Arizona silver belt., 1890-12-27


 self, and so went on for a few min utes fumblng about with ny garments us usual depositing each in its aecus- toned place, for only by that means are we ineapabies able to find any ob- feet with certainty again,
 Suddenly thought of the purpose which had brought me to bed so early, and began to doubt if 1 was going through a good preparation for giving the sleeping draught fair chance. l had grown wider and wider awake every moment from that time when, ascending the stairs, had first felt u sense of loneliness Nevertheless l would take a glass of my light claret forthwith, considering that by the time l should be getting into bed it would be beginning to take effect 1 stepped out ill the direction of the table where it stood, felt about for an instant and the next had the bottle, within my | grasp. Then l found the glass, and was proceeding as l expected, to take | tho cork out, when To! there was no | cork Raising the bottle, l instantly knew from it's lightness that it was empty. This discovery was conclusive, Somebody had been in the room per | haps was in the room at this moment, ' a most unpleasant notion, but was no longer nervous.
 Who is there? Speakw l cried "Who are you. and where are your
 No reply listened iutently; not sound broke the stiffness of the sweet autumn night Taking my stick, l thrust it under the bed and round about in various corners of the room The furniture appeared Q little disar- ranged, but otherwise there was no evidence of the presence of any human being. Very strange, Thought Any way, must ring for the footluan for may say here that l dislike being valeted and beyond indispensable as sistanee prefer doing everything as much as l can for myself, especially in my bedroom.
 As my hand passed across the corner of tlle table it knocked something ofl on to the ground which rattled like tin and glass. Not stopping to toinvestigate, the next discovery my sensitive fingers made on the table was some short iron tool took it up and felt it, but could not make out what 1t was, so proceeded to grope for tine bell rope close to the bedhead.
 Now, with all that had gone before imagine my sensations when, as ny fingers passed over the edge of the pjl low on their way to the top of the bed stead, they fell upon a warm human cheek Yes the check of a man, as l knew instantaneously from his sparse beard, whisker, and hair! Imagine my sensations, 1 say at that moment
 That 1 was startled beyond expre, sion l admit, but checked my impulse to shout aloud stepped back into tho middle of the room, pumping agalfS.tt a cir or something in my haste in t,r, s,onds, however, 1 col iected my wits, Qat" co ''''''5''' cur most drew my concluslJS.s' ana S poied what to do 1 went to tb window closed and fastened it .. securely and as noiselessly az ] ,uld, for 1 had no desire to d,,,,ro the intruder who so far excspt for the warmth of his flesh. an~ .fently showed no sign of life my i quick ear told me that stood still | for a moment listening, and could not even hear him breathe Then crept to the door, felt for the key, which had been. I knew, inside, but it was no 1 longer in the lock. By great good luck. | just as ] was debating on how l might | secure the door outside, my foot trod on what knew to be the key. It was 1 lying close to that wedge like bit Of wood with the screw which had first attracted my attention. l now guessed what it was; so, picking it up with the key, 1 passed out into the passage, | softly closed and locked the 1foor after me, and janIpe1 the bit of wood in the cr.q2.ad1 beneath it, At least, l thought, whoever you are, you shan't get ont this way. Then l made what haste l could along the corridor and down the stairs, rang the dining room bell, and in few minutes had told my story to the butler.
 He was for immediately rushing oil upstairs to see about it all.
 No, no, Pitts, said l. Wait bit. Call two of the footmen and let them take up a position where they can see that no one leaves that room. Go out and get hold of two or three garleners-anybody, and post them under the window. Then start of somebody from the stable to rhe village for the constable--for two constables, if there are two. Now quick's thd word. The fellow is sound asleep, who ever he is, but we may as well make sure who he is, |"
 These orders were rapidly carried out, and in less than half an hour two stalwart policemen arrived. One joined the men under the window; the second, the head constable, went upstairs with the butler and me He was the first to enter the room. slipped ill last to listen,
 'iiuuo, my man, what are ye2 i3p tG here2 Come wake up! Give an ac- count of yourself"
 A pause
 "Why, he is sound as top still"
 A noise as of shaking something another pause,
 "Oh, yes, of course, here's the little game dark lantern rolled over on the floor, jimmy and crowbar, box of noise less matches, ctcetterarr, etoette-rarr; ] [ zoo LLn..o ..c1,L .,.nl-.. l,r. ll,i. inrn