The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-05-07

noise down stairs, like the opening OF
o window, but as allremained quiet ait
erward, | put it down to my imagl-
nation, and went on TRANQUILITY with
my work.
After some time | was startled to
hear q step, stealthy, but distinctly
audible on the landing outside, while
under the door appeared the shadow
of some one moving.
"Perhaps Mrs. Brown has return.
ed" was the thought in my mind as |
sat gazing at the door; but then |
! turned cold with fear, for the handle
turned softly, and a strange man
looked ina young man, Wltha patlId,
greasy, leering face, Ornamented by a
thievish looking twist of hair on each
side, while a limp cap of semi-military
cut was stuck rakishly on the side OF
his head.
noticed these details mechanically
as | sat petriied with surprise and
fright, and | also noticed that his long
dirty neck was without a tie or a col
lar, a shabby frOCk coat being button
ed up to his chin, and that his dIrtier
hands sported more than ring.
This individual, after darling aswift
glance around the room, slipped in
and locked the door, saying:
"Slick! Popsy-wopsy, don't be
frightened Pm not going to hurt you
not a bit of It'll But, you ee--
Stop that" he growlei; for, as he ap.
preached me, l recovered myself o
little, and gave a good loud scream.
Quick as thought he had his hand
over my mouth, holding my chin and
nose in such a n that l was
nearly sutfocated, then he gave me a
shake, saying:
"If you do that again, I'll pay you
out, you little fool, There-she is 60
ing to be nice and quiet now, amt
she? A picter OF good behavior, Icalls
her."
Talking thus, he gagged me dexter
ously with some of my work-whiCh,
however, was pleasanter than his hand
ugh, that ugly grimy handl-On my
mouth, and then producing some cord
from his pocket, and in a minute or
two | was-poor feeble thing-bound
hand and foot in my chair.
He grinned at me as he remarked:
Now, you know, ducky, I wouldn't
have served you so if you'd have the
sense to keep quiet. | eve could
bear to be rough to the ladies-never!
But time is short, and you might have
been hard to persuade; so perhaps it
is the best way, after all.
While speaking thus, the 1ippant
rascal kept running his eyes around
our neat little room. | read disdain
IN his glance, and at that moment q
suspicion darted into my mind that
he had come with the object of steal.
ing some of Ned's work-perhaps the
ieweled bracelets which then were I'M
der my feet. With this thought there
came to me a firm resolve to ave my
brother such a loss, ifIpossiDly could;
ay, even though | had to endure tor
lures, / would not speak. l set my
teeth hard and watched the man. His
wandering chances soon reverted to me.
"Look here, dear, if / loosen this
cloth a bit, and you take breath, will
you speak to me nicely? Only don't
scream again. 1t makes me quite
nervous to hear you scream, and can't
do no good How well | knew that,
in a back room in O quiet street,
'"There, amt it much more comfort
notwithstanding the cloth. ''Tell me
now, popsy, your brothers got some
valuables here, amt he?"
/ shook my head.
"Oh, but he has, so you needn't Jog
| your noodle like that. Better tell me
where he's put them. 1t will save lots
of time, and be more pleasant for
YOU"
But / only shook my head the more.
"Did you ever see SIGH stubborness?"
muttered the fellow, tying up my
mouth again. I'll am afeerd / shall
have to make youspeak directly. But
/ never like to be unkind to the ladies,
unless they drive me to it-oh, neverl"
Saying this he began an examination
of the apartment, proceeding in what,
as | suppose, would be described by a
professional as the chest Style"
anyway, his movements were charac-
terized by extraordinary celebrity.
Within a few minutes he had gone TO
| the bottom of every drawer and box
in the room, and also turned out the
sofa bedstead where Ned slept at night.
A pretty litter he made of it ALL But
he had not yet discovered the secret
of my footstool. Can any one mag
inc what Iendured as / sat there, help
less as a poor little Chinese "joss,'
the cold perspiration Of fear on my
forehead, while i asked myself: What
will the fellow do next?"
He turned round while proceeding
with the search and, looking at me,
said:
Halo, Poppet, how pale you are!
Amt going to faint, are your OH
don't faint, for l shall want you to
talk to me o bit. I'll open the win
dow and give you a mouthful Of fresh
air. This room is precious close.o
He went to the window-the window