Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-19

stared at each other in silence, then
the man spoke:
p "Who the deuce are you?'
Amy tried to shrek for help, but the
sound died away in her throat. She
was too frightened to speak or move.
Presently he came toward her.
"Will you please lower the poker, or
move away from the sink? I would Ike
to come there and wash my hands, he
said looking very muck inclined to
laugh.
Was ever such effrontery known be-
fore? Still speechless, Amy moved
around to what looked to be an outside
door.
"Don't glare at me in that frightful
way" he went on, with glance into
her terror-stricken eyes.
Then came hearty laugh, which re-
assured Amy a very little. Certainly,
this was most extraordinary burglar,
or else there was some ridiculous mis-
take. She would fee to Mrs. Gates
protection, at all events, she thought,
dropping her weapon, and tugging away
at the huge bolt, with trembling fin
gers. By this time the young man had
finished his ablutions, and presented
quite different appearance.
81 am Mr.. Ackerman's BROTHER he
said, politely. "He asked me to remain
in his house, tonight, as a means of
protection, during his absence"
''Mr. Ackerman has no brother" con-
tradicted Amy, stoutly.
''Are you sure Of that?'
"Certainly am. Mrs. Ackerman just
made me visit. She would have men
toned him il such a person existed"
"Can it be that you are Aunt HettyY
"Aunt Hetty? IndeedI"
Amy was finding courage and voice
fast enough, now.
"I beg your pardon, y said Tom. "But
Mollie told me she was going to visit
her Aunt Hetty, and you said she had
been visiting you; hence my mistake. !"
81 am Mrs. Ackerman's sister,"
''Strange I never heard her speak Of
you'll However, am sorry frightened
you, Miss Arden, and if you will allow
me, I will explain matters. 1 am a
book-keeper at Bottoms hardware es-
tablishment-"
"You looked more like bootblack, :"
interrupted Amy.
''Or burglar" added Tom. "Well,
as was saying, 1 am book-keeper.
but there was a press of work in the
foundry to night, and as they happened
to be short of hands, I offered to stay
and assist. This accounts for my late
arrival and my blackened face and
hands,"
He looked very much like indulging
in another hearty laugh. but restrained
himself at the sight of Amy's white dis
tressed face.
81 am afraid was rude" she said,
but it was such a shock to me. am
very tired, and"
Tom sprang to her side, or she would
have fallen from sheer exhaustion. He
helped her into the parlor. and brought
refreshments from Mollie's generous
storeroom, and they were soon talking
matters over quite calmly. 1t was after
two o'clock when Tim proposed to go
and ask Mrs. Gates to come over for the
rest of the night, but Amy protested
against this, saying she was not afraid
if he would remain in the house.
MoIlie was almost beside herself
when she came home and found how
affairs lad gone in her absence. Crying
one minute over Amy's fright and
laughing the next over Toms graphic
description of the same. it was some
time before they settled down into any,
thing like quiet.
As the days and weeks went by,
Mollie could not determine whether
certain plans of hers were to prosper or
not. Tom spent all his evenings with
them, but he and Amy were always on
the contrary sides OF every question,
and they tantalized each other SO un-
mercifully that poor Mollie sometimes
despaired of their being friends, not to
mention a nearer relation.
They were all together, as usual, one
evening, and Tom, for the hundredth
time, was describing Amy's appearance
on that memorable evening when she
so nearly Drained him for burglar.
"And little did suspect then,' he
went on, soberly, 'she would ever have
the privilege Of brandishing the poker
over me for life."
what do you mean?" cried Mollie,
staring, first at Toms solemn visage,
and then at Amy's flushed cheeks.
"Just what I said. Amy and are
going to set up housekeeping in the
opposite cottage, where I suppose she
will continue to flourish all sorts of
murderous weapons at me-"
John, dear, it's coming about ex-
actly as we planned" shouted Mollie,
springing up in excitement.
Well, it did come about just IS Mol
lie desired. Mrs. Amy even made car