Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-19

dead walls, poking into broken boxes.
and opening invalided trunks, until we
reached the last room, a little bed
room. with shelving roof. at the end
of which was low door. leading into
a small closet, half-filled with a box OF
worm-eaten books.
'.Thus endeth the farce" said
Ethel, throwing wide the little door,
and
There he was!
Low-browed, villainous. shock OF
coarse black hair bristling on his head.
fierce black eye glaring out of his
head. bunch of false keys in one
hand and pistol in the other:
Ethel entirely forgot about striking
out from the shoulder.
As for me, the poker fell from my
limp and trembling hand. and I said
of all the absurd things that a woman
could say on such an occasion-I said,
as if he were long-expected friend:
"H-o-w. how-do you do?"
At this strange salutation. q grim
smile lurked round the corners of the
mans mouth.
Rather warm in here. thank you"
he replied, with hooking air of po-
Likeness. with your permission I'll
step out"
There was an ominous click of the
pistol. and-the man stepped out.
1.-The Howly Virgin save us!' cried
Ellen-she wears French cap. but
speaks with a Dublin accent-and she
forthwith fell upon her knees. and be-
gan to "tell her beads
The burglar wiped the drops of
sweat from his ugly brow, and looked
greediIy at the diamond scarf-pin
which fastened my lace kerchief.
Don't be afraid. old lady," said he.
familiarity; 81 sha'n't hurt you, but
I'll trouble you for that pin
If it had been to save my life. Icould
not have moved my trembling hands;
but Ethel stepped forward to unclasp
it. and, if you'll believe me. that child
was as cool as December morning.
First water" said the burglar.
grasping the pin. looking at it, and
then stuffing it into his pocket.
"Now. old lady. your watch" That
cut me to the heart, for Ethers grand
father had given me the watch for a
wedding present 1t was set with
pearls all around the face, and on the
back, enameled in blue. was forget
in small diamonds. valued
it next to my wedding-ring. but mer-
cy! in twinkling that went too.
"Rather thin." said he. "but will
do to melt up." Dear me! 1 would al
most as soon have my withered old
heart melted up
Now" said he. turning to Ethel,
"we'll take the bureau-drawers."
Ellen was lying on the floor, where
she had gone from devotion to insensi-
bility, SO Ethel lighted the way back
to my room; and. if ever woman suf-
fered. l suffered. while this thief's
coarse hands tossed about the cher
ished keepsakes of my life.
"Spoiling the Egyptians" said he.
with clumsy wit land now, old
lady. I'll take that bag of twenties you
got at the bank this morning"
Too true! 1 had that very morning
drawn quarters income-all in
double eagles. How had the wretch
found it out? For moment ] hesi-
tated, but that c:ninous click! and
quickly the canvas bag came from its
hiding-place, the middle of a long
bolster, that 1 always slept on. The
burglar counted it leisurely-he was in
no hurry.
"And now, little MISS" said he,
"I'll trouble you to show me the fam
lily silver"
Without moments hesitation. Ethel
led the wretch down the winding stair
ease, through the square hall. with its
dark red walls, into the parlor. dim.
room, with a great, open
fireplace. in which a wood-fire still
on the brass andirons On
each side of the Fireplace was an
arched niche; one filled with the books
Of small library, and in the other
hung am exquisite copy of one OF
Raphaers Madonnas.
Will you believe me? As his eyes
caught sight of the Virgin. this rob-
ber-his pockets full of stolen goods
made sign of the cross, and NUT
tered an Are Maria.
The parlor led into a long, oak
panneled dining-room, divided through
The middle by crimson portiere. Two
arge closets opened from it; enc. the
irst for china, and the other for the
storage of the house-linen. To my
surprise. it was the door of this second
closet that Ethel opened and pointed
% black box, showed back on the top
shelf. remembered tn en- that a small
part of the family silver had been
stored there, to be used only in case of |
necessity; the rest had been
sent by the family who owned
The house, to the Safe Deposit. |