The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-04-06

leuSt MolIt cOuiu 10 OH rs she nuU
intended, and she would follow as soon
as Aunt Hetty could spare her. Thus
it happened that Mollie had arrived
home alone.
Amy will certainly come up next
week. ;" she assured John; "but I could
not wait another day. 1t seems an age
since L went away"
1t was so pleasant to be at home once
more and mistress of all she surveyed;
O note from Amy saving she would come
on the following Saturday set her mind
completely at rest. She was really sorry
to hear John say, one morning;
IL think we had better take that run
down to Camden's to-day. Wemust go
sometime this month, and of course you
won't want to go after your sister
comes"
John, you know we cannot stay away
all night; gave Jenny leave of alb
sence until Friday, and it won't do to
leave the house alone"
"I'll get Tom to come and sleep
here"
Mollie had no other reasonable OBJ
lection to offer at this, so she prepared
to go.
"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 the things out"
EYES," said John, sarcastily; cor L
might hire a squad of policemen to
watch the house day and night"
About ii o'clock that evening Miss
Amy Arden alighted from an express
and looked about the depot as if ex-
pecting some one.
"They could not have received my
second postal" she concluded, after
waiting nearly half an hour in the la
dies room. "Well, 1 can very easily
find the 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 q sound
from within. Where could Mollie and
John have gone? There was bright
light in the next house, and Amy re-
membered hearing her sister speak of
her kind neighbor, Mrs. Gatesl perhaps
they were spending the evening with
her, or, at any rate, she might know OF
her whereabouts. Amy ran across the
small grass plot which separated the
two cottages and rang the bell. Mrs.
Gates soon explained matters.
"You do look little like Mrs. Acker-
man when you laugh" she said in con-
clusion, $50 L suppose its all right to let
you have the key; but she wasn't look
ing for you until Saturday"
She probably did not receive my
second postal, which mailed yesterday
morning"
well, I'll give you the key, of course;
but are you not afraid to stay alone in
the house,"
ooh, I'm not at all timid," laughed
Amy.
But there's 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 a
dreadful robbery on State street, and
woman nearly killed. You are welcome
to come in and sleep on our parlor sofa,
If you are afraid"
mo, thank you," Amy said. "I 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 every
thing was! Oh, if Mollie was only there!
She took survey of the rooms, the
neat kitchen last of all, where she con-
cluded to look for something to eat.
Hank 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.
Hank, again! Surely that was key
turning in 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 blackened face and hands
stepped into the room. Amy felt her.
self growing white with fear, but she
raised her poker threatingly; tor mo-
ment they stared at each other in ST.
lence, then the man spoke.
WHO the - are youY
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 you please lower the poker, or
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 affrontery known be-
fore? Still speechless, Amy moved
around toward 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. 81 will look
more presentable when get my face
washed"
Then came 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 Juggling away
at the huge bolt with trembling fingers.
BY this time the young man had
finished his ab1utione and presantad