Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-08-28
A MAN In THE HOUSE.

- 40 f<A' ~ 80 I. AAN SoA<s
Back on the midnight train II i can
make it. One chance in thousand. I'll
try Il, though. And don't you young
folks oversleep yourselves TO morrow or
you'll lose days fishing-bound to rain
Thursday. By-by"
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. II Dan,
the colonel's 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 Mayberry termed IL, we wished for
once that Dan, like a princes promise,
would fail the colonel But the train
allowed up as soon as 1t came in sight,
almost stopped, then started again with
a suddenness and fury as if to make up
for lost time, and the little group looked
blankly at each other.
The colonel's wife, meantime, glanced
over the telegraphic message that had
torn the colonel away from us just when
we were beginning TO enjoy ourselves.
Her unruffied countenance treasured us
Nothing serious threatened.
"A matter of business-to serve a
friend,n said Mrs. Potter smiling, as she
rejoined us. at Is annoying, but il 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 50 well matched.
We were a merry party. Just ten be.
fore the colonel was 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 50 enjoya-
BILE thai we were wholly oblivious to the
world outside of Potter's point.
How she managed l never could sur
mise; but there never was woman with
the tact the coloners wife displayed.
What proof could be more convincing,
what demonstration more powerful. than
the foul marriages ensuing in less than a
year-marriages which made life partners
of the four couples that danced, sung and
June.
The evening has not been 50 dreary
after all" said the colonels wife, archly,
turning to Fred Blythe.
Fred, who was prete nding to turn the
music for Miss Haldane, looked at his
watch and exclaimed:
Half past one, by Jovel'
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 50 swiftly. And
a. all affected horror, and expressed con-
triton, the colonels wife scarcely needed
to remind US OF the necessity of an early
start on the morrow. There was sour
fying to bed that attested disposition to
make amends for the dissipation in
dulged.
Did you ever remark how soundly one
sleeps after day and evening OF rare en-
joymentf The entire household was en-
joying the bounty Of natures sweet re-
st0rer-balmy sleep" when a hand was
lnu ou ulluc, anu a NolCc huc" well
electrified me with the whisper:
there's man in the house, Alick."
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 to
discern him.
You are sures'
positive. Mayberry is sleeping with
me. He heard him. Whoever ii 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 adjoining room, May
berry and Blythe were similarly attired.
Dick had Lii wax taper. had the pres
ence OF mind to assure myself that Dick
was satisfied he had heard some one In or
about the house. l also prided myself
then and afterward upon the forethought
displayed in reminding my companions
of the necessity of assuring ourselves that
the person who made the noise was not
the colonel. Then takinethe leadership
into my own hands with the decision that
marks all leaders of men, pointed to my
companions feet. Instantly both re
moved their slippers.
.-Will we waken Stowbridges" whispered
Mayberry.
NO" answered promptly. Arthur is
o heavy sleeper, and would be sure to
make a mess of it,
1 led the way in the upper hall, in the
dark. | had put out a hand-my left-to
feel for the stair rail thought should be
near when door opposite to me, on the
right, opened. / held my breath, and
reaching back, grasped Mayberry's arm
with my right hand. Dick grasped my
hand and pressed 1t in return, just as a
low voice, ia tone / shall never forget,
said, without tremor, indeed, with per-
feet composure:
whoever You are. warn you to leave
Instantly, or will alarm the house."
IL was Alice Trevino, whose voice al
ways thrilled me, and whose indifference
made life miserable until we we're cast to-
gether at Potter's point. Very few words
sufficed 10 explain the situation. A
whispered consultation was held at the
entrance to her apartment. She, too, had
heard some one, and she speedily con-
WINGED us that il would be unwise to meet
a burglar unless We were prepared to hold
our own. She was resolved TO arouse her
companions, that they might understand