The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-02

| ascertain respecting Us anu our analTS.
l went to the corridor window again
and listened. Tie noise made by the
, men was now plainly distinguishable.
1t seemed that they were trying to file
, or cut their way through some obstruc.
ton. After listening for q few mo-
ments, went back to my room and be-
gan almost mechanically to put on a
few articles of clothing, asking myself
again and again as did so whether il
{ was not possible to do something
though what that something ought to
be | knew no more than the man il
{ the moon. The nearest house was q
/ quarter of 2 mile away; and even ii
could have stolen out unnoticed by way
of the front door. before l could have
reached the farm and brought back
help the burglars would have affected
their purpose and decamped. Our
pecuniarY means at that time were very
fstraitened. For some time back John
had been paying of some old family
debts; and tho loss of the ninety
pounds-which, as a matter of course.
he would feel bound TO make good
would be great blow to him. If |
could only have got at the money. and
have hidden it where the burglars
would not be likely TO find it, felt that
! should have accomplished something.
But the bag was locked up in John S
strong mahogany desk, and was as ut
terly beyond my reach rs if it had been
in the cOAers of the Bank of England,
while yet it could hardly have been
| placed more conveniently ready to the
hands of the thieves. To them the
strong mahogany desk would seem
i triiiing obstacle indeed.
All this time, metaphorically speak
ing, was wIinging my hands, know
ing full well how precious were the fast
iieeting moments, but only feeling my
helple5sness the more | strove to dis
cern some loophOle of escape. o, the
wretchedness of such feeling.
! hope never to experience it again in
the same degree as l experienced it
that night.
The lightning, if not quite so vivid
rs it had been a little while previously,
still came in as frequent flashes, and
by its light my sister and l made q
hurried toilet. Our house stood little
way back from the high road, from
which it was divided by tiny lawn
and a low screen of evergreens. Once
or twice in the course of the night one
Of the ploanted constabulary would
ride slowly past rs he went his rounds;
but [ was without any knowledge as to
the particular time when he might be
expected, or whether. in fact, the time
at which he might be looked for at any
specified point did not vary from night
to night. Still, there was just posi-
bility that he might put in an appear
ance at any moment, so | stationed
Bessie at the window to keep lookout
for MIN, and bein readiness to raise an
alarm the moment she heard the tramp
of his horse's boots. For once in y
way the lightning was something to be
thanked for; each flash lighted up the
high road for p considerable distance
on both sides of the house.
When this was. done. i. seemed as if
everything possible had been done; and
yet il was next 30 nothing. With both
hands pressed to my eyes, 1 stood think
ing sss l seemed never to have thought
before. Then it was tlrat-as sudden,
swift and startling Us one of those
flashes which We're monrently iilumin-
ing the outer world-an idea shot
through my brain which for an instant
or two seemed to cause my heart to
stand still. And yet at the first blush
it was an idea that had about it some
thing so prepOsterous, so ludicrous,
even, that had the need been at all less
imminent, | should have discarded it at
once as little better than the inspira-
ton Of mad woman. But, preposter-
ous as the idea might seem, for the life
of me l could think of no other, and
every minute now was invaluable.
There was no time for hesitation. |
must discard il or adopt it. and that
without moments delay. 81 will try
it; it can but fail" l said to myself,
with an inward groan.
On the toilet table WAS jar of white
tooth powder, which had been repien-
iShed the previous day. Ishook out 3
quantity of this powder, shut my eyes,
and proceeded to rub it thickly over
my face, arms, and hands. That done,
| drew the white coverlet off the bed.
and draped myself with it loosely from
head to foot; then unbound my hair.
which in those days was ebon black
and reached below my waist, and shook
it round my face and over my shoulders
in ''most admired disorder" | was
now ready for the role had made up
my mind to enact.
Bessie has told me since that she
thought had taken leave OF my senses.
Just at the moment my toilet was COM
pleted, and as | turned and advanced
toward her, another long, quiyering
flash lighted up the room. A low Shrek
burst involuntarily. from my sisters
lips, and she shrank away from me as
though l was something altogether un-
canny.
80 Barbara. dear, what is the mat
ter:?H she cried. "Why do you frighien
me so?' -'-r
at is not you want to frighten, but
the men down stairs L replied. Then,
in q few hurried words, 1 told her my
plan.
She would hare tried to dissuade me:
but there was no time to listen. Le2v-
ing her there watching by the window.
ready to raise an alarm in case the
mounted constable should pass on his
round, stole swiftly and noise!essly
down the c&rpeted staircase, and only
paused when l reached the corridor
below. l could hear subdued mur-
mur of voices, and a moment later I
was startled by noise of failing glass.
The burglars had succeeded in elect
ing an entrance. They and were
separated only by the drawing room
door, which. although locked. was an
obstacle that very few minutes would
suffice to overcome With ar indraw-
ing of my breath L sped quickly past
the door along the length of the cor