Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-08
in through the garden instead of the


saw him peering up through the branch
es of the trees towards the window near
which l stood. Shading my eyes, L
looked more closely to see if could tell
who it was, but could not. He wore a
lasge. broad brimmed black hat and
long coat. He seemed to be gazing up
at my window for full minute, and
then he stepped hastily across the yard
and disappeared around the house. l
hurried to.the back window in time to
see him enter the house of Uncle Ben,
our old gardener.
"Pshawr' 4 said to myself. Its
| nobody but Bncle Ben, after ALL Been
overto see some neighbors and come
home late.p VE ELt ,9t.
But still was not exactly satisfied, for
/ kept on thinking about the manner in
which he had come to the house.
1t was just 1880. Mercy! what was /
to do with the remainder of the time till
three o'clock came?
When the excitement occasioned by the
appearance of the figure in the garden
had subsidized little, nv eyelids began
10 get heavy, and almost before knew
it, the chin rested on my chest, and l
was fast asleep.
When | awOke, it was with sudden
start. and almost sprang to my feet
/ wondered why had been aroused so
suddenly. and listened intently to see If
the sound or whatever it was would be
repeated.
4 All was as still as death. Nothing to
meet my listening ear save the mourn
full breeze as it gently rustled the leaves
outside my window; and the faint tick,
tick, of the large clock in the hall down
stairs. Yes, cricket was chirping from
the hearth, and could hear the weird,
lonely boot Of an owl from the neighbor-
ing wood. ,..,-r .-... .... ....-Ofrf
A thrill ran through me. Everything
seemed so completely forsaken-soq quiet
and desolate. Looking at my watch /
discovered that it was exactly two
O'Clock, and indeed, was surprised to
learn that / had been asleep so long
Another hour before my brother would
come. thought il would never do to
allow myself to fall asleep again, and
remembering that there were some APP
Piles in the closet, 1 started to get one,
hoping it would assist me to keep awake.
! had just stopped over the basket when
heard strange, grinding, cutting
sound, very low, but distinct. l turned
to listen, and it came to my ear louder
than before.
l asked myself If it could be huge
rat cutting his way into the pantry be-
low, but the next instant this hope was
driven from me, for the noise was evil
IDENTITY made by something larger than
rat. Some one was trying to affect
an entrance.
Oh, Heaven. what could / do? Sup
pose it were robber attempting to
make an entrance into the house? What
would become of me? l shuddered
and stood like one riveted to the floor.
felt the perspiration stealing out upon
my forehead in great. hot beads. and
almost heard my heart beating. Again
i G>tened in breathless suspense. The
sound was unmistakable this time, and
that it was an intruder did not doubt.
trying to cut his way through some OF
the blinds below.
There were guns in the house, and
could handle one about as we'll as any
country girl; but the fact was they were
all down stairs in the pantry, and if |
attempted to 60 after one | might rush
into the very arms of burglar. Be
sides, did not know where the pantry
key was. Perhaps it was in the Sitting
room, where mother sometimes kept it,
or perhaps in her room; but in what
exact place? Alas! may be she had
taken it away in her pocket. So there
was no hope OF obtaining GUN, and
the only thing remaining for me to dc
was to try and make my escape. But
how?
The thought struck me that might
eXtinguish the lght and hide myself
but then i should ran the risk of being
discovered and perhaps killed.
4 was, indeed, in a state of perplexity
and asked myself what should l do
The sound still grew louder. Whoevel
the intruder was, he was certainly get
ting bolder. rTT I q
unfastehed my shoes and carefully
slipped them OF, then blew out tho
light, and cautiously making my way tC
the door which opened into the balcony
stood just inside and listened. Yes, il
was most certainly at one of the front
windows! Lying down on the floor,
crawled to the edge of the balcony ant
peeped carefully over at the window:
of my mothers room. L-...
/ could see no one, but I could hear
n ~ hOiSO ihuCh pisiluCIs llcn I1dUt
my way TO the other end of the balcony
and looked over in the same manner
To my ineXpressible horror, | saw the
dark figure of a man at one of the par
Tor windows. If he once managed tC
get in, he could goall through the house
except in the pantry.
l saw in an instant that it was tn,
man whom i had seen in the yard
Could it be that our old gardener had
learned OF fathers and mothers alb
SERGE and meant TO take advantage O.
il to rob our house? l could scarcely
believe it, for we had always reposeC
such confidence in Uncle Ben that
did not believe him capable OF such
deed.
The noise ceased for moment anc
looking closely / saw him thrust hi.
hand in through the hole he had GU
and unfasten the blinds Opening then
he tried the window. but fortunately i
could not be lifted from the outside
lie then set To work with his knife
again to cut out the sash. " f-
, How shuddered. He would soon bC
in. and what would become of me: