The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-05-15

1t blowing over me. l think that woke
Ire, and not any noise or movement. for
I lay perfectly still and calm until my
scattered senses returned and l knew
what to fear.
''Burglars!" beat my frightened
heart. The Chichester Brothers.
came choking into my frightened
throat
| had too much sense to move or
scream. / lay still as death, only
drawing long, even breaths as if sound
in sleep, anu 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 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, saw the face of the "emi-
nently respectable Mr.. Heming!
Unfortunately, UTTERED sharp cry.
Then, closed my eyes and felt my.
self sinking away into helpless. hope
less terror. But the door into my
room flew open with bang, | heard
Jack shout and Nutty scream; a
rustic. thud, pistol-shot, confused
voices, tramping of feet, and tremen-
dous pounding and kicking on the
porch.
just let any one try "thls 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 carriage
at the door; the burglar was gone
through the window and evidently
into the hands of his enemies, fol-
above the confusion downstairs
could hear Jim-our brother Jim
roaring for the hall-door to be opened.
Some one was pounding away on il
Justify. l 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 il
with jerk, and threw myself into the
arms of-the Chidester Brothers.
II thought it was Jimr' I cried
starting away.
Jennie! Thank Godr' cried Jim
snatching me to him, as he rushed in
"Are you all safep No one hurt q
alp"
mo one! And nothing taken!'
"Just in timer exclaimed tn,
Chidesters.
"Just in timen echoed Jim. "Boys
| can never half thank you'll"
There were others trooping in ant
standing round me with startled ant
admiring faces. A dark and compac
group wore uniform and carried them
selves with the easy manner of mel
to whom nothing was new or shock
ing. In their midst, hatless and pale
and oh! how ugly, mean and common,
saw Mr.. Heming.
l know now that there were no
more than five or six men altogether
but that night they seemed to fill tn
hall.
Jennie, you are shaking with
chill!' cried Jim. "You must go t
bed at once. I'll take you up'--for
frightened my hold on him-''and cal
the servants for you. I expect the
are too frightened to come out of thei
room. just make yourselves comfort
able, gentlemen; I'll be with you i
five minutes"
He marched me to my room, an
called nurse.
"Oh, Jim, one moment, please
Where did you come from? And VIII
, are the Chldestersp'
"First-rate fellows-my class. 70
know. They telegraphed me. But
can't stop, really. I'll be up again 6
soon as l can get away"
Then l covered my head among tn
pillows and had good, hard an
frightened cry. For soas frightened
now that it was all over. Nurse di
. her best for me by sending the boys
: bed and keeping the doors closed. B
q the time Jim tapped for admittance
was quiet and ready to hear his story
: well. Jennie, we've made . bi
l haul. That rascal is the master-spir
: of the gang which has been at wor
9 round here for year or two. He's 9
old hand at it, and his engagemer
|. with MIR. Brown was one Of his clev,
d lodges. He Is a druggist, as he is ha
: q dozen other things, but his lettel