The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-05-05

4
week, she assured John. ''but could
not wait another day; it seems an age
since l went away"
1t was so pleasant to be Mt homo 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 sorry
to hear John say, one morning:
"I think we had better take that run
down to Camden's to-day. We must go
some time this month, and of course you
won't want to go after your sister comes"
"John, You know We can't stay away
all night; gave Jenny leave of absence
until Friday, and it won't do to leave the
house alone"
"Ill get Tom to come aud sleep here.
Mollie had no other responsible objec.
ton to offer after this, SO she prepared
to go.
"There are three keys" said she, rs
they left the honse. "You can give one
to Tom, aud 1 will leave one with Mrs.
Gates, next door. The house might get
on fire, and then it would be better to
have a key handy. so that they could get
into the house and bring out the
things
Yes" said John, sarcastically "or !
might hire squad of policemen TO
watch the house day and night"
| About eleven o'clock that evening
| Miss Arden alighted from IN express
and locked about the depot as if expect
ing some one.
stThey could not have received my Sec
ond postal" she concluded, after wait
ing for nearly half an hour in the ladies'
room. We'll. | 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 several
times without hearing sound within.
Where could Mollie and John have gone?
There was a light in the next house, aud
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
| of their whereabouts. Amy ran across
the small grass spot that separated the
two cottage and rang the bell. Mrs.
Gates soon explained matters.
lyon do look n little like Mrs. Acker
man when You laugh" she said in con-
clusion, Il suppose it's right to let You
have the key; but she wasn't looking for
yon till Saturday"
''She probably did not receive my sec
ond postal. which mailed yesterday
morning.
'Well, I'll give you the key. of course;
but are you not afraid to stay alone in
houses"
s'Oh, I'm not all timid," laughed Amy.
'But there is a 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
dreadful robbery on State street, and q
woman nearly killed. You are welcome
to come in and sleep on our parior sofa.
| if You are afraid.
"No, thank 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, il must
be confessed. How quiet everything
was. Oh, il Mollie was only thefel She
took survey of the rooms, the kitchen
| last of all, when she concluded 10 look
for something to eat. Harkl what was
| that? o ly the silvcr-toned clock strik-
| ing the midnight hour.
THAT woman's talk about burglars
| has made me nervous, she thought con
/ tinuing her search for eatables.
/ Hark, again Surely that was key
| turning in lock; then door opened and
| shut quietly, and there were footsteps in
the hall. Amy's small stock Of courage
went down to zero. What happened
next? Instinctly she grasped the poker
| lying On tue range near her. The next
instant the door opened, and q great
broad-shouldered man with blackened
face and hands stepped into the room.
Amy felt herself growing white with
fear, but she raised the poker threaten
| ingly; for 0 moment they stared at each
other in silence, then the man spoke.
"Who the-who are you?'
Amy tried to shrek for help, but the
| sound died away in her throat; she was
too thoroughly frightened to speak or
move.
Presently the man came toward her.
"Will yon please lower the poker, or
else move away from the sink? Iwould
| like to come there and wash my hands,
he said, looking very much inclined to
laugh.
Was ever such efrontery known be-
fore? Still speechless, Amy moved
around toward what looked to be an ont
side door.
'sDon't glance at me in that frightful
way" he went on, with glance into her
terror-stricken eyes. II will look more
presentable when get my face washed. :"
Then came hearty laugh which re-
assured Amy a very little. Certainly
this was a most extraordinary burglar. or
| else there was some ridiculous mistake.
| She would flee to Mrs. Gatess protection
at all events, she thought. dropping her
weapon and tugging away at The hinge
| bolt with trembling fingers.
| By this tipe the young man had fin
| ished his ablutions, and presented quite
different appearance.
ST am Mr.. Ackerman's brother he
said politely; she asked me to to remain
in his honse tonight, as meags~of pro-
lection in his absence"
Mr.. Ackerman bas no brother" con-
tradicted Amy >stontly.
Are you sure of that?"
Certainly I am. Mrs. Ackerman has
| just made me visit, and size would
Eave mentioned him il such a person
existed"
''Can it be possible you are Aunt
Hetty?"
Aunt Hetty indeed"
fast enough now.
ST beg Your pardon" said Tom; "bnt
Mollie told me she was going to visit her
Aunt Hetty, and you said she had been
visiting you, hence the mistake. !"
81 am Mrs. Ackerman's sister"
Strange never heard her speak of
You! However, am sorry that |
frightened yon, Miss--Miss Arden, and
If you will allow me / will explain mat
ters. am bookkeeper at Bottoms hard
ware establishment"
"You looked more like bootblack," F"
interrupted Amy, ready to cry with yex-
alton and nervousness.