Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-05-23

/ lay pefIectly SILL ana CAIN until my
scattered senses returned and knew
what to fear.
.'Burglars! beat my frightened
heart 1.-The Chidester Brothers.
came choking into my frightened
throat
| had too much sense to move or
scream. I lay still as death. only
drawing long. even breaths as If sound
in sleep. and using my eyes for all
they were worth. The shadows on
the ceiling showed that things were
being taken up and put down-our sill
verify gigantic hands. but all other
outlines were so confused / could dis
tinguish nothing How long the time.
how deadly cold the chills of terror
that swept over me, no one will ever
know who has not passed through it
all.
Suddenly, heard sound-a sound
which filled me with sickening dread.
The boys were awake-were moving =
were calling me.
The burglar sprang to his feet, light
and noiseless as a breath. and stood
poised and ready, his back toward me.
There came the quick patter of little
feet He turned-his lamp flared up
In the glass opposite, above the mask
which had doubtless slipped as he
sprang up. l saw the face of the ''emi-
nently respectable Mr.. Heming!
Involuntarily, uttered a sharp cry.
Then. closed my eyes and felt my
self sinking away into helpless. hope
less terror. But the door into my
room few open with bang, heard
Jack shout and Nutty scream; q
rustic, thud, pistol-shot, confused
voices, tramping of feet. and tremen-
dous pounding and kicking on the
porch.
just let any one try 'th1s sort of
thing" and see how quickly events
follow each other, and how many
different sounds they can hear at one
time!
Isprang out of bed, and the chaos
began to resolve itself into some kind
of order. Jack and Nutty were both
telling me that there was a carriage
at the door; the burglar was gone
through the window and evidently
into the hands of his enemies, for
above the confusion downstairs l
could hear Jim-orr brother Jim
roaring for the hall-door to be opened.
Some one was pounding away on it
Justify. 1 seized Nutty and Jack. as
soon as had hurried into my wrapper,
and trembling in every limb, we
rushed down the long hall and stairs.
The hall-lamp was burning. as usual.
I hastily unbolted, unbarred and un-
locked the great front door. opened it
with a jerk, and threw myself into the
arms of-the Chidester Brothers
81 thought it was Jimr' .cried.
starting away.
.Jennie! Thank Godr' cried Jim,
snatching me to him. as he rushed in.
care you all safe? No one hurt at
ALP"
mo one! And nothing takenv'
'Just in time!' exclaimed the
Chidesters.
"Just in tim~r' echoed Jim. "Boys,
l can never half thank your
There were others trooping in and
standing round me with startled and
admiring faces. A dark and compact
group wore uniform and carried them
selves with the easy manner of men
to whom nothing was new or shock
ing. In their midst, hatless and pale,
and oh! how ugly. mean and common, I
saw MIR. Heming.
/ know now that there were not
more than five or six men altogether.
but that night they med to fill the
hall.
Jennie, you are shaking with a
chilli" cried Jim. ''You must 60 to
bed at once I'll take you up''--for 1
frightened my hold on him-''and call
the servants for you. expect they
are too frightened to come out Of their
room. just make yourselves comfort
able. gentlemen; I'll be with you in
FIVE minutes"
He marched NE to my r0om, and
called nurse.
..Oh. Jim, one moment, please!
Where did you come from? And who
are the Chldesters?"
illustrate fellows-my class. you
know. They telegraphed me. But l
can't stop, really. I'll be up again as
soon as can get away"
Then covered my head among the
pillows and had a good, hard and
frightened cry. For l vas frightened.
now that il was all over. Nurse did
her best for me by sending the boys to
bed and keeping the doors closed BY
the time Jim tapped for admittance I
was quiet and ready to hear his story.
well. Jennie. we've made . big
haul That rascal is the master-epirit
of the gang which has been at work
round here for a wear or two Has an