The Penn's Grove record., 1885-06-27

gruff rejOinder. "Only ! say it's a
shame for that gal to cut you out Of
your life's earnir gs-for that's what it
is about"
"Well, Wen see," said the woman
| thought with reluctance and hesita-
tion In her tOne-''well seel Now
take what things you want. and go; and
don't come back till tomorrow night,
nor yet before ten then. You might
been seen by Miss Corbould to.
day if l hadn't had my wits about me.
81 believe she did see me, and that
Mrs. Keith will be told that | am here >
was the reply. ''If you do as advise
we have no time to lose"
''She didn't see you, or she'd have
asked who you were-she did so once
when she saw the gardener in the kitch-
en-; and | don't think she'd make any
mischief if she did. She's not a bad
sort, as you say, WILL"
He muttered something that sounded
like a curse.
"Come," she added, take what you
left aud let us go. / must see you safe
out of the house before Mrs. Keith
rings for her breakfast-and it is past
her usual time now"
where's the gal gomez" he asked.
"'TO church; so we are safe from her
But make haste"
A drawer was opened, and after a
minute or two l heard them leave the
room aud shut the door. l trembled
lest l should hear a key turn in the lock
but, happily for me, it had long been
lost. As soon as a profound silence
made me feel secure, | came out of my
place, and flew along the pass
age till l found the stairs, which | de-
scended in great haste, only breathing
freely when l was in my own room
Then sat down to think.
There could he no doubt that Mrs.
Wheeler's son had either escaped or OBJ
tanned a ticket of leave, and was actu-
ally in the hOuse-nay, had slept in the
deserted rooms. And wha5 was the
advice he had given his mother2 Surely
to rob my aunt or kill mel Thus | un-
derstood his words. | resolved instan-
tly to start for church; the ervlc
would be over and probably before
reached it, but | should see Mr.. Den
ham, the clergyman, and could tell him
what l had heard, and ask him what to
do.
l reached the church just as the on
gregation was coming out, and found
to my dismay, that Mr.. Denham a
from home, and chat the clergyman who
had oficIated for him had just driven
off, on his return to his own parish. |
was terribly yeXed. | went to the par
sonage however, and, on seeing the
Rector's old servant, | asked her if she
could let me write a line there, to her
master, as | had a message for him.
She consented civilly, gave me paper,
pen, and ink, and, while hastily wrote
my story to Mr.. Denham, dried my wet
boots for me by her fire.
Before l left, I asked her if the al
arum at the park we're rung, could the
villagers hear it. She replied, eyes"
believed it had been heard many
years ago. But why did | ask? l re-
piled that 1 was afraid of burglars, and
wished to know if help could be OBJ
Having her promise to give the note
to Mr.. Denham on his return-which
would be the next morning, she told
mel again set out on a hurried walk
but arrived there so late that
Mrs. Keith had become alarmed, and a
little cross at her delayed dinner.
Wheeler was with her, looking, L
thought a little anxious.
80 you went to church after ALL"
said my aunt, when | had apologized
and explained that I had been detained
at the Rectory while my boots dried.
bad much better have amused
Yourself by exploring the old house or
walking up and down the corridor"
ooh, but l wanted also to get soIe
bo~ot-laces in the village,"I replied,
(which l have done, or [ should have
been kept in again tomorrow On
some rainy day | can get Mrs. Wheeler
to show me the house." AS | spoke, l
perceived the anxious expression pass
from Mrs. Wheeler's face.
wheeler is Ill, you will be sorry to
hear" said my aunt, accounting for
her housekeeper's waiting on us. MRS.
Wheeler tells me he had a sort of fit
last night. l want her to send for the
doctor, but she thinks he is better and
only needs rest"
Dinner over, | took a seat neal my
aunt, and, first conjuring her not to
tell any one what was about to COM
munIcate and not TO be alarmed, | re-
my adventure of the morning.
She listened with amazement and APP
.prehension.
''He can mean nothing but wicked
nesslI' she exclaimed as | paused. 'He
is one of the most INSCRIPTIONS villains
[ have ever heard of. To think of his
being free again and taking shelter here!
We might as well-Or better-have a
loose tiger in the house. Jane Wheeler
is an idiot TO be so infatuated with that
vile son of hers. She is and always will
be a mere instrument in his hands,
though l really believe she Is attached
to me.
"And her husbandp" l asked.
'He is a poor feeble old man. What
could he do without lirearmsY And we
have none IN the house. No; our only
chance of safety lies in Mr.. Denham's
coming tomorrow morning, as | have
no doubt he will, replied my aunt, who
SuONbu no SlSuo VI iOdi hlVci bhS hASb
alarm had passed vel. 1.-THE convict
will not be here tonight, you say2"
mo; Mrs. Wheeler said distinctly
tomorrow night at ten But, auntie
dear, does your bed oom door fasten
securely?"
eyes; | have a strong night bolt. |
lock my door because of the con-
tingency of fire. Your door is also Sc
cured by a bolt, as well as by lock and
key.n
"And the closet with your plate, which
is in your roOmp"
alt shuts with a spring, and can be
opened by pressure on a certain flower
in the ~weod-carving of the door, the
secret of which is known only to my
you are sure Mrs. Wheeler has not
seen you open itG"
She paused and thought moment.
81 believe not she said at length;
"but l cannot be sure. l may have
opened it before her, when | wished
the plate to be taken out and cleaned,
years ago; for l have trusted her entire
ly. But how came you to know that |
had a closet there at alp"
'tShe told me of ii the day | arrived
onI v,FpfaJ ont tho sno4 Ia