The Portland daily press., 1888-12-08

! OuBnly itisnlcueu, Sne rushed Dack noise
heard
Don't be so foolish, child" she said
you Will soon be afraid of your own
shadow" Nevertheless, she sta.d at the
top OF the stairs until the caller went out
just as the front door was closing, tie girls
heard their boarder say, in a low tone, .'ai
twelve sharp" and the man answered, "I'll
be here, sure, Mr.. Smith," and the door was
closed.
"'Smithp He called Mr.. vagniot Smith, u
said Nan. Il always told you he. was q
fraud. WIN be here at twelve; we'are oil
alone" she added, excitedly. "Silver and
money IN the china closet, and he knowsit
Belle they y are planning to rob Us to.night
Hal won't come now. o, dear!, =.
1--WE might go down to MFR. Frye.s, sup.
pose" said Belle, land leave the house to
"a half-mile walk through the woods al
night should die; and, besides, it's. snow
ing hard. Why didn't Hal get back! Per
haps they have sent someone to waylay
WELL" said Belle, trying hard t be prac-
our valuables and barricade the door, and
use our watchman's rattle If we hear anyone
getting in"
'Mr. Vagniot will hear u.s." said Nan.
Look and see if his door isshat" sug-
"Yes, that's all right Perhaps we can
keep the silver from rattling.Y M
Downstairs they went to the dining room.
and from the closet cautiously gathered up
the big spoons and little spoons, forks and
knives, and old-fashioned teapot, which
Belle, with an effort, carried up in her apron
Nan took pocket-book from under the
folded table-cloths, which held all their
ready money, ana joined her sister in their
| room.
There they took, as they thought. every
available precautiOn against an attack, but
nevertheless forgot to fasten the window.
Behind their impromptu Notifications the
| girls, though bundled in heavy shawls, sbiv-
cred as they crouched in the freight, sug-
| costing, once in while, the most blood
curdling things they could think Of
Eleven O'Clock struck; then, after a SEEM
ingly interminable time, came the half-hour
stroke. Then the minutes seemed hours to
the poor girls uEtil distant bell proclaimed
the midnight hour. just then. as Belle was
telling in sepulchral whispers, of an account
| she had read that morning Of two defence
| girls killed by assassns, there came soft
tap on the window below. There was
movement In MI. vagnlots room, and soon q
us in?" ~
The reply was indistinguishable, but the
girls forgot to sound the rattle, and listened
breathlessly for the next movement
the creaking of door.
The girls, n0w bathed in cold perspiration,
could almost hear the throbblng Of one an.
others heart.
They waited, with every nerve at its ut
| most tension.
Soon they family perceived the rattliug of
glass and the sound of smothered voices in
the dining room and they thought they de-
tected laugh.
pretty we'll" said Nan, with clustering
Soon they caught a Whit as of coffee.
well, they are the coolest burglars 1 ever
heard Of" exclaimed Belle. Where's our
rattle?" she added, in sudden remembrance
| why, here 1t Is. had forgotten 1t en-
tirely." and Nan caught up the ear-piercing
thing and gave 1t vigorous whirl.
There was evidently sensation below, a
sound OF breaking crockery, and soon hasty
steps sprang up the stairs. -
"They mean to murde us before help can
COME" gasped Nan, cllnging to Belle in a
moments frantic embrace.
And even as she stood with fixed eyes and
heavy beads Of perspiration standing ON her
homecoming awaited her mother, and how
boldly, like Bellies account, the words
out in print. "a ~
Nearer came the.hurrying feet and before
Two Young Girls Murdered.
The landing was gained by the approach
| ing party, and the girls standing apart with
hands hanging, dumbly parted lips, and
strained :Ms eyes; listening, waiting.for what ?
ter up here? was said in Mr.. Vaghiot's IA
| miliar tones.
The sound of we'll known voice treasured
the girls In spite Of themselves and Nan for
getting that it was the chief conspirator to
most frightened to death"
"Why. you poor childl" said Mr.. !vagniot,
Il thought you were both asleep. 1t is only
your cousins from the. midnight train The
snow deadened the sound Of the Carriage
wheels so that did not hear them myself.
! have been getting the guests something to
eat. but can't find knife or fork any.
where" 50
"O-oh," breathed the girls. please let us
out" Z 2
.''Why, what do you mean?'' said Mr.. yag-
Mot
Nan gave hysterical laugh and said !:
| why, the bureau and waShStand the bed
and two chairs are against the door. We
haven't strength left to move one."
| wait, I'll be there in mement,i and the
next thing the girls knew young man
pushed up the window which was over the
piazza and sprang in. =
With comprehensive "wle-ew!p he com
menced to remove the obstruction to an exit
How in the name Of common sense did
| you get all this furniture here?" said he, as
one heavy article after another was moved
aside. n :. =
The girls, lost in amazement at the famIl-
lar voice proceeding from young and
strange man, stood as though petrified
=, Mr.. Vagniot looking up caught sight Of
their expression and blushed. Then, laugh
ing, he said, Il forgot myself entirely when
that thing went of. did not mean TO in
troduce myself until tomorrow"
Mans eyes had been growing larger and
| larger, and now rushing forward with a
glad cry she caught his hand. E, s.
viii! Will! Have you come back at
| Eyes. dear. I've come back truly repen-
tant and for you. my love. May stay?"
What does. this all mean?" asked the be-
wildered Belle.
Just then the voices of the cousins were
ter strokes cleared the way and threw open
tine door.
"We are coming" he cried, rushing down
stairs and calling to the girls to follow.
Embraces and questions were lcnriously
able this
why didn't you write us that win Smith
was home again?"
Because" said Nan, laughing excitedly,
you found 1t out first He is wizard, l do
months. with gray whiskers and as lame as
| old Sam Collins, and now"
| BEHOLD the perfect man," finished Belle
viii ran into the bed room and brought
out wig, wooden leg, goggles, etc.
1.-The only conjunction had Intervening
my acquaintance with you in this way was
making your mother mount the stairs, but l
didn't see how it could be avoided. Oh,
Nan, you don't know howl have enjoyed
teasing you to pay for your uncomplmentary
| opinion of me. which at once discovered D
Nan. ~
The next day, or rather a continuation of
the same day, at twelve o'clock the door bell
rang, and Will, alias Mr.. Vagniot, was al
| lowed to answer it and to talk unmolestediy
with the evil-looking visitor of the previous
night. for at the same moment Hal rushed
Into the kitchen where Mrs. Grey and her
daughters were simultaneously cooking din
| ner and themselves, enchanting, They've
| found skeleton in the cellar of the Thorn
| ton house. The door was fast, but they
burst it in. In the closet were money and
| silver. Folks believe the old man only pre-
tended to run away, and really lived there
| alone for months" 70,
AT two o'clock no merrier group assem-
bled around q big turkey than the one at
| Mrs. Grey's. Nan appeared to be ON excel
lent terms with her next neighbor and no
| longer snubbed him. At last when nuts and
| raisins were being passed, Win Smith handed
| to Nan sealed packet.
"a present to my fiancee, he said.
| Nan, blushing brilliant carmine, took
| from the packet warrantee deed Of the
| Thornton estate made out In her name.
Another SURPRISE" said the mother to
| her excited daughter. "What is it?" :
ut Is this, Auntie," said the young man.