Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-10-16
"Well, I can very easily find the

hILlECua AMY TAI aS-Do1 L--g A---Ae@--
grass plot and rang the bell.
Mrs. Gates from next door soon ex-
planned matters.
"She probably did not receive my sec
ond note, which I posted yesterday
morning"
"Wei, Tu give you the key; but are.
you not afraid to stay all alone IN the
hOuse?"
ooh, Pm not at all timid," laughed
Amy.
There's a gang of burglars about the
neighbOrhOod," urged Mrs. Gates.
They've been in three houses In this
street, and only last Sunday night there
was dreadful robbery in the next street
and a man nearly killed. You are vel
come to come in and sleep on our sofa If
you are afraid"
"No, thank YOU" Amy said. 81 will
risk it for one night, and you say Mr..
and Mrs. Alderman will return tO-mOr-
row."
She let herself into the deserted house,
not without some thrills Of fear, 1t must
be confessed. How quiet everything was!
Oh, if Minnie were only there! She
took a survey of the rooms, the neat
kitchen last of all, where she concluded
to look for something to eat. Hark!
what was that? Only the silver-tOned
clock striking eleven.
Chat WOman's talk about burglars has
made me nervous" she thought, con-
tinuing her search for eatables.
Hank, againl Surely that was a key
turning in a lock; then a 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 fender. The
next instant the door opened, and a
broad al hlanErnv7aI
face and hands stepped into the room.
Amy felt herself growing white with
fear, but she raised her poker threaten
ingly. For a moment they stared at
| each other in silence, then the man
spoke:
"Who the deuce are your"
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.
evil you please lower the poker, or
| else move away from the sink? I would
! like to come there and wash my hands, a."
! he said, looking very much inclined to
! laugh.
Was ever such effrontery known be-
! fore? Still speechless, Amy moved round
toward what appeared to be an outside
| door.
Don't glare at me in that frightful
way" he went on, with a glance into her
| terrOr-stricken eyes. 81 will look more
presentable when get my face washed
clean"
Then came a hearty laugh, which re-
! assured Amy a very little. Certainly this
/ was a most extraoI binary burglar, or else
! there was some ridiculous mistake, she
| thought, dropping her weapon and tug
| ging vigorously at huge bolt with trem-
bling fingers.
By this time the young man had fin
ished his additions, and presented quite
a different appearance.
''I am Mr.. Ackerman's brother" he
said, politely. "He asked me to remain
in his house tonight, as a means of pro
lection in his absence"
"Mr. Alderman has no brother" con
| tradicted Amy, stJutly.
Are you sure of that?"
Certainly I am. Mrs. Alderman has
just paid me a visit, and she would have
mentioned him if such a person ex
listed"
Can it be possible you are Aunt Mar
garrett"
"Aunt Margaret, indeed"
Amy was finding courage and voice
enough now.
Il beg your pardon" said Tom, ''bu
Minnie told me she was going to visi
her Aunt Margaret, and you said she
had been visiting you; hence my mis-
take"
81 am Mrs. Ackerman's sister"
Strange 1 never heard her speak o.
you! However, 1 am sorry 1 frightened
you, Miss-Miss Arden, and if you vii
allow me I will explain matters. 1 an
bOOk-keeper at Bottoms foundry"
, "YOu look more like Captain Moon
> light" interrupted Amy, ready to cry
with VeXatiOn and nervousness.
COR a burglar" added Tom. "Well
as was saying, / am bOOk-keeper there
! but as there was a press Of work in the
foundry tonight, and as they happened
to be short of hands, 1 offered to stay
and assist; this accounts for my black
, ened face and hands. Have you ex
amined the photograph album" be
asked, suddenly. eff you will kindly do
this, think you will find a very gOOC
representation of me there, which vii
convince you that 1 am at least on terms
? of intimacy here"
He looked very much like indulging IL
another hearty laugh, but restrained
himself at the sight Of Amy's white anC
distressed face.
II am afraid was rude" she said
! ''but it was such a shock to me. an
f very tired and"
Tom sprang to her side, or she would
have fallen from sheer exhaustion. HI
f helped her into the drawing-room
brought wine and refreshments from
Minnie's well-stOcked cupboard and they
{ were soon talking matters over quit
} calmly.
It was after two o'clock when Ton
= proposed to go and ask Mrs. Gates t.
come over for the rest of the night; bu
t Amy protested against this, saying sh
2 was not afraid if he would consent to re
main in the house.
! Minnie was almost beside hersel
l when she came home and found how at
fairs had gone in her absence; cryin
} one minute over AmY's FRIGHT. laughin