Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-18

ceiling showed that things were being
taken up and put down-our silver
by gigantic hands, but all other out
lines were so confused / could distin-
guish nothing.
Suddenly l heard a sound-a sound
which filled me with sickening dread.
The boys were awake-were moving
were calling me.
The burglar sprung 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 fared up.
In the glass opposite, above the mask
which had doubtless slipped as he
sprung up, l saw the face of the ''em-
inently respectable'' Mr.. Heming.
Involuntarily | uttered sharp cry.
Then l closed my eyes and felt myself
sinking away into helpless, hopeless
terror But the door of my room flew
open with a bang, heard Jack shout
and Nutty scream; rustic, thud, a
pistol shot, confused voices, trampling
of feet, and tremendous pounding and
kicking on the porch.
l sprung 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 carriage at
the door; the burglar was gone through
the window and evidently into the
hands of his enemies, for above the
confusion downstairs | could hear Jim
our brother Jim-roaring for the
hall door to be opened. Someone was
pounding away on it Justify. | seized
Nutty and Jack, as soon as l had hur-
ried into my wrapper, and trembling
in every limb, we rushed down the
long hall and stairs. The hall lamp
was burning as usual. / hastily I'M
bolted, unbarred, and unlocked the
great front door, opened it with a jerk,
and threw myself into the arms Of
the Chichester brothers.
II thought it was JimP" I cried,
starting away.
Jennie! Thank Godr' cried Jim,
snatching me to him as he rushed in.
care you all safeP No one hurt at
alp"
There were others trooping in and
standing round me with startled and
admiring faces. A dark and compact
group wore uniforms and carried them
selves with the easy manner of men to
whom nothing was new or shocking.
In their midst, hatless and pale, and
oh, how ugly, mean, and common, I
saw Mr.. Heming.
Jennie, you are shaking with a
chill" cried Jim. "You must 90 to
bed at once. I'll take you up"-for 1
frightened my hold on him-"and call
the servants for you. l expect they
are too frightened to come out of their
rooms. just make yourself comforta-
BILE, gentlemen, I'll be with you in five
minutes"
He marched me to my room and
called the nurse.
''Oh, Jim, one moment, please!
Where did you come fromP And who
are the ChidestersP"
'First-rate fellows-my class, you
know. They telegraphed me-"
"We've made big haul. That ras-
cal is the master spirit of the gang
which has been at work round here for
year or two. He's an old hand at it
and his engagement with Mr.. Brown
was one of his clever lodges. He is a
druggist, as he is half dozen other
things; but his letters were forged.
The Chidesters saw him once in Boston
when he was on trial, and they knew
him at once when they saw him here.
They are wide awake, both of them.
About a week ago they heard some
thing-I haven't got at the bottom of
it yet, but two men who came to Tom
linson's for the night had something
to do with (which put them on the
track of tonight, and they wrote to
me; but they had to make it cautious
letter, and asked me to hold myself in
readiness for telegram, but not to
come without one. | was at their
cousins. They telegraphed last night,
and met me at the train at the next
station. sgd says he was here last
evening, for he was half afraid ]
might not get home, and he thought
he had better look around bit in
case anything should come off to
brighten me-"
They laid wager that they could
leave Boston in their own carriage and
drive for six months east, west, north,
and south, just as they chose, taking
no money with them and sending for
none, but living honestly by their
wits.
And when the Chidesters came back
as they had to, to the trial of my
burglar Well. might as we'll tell
it in world belong to one of them.
Cyril Chichester found respect, a very
good foundation for warmer feeling.
So he asked me to overlook his folly
and sink the remembrance of it in his
fame as ''rising lawyer" l over.
looked it and | am s'rising" with him.