Amy tried to shrek for help, but the
sound died away in her throat; she was
too thoroughly frightened TO speak OF
move.
Presently the man came toward her.
| .'Will you please lower the poker, OF
else move away from the sink? / would
like to come there and wash my hands,
he said, looking very much inclined to
laugh.
Was ever such effrontery known be.
forep Still speechless, Amy moved around
toward what looked to be an outside
door.
Don't glare at me in that frightful
way,n he went on with glance into hel
terror-stricken eyes. II will look more
presentable when ! get my face wash.
| ed.n
1 Then came a hearty laugh which ire
assured Amy q ayery little. Certainly
this was q most extraordinary burglar
or else there was some ridiculous mis-
take. She would flee to Mrs. Gates
protection at all events, she thought
i dropping her weapon and tugging away
at the huge bolt with trembling fingers
BY this time the young man had fin
ished his ablutions, and presented quite
Il diffarant annaaranca
II am Mr. Ackerman's brother" hi
said politely; "he asked me to remain