Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-27


neighbor, Mrs. Gates! perhaps they were
spending the evening with her, or at any
rate, she might know of their where
abouts. Am = ran across the small grass
plot which separated the two cottages
aud rang the bell. Mrs. Gates soon ex.
planned matters.
man when yon laugh" she said in con-
clusioD, $50 l suppose its all right to
let you have the key; but she wasn't
looking for you until Saturday."
"She probably did not receive my
second postal. which mailed yesterday
morning."
"Well, I'll give you the key, CT
course, but are you not afraid to stay
alone in the house?"
sob, I'm not ut all timid,' laughed
Amy.
but there's gang Of burglars about
the city," urged Mrs. Gates. "They've
been in thee houses on this street, and
only last Saturday there was dreadful
robbery on State Street, and a woman
nearly killed. You are welcome to come
in and sleep on our paror sofa, il yon
arc afraid"
"No, thank you," Amy said. 81 will
risk it for one night, and You say John
and Mollie will return to morrow"
| She let herself into the deserted house,
not without some thrills of fear, it must
be confessed. How quiet everything
wa! Oh, if Molly was only there!
She took survey Of tho rooms, the neat
kitchen last of all, where she concluded
to look fer Something to eat. Hank!
what was that? Only the silver toned
clock striking the midnight hour.
"That womau's talk about burglars
has made me Gelvous," she thought,
continuing her search for catables.
| Hark, again! Surely thai was key
tuning in lock; then door opened
and shut quietly, and there were foot
steps in The hail. Amy's small stock 81
c;uragel weat down to gro. What
would happen next? Instlnctivcly she
srasped the poker lying OH tue range
near her. The next instant the door
opened end great, broad shouldered
man, with blackened face and hands,
stepped into the room Amy felt herself
| growing white with fear, but she raised
her poker tbr. atenirgly; for moment
they stared at each other in silence, then
the man spoke.
WlO tue - are YOu!
Amy tried to shrek for help. but the
sound led away in her throat; she
was too thoroughly brighten d to speak
or move.
Presently the man came toward her.
"Wi you please lower the poker, or
else move away from the sink? I 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 epeechless, Amy moved
around toward what locked to he an out
side door.
Don't glare at me in that fr;ghtful
way" he went on, with a glance into
her terror stricken eyes. II will look
more presentable when get my face
Washed"
Then came hearty laugh. which reas-
sured Amy very little. Certainly this
was most extraordinary burglar. or else
there was some ridiculous mistake. She
would flee to Mrs. Gates's protection,
at all events, she thought, dropping her
weapon and tugging away at the huge
bolt with trembling fingers.
By this time tue young man had flu
ished his ablutions, and presented quite
a different appearance.
81 am Mr.. Ackerman's :brother,' be
said, politely; che asked me to remain
in his house tonight, as means of pre-
lection in his absence"
s'Mr. Alderman has no brother" con-
tradicted Amy, stoutly.
"Are you sure OF that?"
'tCertainly I am. Mrs. Alderman
has just made me visit, and she would
have mentioned him if snch a person
existed"
"Can it be possible your are Aunt
Hetty
."Aunt Hetty, indeed!"
Amy was finding courage and voice
fast enough COW.
II beg your PARDON" sid Tom but
Mollie told me she was going to visit
her Aunt Hetty, and you said she had
been visiting You hence my mistake"
| Il am Mrs. Ackerman's sister,"
'Strange never heard her speak OF
you However, am sorry 1 frightened
you Miss-Miss Arden, and if you will
allow me I will explain matters. I am a
bookkeeper at Bottoms hardware estab-
ishment--"
t'You looked more like bootblack,"
interrupted Amy, ready to cry with vex-
alton and nervousness
"Or a burglar" said Tom. "WelI,
as was saying, am bookkeeper there,
but there was Il press OF work at the
foundry tonight, and, as they hap
pened to be short of hands, I offered to
stay aud assist; this accounts for my late
arrival, also for my blackened face and
hands. Have you examined the photo
graphealbum ?" he asked suddenly. "If
you will kindly do so Think you will
find very good representation of me
there, which will convince you that am
on terms Of intimacy here, ut least. !" f.. -, =.
He looked very much like indulgipg in
another hearty laugh, but restrained
himself at the sight of Amy's white dis
tressed face. ..s1.c2> %s=ss5s..E p:
Sc am afraid I was rude" she said;
"but twas such q shock to me; I am
very tired and -" %.:,I.s1.s .s5
Tom sprang to her side or she would
have fallen from sheer exhaustion. He
helped her into the parlor, brought wine:
and efreshments from Mollie's generous
store room, and they were soon talking
matters over quite calmly. It was after
2 O'clock when Tom 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.
Mol,ie was almost beside herself when
she come home and found how affairs
had gone in her absence; crying one
minute over Amy Is fright, laughing the
next over Toms graphic description Of
the same, It was some time before, they
settled down into anything like quiet.