Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-05
Gales and Skftehes.
IN A FLASH.
Continued from yesterday. }

The flashes followed each other at inter-
walls of about minute had witnessed
three or four when suddenly | gave a
: start. and an exclamation broke involun-
tarily from nv lips. The last flash had
revealed to me the figures of two men IN
the act OF climbing over the garden wall
One of the men was a stranger to me; but
in the other instantaneous as was the rev.
citation. recognized the somewhat pecul-
lar face and figure of a man named Dethel.
whom nv brother had employed tempora
riiv during the last week or two IN the
garden. our regular man being laid up at
the time with rheumatism. There was
something in the looks of the man in
question which had set me against him
: from the first but if we were all to be
Judged by our looks alone, what would
: become of us For aught knew to the
contrary Dethel might be an honest. hard
working fellow, with wife and children
dependent on him but for all that. on the
! DAYS he was working for us carefully
refraned from going into the garden.
And now. here was this man. and an
other with him. effecting surreptitious
entry OF the premises at o'clock in the
morning, Such proceeding could have
but one end in view. Two questions at
once put themselves to me Firstly, were
these men aware that nv brother was
from home for the night. and that only
three helpless women and girl were left
in the house Secondly, had they by
some means become cognizant of the fact
that a few hours previously MIR. Shillito
had paid my brother a considerable sum
Of money, which must necessarily still be
somewhere on the premises In my
mind there was little doubt that both these
facts were fully known to them. My
brothers movements were as open as the
day. and Dethel had doubtless ascertained
from Reuben, the groom, that his master
would be from home on this particular
night: while as for Mr.. Shillto, every
body knew how he talked in his loud
voiced way about his most private affairs
when he had taken more to drink than
was good for him, At the bar of more
than one tavern that evening. every one
who might chance to be within hearing
would not fail to be informed that Mr.
Shllito had Just paid John Wadron his
halt years rent.
These thoughts flashed through nv
mind almost as quickly as that flash which
reveals so much. Breathlessly | waited
tor the next flash. 1t came, SCATTERING
the darkness for a instant, and then it too,
was swallowed up. The men were no
longer visible. Between the two flashes
they had had time to drop on the inner
side of the wall, where the thick clumps
of evergreen which clothed that part of
the grounds would etfectually screen them
from view. At that moment they were
doubtless making their way stealthily
I tntUorI ha hCnsa MINT Pol o 10
Never had realized so fully as at that
moment how helpless creature a woman
is. Drawing my shawl more closely
around me, and putting on a pair of list
slippers which wore about the house in
cold weather, crept noselessly out of
room. At the top of the stairs | halted
and listened; but all was silence the most
profound. The corridor out of which the
!, bedroom opened was lighted at the oppo-
, site end by high, narrow window which
, looked into the garden. To this window
now made my way, and there, with one
ear pressed to the cold glass, stood and
listened. Presently | heard the faint
sound of footsteps, and then the subdued
voices OF two people talking to each other
Directly under the place where | was
standing was the back drawing room.
which opened on the garden by means of
} a French window; and although this
. window was secured at night by shutters.
| had an idea that the security in question
: was more fancied than real. and was OF a
kind that would be laughed to scorn by
any burglar who was acquainted with his
business. II the men had made up their
minds to break into the house-and with
f what other object could they be there p
, the probability was that they would make
, the attempt by way of the French window
I Even while this thought was passing
a through my mind the voices of the men
sank to a whisper, and low, peculiar
grating sound made itself heard Evident
ly they had already begun to force the
| lastenings of the window. Icrept back to
my room feeling utterly dazed and help.
less.
is that You. Barbara? Where have
you been ?' asked my sister.
Going into her room, sat down on the
side of the bed and told her everything in
as few words as possible. She was of a
,, somewhat timid and nervous disposition
and my news visbly affected her. She
sat up in bed, trembling and clinging to
4 my arm.
Perhaps" she whispered, if we lock
our bedroom doors and keep very quiet,
they will 60 away without coming near
D us"
4 "Why, you goose, it's not us they have
come after. but Mr. Shilito's ninety
pounds, | answered.
And there's poor mammals silver tea.
service down stairs; | hope they won't
find that" said Bessie.
. | hoped so too but there was no iudg.
ing how much Bethel had contrived to as
certain respecting us and our affairs.
. went to the corridor window again and
t listened. The noise made by the men was
! now plainly distinguishable. 1t seemed
. that they were trying to file or Gu. their
a way through some obstruction. After lis.
tening for few moments. went back to
d my room and began almost mechanically
. to put on few articles OF clothing. ask.
: ing myself again and again as did sc
whether it was not possible to do some,
. tSipg--though what that something ought
o to be knew no more than the man in the
! moon. The nearest house was quarter
! of a mile away; and even if could have
stolen out unnoticed by way of the front
q door, before could have reached the farm
' and brought back help the burglars would
have affected their purpose and decamped.