Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-06
A MAN In THE HOUSE.

~Back on the midnight train IL | can
make it. One chance in thousand. I'll
try it, though And don't you young
folks oyersleep yourselves to morrow or
you'll lose days fishing-bound TO rain
Thursday By-byl"
The colonel was half way across the
lawn as he shouted the warning to the
little knot gathered on the veranda and in
the hallway. The whistle of the
locomotive coming round the bend at
Potter's point woke the echoes. IL Dan,
the coloners reliable servant, reached the
station in time the down train would stop
for the solitary passenger, otherwise he
would come back to us grumbling. As
the handspring of half our pleasure
seemed to be leaving US with every bound
the colonel made, cutting across lots, as
Dick Msyb termed It, we wished for
once that Dan, like princes promise,
would fail the colonel But the train
slowed up as soon as 1t came in sight,
almost stopped, then started again with
a suddenness and fury as il to make up
for lost time, and the little group looked
blankly at each other.
The colouels wife, meantime, glanced
over the telegrsphic message that had
torn the colonel away from us just when
We were beginning to enjoy ourselves.
Her unruffied cOuntenance reassured US.
Nothing serious threatened.
"A matter of business-to serve 8
friend" said Mrs Potter smiling as she
rejoined us. at Is annoying, but it can't
be helped, so we will Just manage to do
without him"
Then all the gentlemen voted her par
agon, and the ladies said there never were
two people SO well matched.
We were a merry party. Just ten be
fore the colonel WIS called away. The
colonel and Mrs. Potter, and four couples
there by express invitation. We had ex
plored the mysteries of Luker's cave,
done" the mountain ridge, ten miles dis
tant, on horseback, and on the morrow
would go fishing Two days of unalloyed
pleasure followed by evenings so enjoya
bic that we were wholly oblivious TO the
world outside of Potter's point.
How she managed | never could sur
mise; but there never was woman with
the tact the colonels wife displayed
What proof could be more convincing
what demonstration more powerful, than
the four marriages ensuing in less than
year-marriages which made life partners
Of the four couples that danced, sung anc
made love under Col. Porter's roof II
June.
The evening has not been so dreary
after all" said the cOlonels wife, archly
turning to Fred Blythe.
Fred, who was pretending TO turn the
music for Miss Haldane, looked at his
watch and exclaimed:
Half past one, by JOve"
There was loud protest, but when five
or six watches were covertly glanced at
many tongues averred the thing was in
credible Time had sped 80 swiftly. AnC
as all affected horror, and expressed con
triton, the culoners wife scarcely needed
TO remind US OF the necessity of an early
start on the morrow. There was a sour
Iying to bed that attested disposition Il
make amends for the dissipation In
dulged.
Did you ever remark how soundly ont
sleeps after day and evening of rare en-
jOymenty The entire household was en-
joying the bounty Of natures sweet re
storer-baimy sleep" when hand wa:
laid on mine, and a voice l knew wei
GlSNlllhcal WIN
There's u man in the house, Alick-"
| sat bolt upright iu bed. The door o
the room was closed. Between the doo
and my bed Fred Blythe stood in his nigh
clothes. There was just enough light u
discern him.
You are sure,"
positive. Mayberry is sleeping witt
me- He heard him. Whoever 1t was
Dick says he was in our room. He
dressing himself. Come to our room
quietly"
think did not consume more than on,
minute getting into my trousers and vest
When entered the adjoining room, May
berry and Blythe were similarly attlred
Dick had lit a wax taper. l had the pres
ence OF mind to assure myself that Dicl
was satisfied lie had heard some one in o
about the house. l also prided mysel
then and afterward upon the forethough
displayed in reminding my companion
of the necessity Of assuring ourselves tina
the person who made the noise was no
the colonel Then, taking the Leadership
/ into my own hands with the decision tha
marks all leaders Of men, | pointed to M
| companions feet. Instantly both re
moved their slippers.
will we waken Stowbridge7" Whispers
| Mayberry.
Nor / answered promptly. Arthur 1
a heavy sleeper, and would be sure l.
/ make a mess Of it,"
/ LED the way in the upper hall, in tn
dark had put out a hand-my left
/ feel for the stair rail thought should b
near, when door opposite TO me, on tn
right opened ! held my breath, an,
reaching back, grasped Mayberry's arm
with my right hand. Dick grasped M
/ hand and pressed it in return, just as
/ low voice, in tone shall never forget
/ said, without a tremor, indeed, with per
/ feet composure:
| Whoever you are. I warn you to leav
instantly, or will alarm the house"
| Ii was Alice Trevino, whose voice a
ways thrilled me, and whose indifference
made life miserable until we were cast u
| gether at POtter's point. Very few word
sufiiced TO explain the situation.
whispered consultation was held at tn
entrance TO her apartment. She, too, ha
heard some one, and she speedily COL
WINGED us that it would be unwise TO NEE
burglar unless we We're prepared TO hol
our own. She was resolved TO arouse he
companions, that they might understan
the true position Of affairs and, first of al
she would wake our hostess.
/ The colonel's wife displayed the impel
turable spirit one expects to find in th
wife of soldier who has participated /
the dangers Of life on the plains She pu
pistols in our hands, and then we three
Mayberry, Blythe and myself, silently de
scended the stairs in the dark. What IN
companions felt or thought as we mad
! our way cautiously TO the lower hall, !
/ not know. There were five lovely wome
/ overhead, listening with beating heart
for the sounds of what might prove de,
perate, possibly a fatal, struggle. TIL
moment placed my foot on the uppe
step, the ludicrous side of the picture W
/ presented struck me so forcibly that
smiled. Here was the man in the hOus
| that we had heard 50 much of, that W
| had all jested about only few hour
! since, upon remembering that the colont