Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-03-06

awaited her pleasure.
ooh, loot at the big birdie on
the tree out of the window she said,
suddenly pointing downward toward
where | knew a tall poplar grew close
to the house.
Mr., Benton was apparently startled
by this evidence of Stella's keen vision,
for | saw him Jump as his eyes followed
the direction of her finger. He con
trollcd himself at once, however, rs he
replied quickly:
II guess that is the shadow of a
cloud in the moonlight, and not a
birdie, Stella.'
NO She persisted; 81 saw a birdie
on the tree
He put her down and she ran over to
me. As | took her on my lap heard
the door close, and saw that John Ben
ton had disappeared.
THAT is rather unceremonious. I
wonder whether he is coming back,"1
thought, "Well, | do not care whether
he does or not rs made up my mind
that the festivities could proceed with
ont him. sat Stella on the end of the
piano and played a lively polka for the
children, with Stclla'S assistance, she
drumming on two or three Of the keys
in the bass intervals, with n very weird
if not harmonious effect,
Il want some more tandy,h an
nomccd Stella, i~mperiously.
II shall have to 90 down stairs for
it, Stella. 1t is all in the dining-room,''
| said.
"Wcll, 90 down 'tairs. I'll be dood."
OF coursr | had to go. left Stella
N Alice's charge and ran swiftly down
the stairs. The nursery was on the
third floor. do not know what in
dnccd me to open the door of my par
cnts' bedroom as | passed it, did So,
however. II was quite dark. save for
one narrow bar of moonlight forcing
It's way through the poplar Just outside
the window. glanced carclcssly into
the gloom, with my handon the handle
of the door, and was about TO continue
my journey TO the dining-room when |
felt a draught from the open window
and saw something white cleaning in
the moonlight for an instant, and then
disappear.
"What is that | thought, as an in
descrihable feeling of terror passed
over me and left me shiycring. at
looked like a hand There was not a
sound TO be heard in the room save the
rustling of the curtains as the light
wintry breeze blew them from the win
dow, but was certain some one was
there.
What was that? Surely a man
climbing in through the window. Yes,
| was not mistaken. My ewes had be-
come accustomed TO the darkness by
this time, and ] could see the outlines
Of his figure clearly defined against the
window. In that terrible instant all |
had ever heard or read about burglars
and their desperate actions when
brought to bay, passed through my
mind. | remembered half a dozen
stories. more or less improbable. where
in a young girl had successfully outwit-
ted expert midnight thieves. and cap
turcd them alone and unaidrd.
The man, with his round head COW
cred by some kind of closcly-fitting
cap, was cautiously creeping through
the window, and | saw the poplar
shake, as if Just relieved of a burden.
He had evidently climbed the tree to
reach the room, and | remembered
hearing my brother VIII saw only the
dav before that if was a foyorite Man
of thieves in robbing A house to oct nm
to the second story by means of a porch
or tree. while the family were gathered
in the lower rooms in the early even
inc. | could not move, There was no
light in the hall outside the room. and
| could not be seen by the intruder rs
| stood with my hand ON the door
handle. watching him, and listGninc in
a dreamy way to the noise of the chill
dren in the nursery overhead. He was
inside the room by this time, and | no.
ticcd that his footsteps were noiseless
as if he had no shoes on. as he moved
across the bar of MOONLIGHT toward thr
bureau where my mother always kecps
her iewclry. saw n round natcb ot
bright y%clioy LIGHT fall on the kryholr
of the TOP drawer. and then heard y mr.
tallic rafting. The thief was pickino
the lock!
III could only scream. or call viii,
The drawer opened. the man was
fumblinp at its contents. when-crosh,
The yellow patch of lipht disappeared,
and. with a fearful word. | saw the man
fall, another man holding him, Their
n pistol shot ran through the room
and echoed up and down the stairs. ant
the room was flooded in light. Some
body had touched the electric buttor
down stairs and liyhtpd the Gas Ia,
a few second nv eyes were SO dozzlel
that / could not sec ANYTHING. Then
saw two men rolling on the floor in ,
desperate struggle, while a pistol Ia,
lust out of their reach. The man nm
derneath. with his closely ittinc plusl
cap, was scowlinr at me. as he tried {,
release himself, and | thought | coult