The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-11-17


conclusion, $50 / suppose it's all right
to let you have tho key but she wasn't
looking for you until Saturday"
"Probably she did not receive my
postal, which | mailed yesterday
"Well, I'll give you the key, of
course but are you not afraid TO stay
alone in the house? ID
"Oh, I'm not at all timid,' said
Amy.
'But there's gang of burglars
about the city," urged Mrs Gates.
"But you are welcome to come in and
sleep on our parlor sofa, if you are
afraid.
"No, thank YOU" said Amy, Il will
risk it for one night"
She let herself into the deserted
house, not without some thrills of
fear, it must be confessed. How quiet
everything wasl Oh, if Mollie were
only there She took a survey of the
rooms, the kitchen last of all. where
she concluded to look for something to
eat. Hark, what was that! 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! againl Surely that was key
turning in the lock then door open
ed and shut quietly, aud there were
footsteps in the hall. Amy's small
stock of courage went down to zero.
Iustinctively she grasped the poker iy
ing on the range near her. The next
instant the door opened and shut
quietly, and great oadshouldered
man, with blackened face and hands,
stepped into the room. Amy felt her
self growing white with fear, but she
raised her poker threateningly for a
moment they stared at each other in
silence then the man spoke:
| "Who the---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? l would
like to come there and wash my hands,
he said, looking very much inclined to
laugh.
Was ever such effrontery known be
fore7 Still speeches., Amy moved to
what looked to be an outside door.
'.Dont glare at me in that frightful
way" he went on, with glance into
her terror-stricken eyes.
Then came a hearty laugh, which re-
assured Amy very little. Certainly
this was a most extraordinary burglar
or else there was some ridiculous mis-
take. She would flee to Mrs. Gates
protection, at all events, she thought
dropping her weapon, and tugging
away at the huge bolt with trembling
fingers. By this time the young mar
had finished his ablutions, and present
ed quite different appearance.
81 am Mr.. Ackerman's BROTHER" ht
said, politely. ''He asked me to re
main in his house tonight as means
of protection during his absence. u
'Mr Ackerman has no brother" con
tradicted Amy, stoutly
"Are you sure of that 7"
"Certainly | am. Mrs. Ackermar
has Just made me visit. She would
have mentioned if such a person exist
ed"
"Can it be that you are Aunt Hetty {!
"Aunt Hetty? Indeed!7
Amy was finding courage and voic
fast enough now.
81 beg your pardon" said Tom
''but Molle told me she was going t.
visit her Aunt Hetty, and you said sh
had been visiting you; hence my mis-
J take"
II am Mrs. Ackerman's sister"
$ "Strange | never heard her speak G
you! However, am sorry | frighter
, ed you, Miss Arden, and, if you wi
allow me, | will explain matters. l al
a bookkeeper at Bottoms hardware e.
a tablshlnent--"
4 "You look more like bootblack
interrupted Amy.
q "Or a burglar added Tom. "Wel
/ as | was saying, anu bookkeepe
: but there was n press of work in til
0 foundry tonight, and, as they happene
r to be short of hands, | offered to sta
1 and assist. This accounts for my la
t arrival and my blackened face an
/ hands"
He looked very much like indulgin
n in another hearty laugh, but restraine
i himself at the sight of Amy's whi
It distressed face.
d 81 am afraid | was rude" she sal
| lll,nt - s,nh L a..
very tired, and -"
t Tom sprang to her side, or 81
d would have fallen from sheer exhau
ton. He helped her into the parl,
e and brought refreshments from Molle
r generous storeroom, and they we
G soon talking matters over quite calml
:, 1t was after o'clock when Tom pr
e posed to 90 and ask Mrs. Gates to con
e over for the rest of the night, but An
protested against this, saying she W
n not afraid if he would remain in d
It house.
3, Mollie was almost beside herst
n when she came home and found how {
fairs had gone in her absence Cryil
y one mirute over Amy's fright al
'f laughing the next over Toms grapl
10 description of the same, it was sor
time before they settled down into al
p thing like quiet.
AS the days and weeks went by Nj
rs lie could not determine whether c,
he tain plans of hers were to prosper
r. not. Tom spent all his evenings wi
ht them, but he and Amy were always
III the contrary sides of every questic
ct and they tantalized each other so
y" mercifully that poor Mollie sometin
or despaired of their being friends, not
to mention nearer relation.
They were all together, as usual, O
ss evening, and Tom, for the hundred
~ time, was describing Any's appearau
IT, on that memorable evening when $
so nearly Drained him for burglar.
~ "And little did suspect ther,"
er went on, soberly, "she would e,
~ have the nriVilpua of hranJish;nf, ,