River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-08-12
4 MAN IN THE HOUSE.

Y
rain Thursday. BY by,'
The Colonel was half way across the
lawn a he shouted the warning to the
little kno. gathered on the yeranda and
IN the hallway. The whistle of the 10
connective rounding the bend at Potter's
Point woke the echoes If Dan. the
Colonel's reliable servant. reached the
station in time the down train would
stop for 4 solitary passenger, otherwise
he would come back 10 us grumbling,
As the handspring of hall our pleasure
seemed to be leaving us with every
bound the Colonel made. cutting
across lots. as Dick Mayberry termed
if. We wished for once that Dan, like 4
Prince promise. would fail the Colo
mel, But the train slowed up as soon
as it came in sight. almost stopped,
then started again with a suddenness
and fury if to make up for lost time
and the little group looked blankly
at each other
The Coloncl's wife. meantime.
glanced over the telegraphie message
that had torn the Colonel away from
us just when We We're beginning TO en-
10Y ourselves Her unruflled counte-
nance treasured uS. Nothing serious
threatened.
A matter OF bUsinesS-to serve a
friend. said Mrs. Potter. smiling. as
sine Joined It's. 1T is annoying. but it
caI,t be helped. so we will Just man
age 10 do without him.
Then an the gentlemen voted her a
paragon, and the ladies said there
never were two people so well matched.
We were a merry party. just ten
bef0-c tie Colonel was called away:
The Colonel and Mrs. Potter, and four
Yong couples there by express invita-
tation. We had explored the mysteries
If Luker's Cave. done the noun
tain idge, tc4 miles i slant, on horse
back. and on the morrow would 90
fishing Two DAYS of unalloyed
plea urc followed by evenings so en-
ioyahle that we We're wholly oblivious
20 TN, world outside OF Potter's Point.
mise: lut there never was a woman
with tie tact the Colonel, wife dis
PLAYED. What proof could be more
convincing. what demonstration more
powerful. than the four marriages en-
suing in less than a year marriages
which made life partners of the snUr
couples that danced. sung. and made
love under Col. Potter roof in June
The evening has not been 30 dreary
after all, SAID the Colonel's wife,
archly turning TO Fred Blyther
Fred. who was pretending To turn
the music for Miss Haldine. looked at
his watch and exclaimed:
..Half-past 1. by Joye -
There was a loud protest, but when
five or six watches were cOvertlv
glanced At as many tongues ayerred
The thing was incredible. Time had
never sped so swiftly. And Is all af-
fected horror and expressed contritiou
the Colonel's wife scarcely needed to
remind Us Of the necessity of an early
start on the morrow. There was :,
scurrving to bed that attested dispO-
sition to make amends for the dissipa-
ton INDUCED.
one sleeps after a day and evening of
rare enjoyment? The entire household
was ENJOYING the bounty Of Mature 5
sweet restUrer balmy sleep" when a
hand was laid ON mine, and a voice
knew well electrified me with the whis-
per:
There's a man in the house, Ahck. =
sat bolt upright in bed. The door
Of the room was closed Between the
door and my bed Fred Blythe stood in
his night clothes There was Just
enough light 10 discern him.
Are YOU sure2
POSITIVELY Mayberry * sleeping
with ms. lie heard him. Whoever it
was Dick, SAYS he was in our room.
He is dressing himself. Come TO our
room quietly
think | did not consume more than
one minute getting into my trousers
and vest. When / entered the adiOin-
ING room, Mayberry and Blythe were
similarly attired. Dick had lit 4 wax
taper | had the presence of mind to
assure myself that Dick was satisfied
he had heard some one in or about the
house. | also prIdei myself then and
afterwards upon the forethought |
displayed in reminding my companions
# the necessity of assuring ourselves
that the person who made the noise
was not the Colonel. Then, taking
the leadership into my own hands with
the decision that marks all leaders of
men, / pointed to my companions feet.
Instantly both removed their slippers.
..Niil we wakeu StowbridCe?
whispered May berry.
Mo- ! answered promptly. Arthur
Is a heavy sleeper and would be sure To
make mess Of il.
I led the way in the upper hall 10
the dark. | had put out hand-mv
left-tO feel for the >tair-rail.
thought should be near. when door
opposit to ME. Oh the right. opered.
held p.v breath. and reaching back.
rraSued Navberrv' 5 arm WITH my-right
hand. Dick grasped M hand and
pressed il in return lust as q low voice.
in s tone / shall never forget, said
without a tremOr indeed, with per
feet e0mposure:
Whoever YOU are. | warn YOU tO
leave instantly. or | vi alarm the
house
Il was Alice Ircvina. whose voice
ALWAYS thrilled me. aud whose in
difference made life miserable until We
were cast together At Potter's Point.
Very few words Sutiiced to explain the
situation. \ whispered consultation
was held at the entrance 10 her apart
meut. She. too. had heard some one,
and she speedily convinced rs that II
would be Uuwise To meet burglar an
I less we We're prepared to hold our own.
7 She was resolved 10 arouse her com
panions that they might understand
the true position Of affairs. and first OF
all. she would wake our hostess
Tie ColOnel'S wife displayed the
impcrturbable spirit one expects e
lind in the wife OF a soldier who has
participated in the dangers of life on
the plains. She put pistols in Oul
hands. and then We three-Mayhe berry
Blythe. and silently descended
the stairs in the dark. What my com
paniOns felt o. thought as we made oul
way cautiously to the lower hall dc
not know. There were five lovely
women overhead. listening with beat
inc hearts for the sounds of wha'
might prove a desperate, possibly ;
fatal. struggle. The moment l PLACED
my foot on the upper step. the ludicrou
side Of the picture struck me so forcibll
that | smiled. Here was the man il
the house that we had heard so muel