The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-11-21


the Golfers of the bank" Presently HI
added: 1.-THE old fellow was half sea-
over, as he generally is, and l have M
doubt, with so many houses of call by
the way that he will be soaked through
and through before he reaches home
l wonder whether he goes to bed sober
a night in his lifeP"
A few minutes later John kissed III
and babe us good night. Bessie and
went to the window to see him star
but by this time it was nearly dark
He waved his whip at us as soon as he
had settled himself in his seat, then he
gave the reins a little shake. Black
Beryl's heels struck fire from the stones
as she sprang forward, the gravel
scrunched beneath the wheels, and
moment later the shadows of evening
had swallowed up horse and gig and
driver. My sister and l pulled down
the blinds aud drew the curtains and
rang for Kitty to bring in the lamp.
The evening passed after our usual
| quiet fashion. We worked a little and
read a little and played some half-dozen
| duets, and chatted between times, till
the clock pointed to half-past 10, at
which hour we generally retired for
the night. My last duty every evening
was to go the rounds of the house and
satisfy myself that all lights were out,
that the fires were safe, and that all the
doors and windows were properly. Sc
cured. When this duty had been duly
accomplished tonight, the drawing
room lamp was extinguished and then
Bessie and 1 took our bed-candles and
marched up stairs, leaving darkness
and solitude behind us. Mary Gibbs
and Kitty had retired long ago.
My sisters room and mine adjoined
each other, with a door of communica-
ton between, which generally stood
partly open at night for the sake of COM
partnership. The windows of both rooms
looked into the garden, which q in a
wide strip along that side of the house,
and was shut in by a wall some seven
or eight feet high, beyond which there
the boundary wall of Darlington Park.
1t was close on to l o'clock-as /
found out afterward-when l awoke
suddenly from a sound sleep. The in
slant | opened my eyes the room was IL
Illuminated by a vivid flash of lightning,
and it vas in all probability a peal of
thunder that had broken my slumbers.
Another flash followed after a brief in
terval, succeeded again by the deafen-
ing accompaniment. My sleep was eff
fectually broken. l arose, flung a shawl
oxer my shoulders, and crossing to the
windows, drew back the blind and
peered out. As long ago as l can re-
member, lightning has always had a
singular fascination for me. As a child
l loved to gaze upon its vivid splendors,
and in this respect at least years have
left me unchanged. A board creaked
as l crossed the floor.
''Is that you, Barbara?" asked my
sister from the other room.
eyes, dear. 1 am going to look out
for a few minutes. Is not the lightning
beautifulp"
Every beautiful; only l wish it were
anywhere rather than here" answered
who at such times was Just as
nervous as / was the reverse.
The flashes followed at intervals of
about a minute. had witnessed three
or four, when suddenly 1 gave a start,
and an exclamation broke involuntarily |
from my lips. The last flash had re-
to me the figure of two men in
the act of climbing over the garden
wall. One of the men was a stranger
to me; but the other, instantaneous as
was the revelation, I recognized the
peculiar face and figure of a
man named Bethel, whom my brother
had employed temporarily during the
last week or two in the garden, our
mar being laid up with rheu-
at the time. There was some
in the looks of the man in ques-
ion which had set me against him from
he first; but if we were all to be judged
oy our looks alone, what would become
If usp For aught l knew to the con-
rary, Dethel might be an honest, hard
working fellow, with a wife and child
'en dependent upon him; but for all
hat, on the days he was working for
Is, 1 carefully r~efrained from going
nto the garden.
And now, here was this man, and an
,ther with him, effecting a surreptitious
'ntry of the premises at l O'Clock in the
morning! Such o proceeding could
lave but n end in view. Two ques-
ions at once put themselves to me.
were these men aware that my
was from home for the night,
md that only three helpless women and
lad they by some means become cogni-
ant of the fact that a few hours previ-
'usly Mr.. Shillito had paid my brother
considerable sum of money, which
must necessarily still be somewhere on
he premisesp In my mind there was
title doubt that both these facts were
ully known to the men. My brothers
novements were as open as the day,
nd Dethel had doubtless ascertained
rom Reuben, the groom, that his mas
err would be from home on this partic-
lar night; while as for Mr.. Shillito,
verybody knew how he talked in his
way about his most private
fairs when he had taken more to
rink than was good for him. At the
of more than one tavern that even
lg. every n who might chance to be
Tithin hearing would not fail to be in
that Mr.. Shillito had just paid
ohm Waldron his half years rent.
These thoughts flashed through my
lind almost as quickly as that flash