Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-18

sure that the crib IS worth the cracking,
then crack it at once. On the night fol-
lowing this conversation the crib was
cracked: he had arranged for the marriage
to take place on the next day but oDe-or
Miss Welsh thought he had-so that If he
wished to avoid a scandal he really had nc
time to lose. We have seen him enter the
house. Now we understand how it was he
knew his ground.
He paused for an instant outside the
drawing-room door; it was through the
drawing-room window he had effected an
entrance. All was still. He moved up
the staircase two steps at time. There
was not stair that creaked. At the top
he paused again. From information re-
ceived, to adopt a phrase popular in an an
tagonistic profession, he was aware that
Miss Jones slept in the front bedroom.
"There's three bedrooms on the first
floor. When you gets to the top OF the
stairs you turns to the left, and if you
goes straight on you walks right into Miss
Jones' ROOM"
Mr.. Bennett turned to the left. He
went straight on. Outside Miss Jones'
door he paused again. The critical mo-
ment had arrived. He felt that all his
properties were in order-a bottle and a
sponge in his righthan pocket, a re-
volyer in his left, stout canvas bag
fastened round his body beneath his coat.
! The lantern was shut. He opened it
sufficiently to enable him to see what sort
of handle there was on the door. Having
satisfied himself on that point he closed it
again. Then he proceeded to effect an en-
| trance into Miss Jones' bedroom.
| He took the handle firmly into his hand.
1t turned without the slightest sound. The
door yielded at once.
'Not locked" said Mr.. Bennett beneath
his breath. "What stroke of luck !"
Noiselessly the door moved on its
hinges. He opened it Just wide enough to
enable him to slip inside. When he was
in he released the handle. Instantly the
door moved back and closed itself without
a sound.
''Got spring upon the door," Mr.. Ben
nett told himself-always beneath his
breath. "Uncommonly well oiled they
must keep it, too
The room was pitchy dark. He listened
acutely. All was still as the grave. He
strained his ears to catch Miss Jones
breathing.
"A nght sleeper.
A very light sleeper. Strain his ears as
he might, ne could not catch the slightest
sound. Mr. Bennett hesitated. As an art
| ist he was averse to violence. In cases of
necessity he was quite equal to the occa-
sion, bat in cases where it was not neces-
sary he preferred the gentler way. And
where a woman was in question, under
hardly any provocation would he wish to
cut her throat He had chloroform in his
pocket If Miss Jones was disagreeable,
he could make his peace with that But if
she left him unmolested, should he stupefy
her still? He decided that while she con-
tinued to sleep she should be allowed to
sleep, only 1t would be well for her not to
wake up to soon.
He moved across the room. Instinct
lively, even in the thick darkness, he knew
the position of the chest of drawers. He
reached it. He quickly discovered the
little top drawer on the left-hand side.
In a remarkably short space of time he
had it open. Then he began to search for
the red leather box. He cleaned the Ian
tern into the drawer, so that its light might
assist his search.
While he was still engaged in the work
of discovery, suddenly the room was all
ablaze with light.
''Thank you. l though it was you"
A voice, quite a musical voice, spoke
these words behind his back. Mr.. Ben
nett was, not unnaturally, amazed. The
sudden blaze of light dazzled his eyes. He
turned to see who the speaker was.
"Don't move, or l fire. You will find
am first-rate shot"
He stared. Indeed he had cause to stare
A young lady-a distinctly pretty young
lady-was sitting up in bed holding a re-
volver in her hand, which she was point.
ing straight at him.
"This room is lighted by electricity.
have only to press button, it all goe
out" And, in fact, it all went out; agar
the room was dark as pitch. Another, it
is alight again. As it was-and tina
with the rapidity of flash of lightning.
Mr.. Bennett stood motionless. For tn
first time in his professional career he wa
at a loss, not only as to what he ought t,
say, but as to what he ought to do. Th
young lady was so pretty. She had long
fair hair, which ranged loose upon he
: shoulders; pair of great big eyes, which
had very curious effect on Mr.. Bennett
-as they looked at him; sweet mouth
through her rosy lips cleaned little pearl
like teeth: and very pretty-and equal,
determined-nOSe and chin. She had Oh
the orthodox nightdress, which, in he
case, was gorgeous piece of feminine
millinery, laced all down the front witt
the daintiest pink bows. Mr.. Bennett ha'
never seen such picture in his life.
81 am Miss Cecilia Jones. You are Mr.
Bennett, l presume-George Bennett
MY George, as Hannah says. Hannah i
a hypnotic subject When l am expert
menting on her, the poor, dear creatur
tells me everything, you know. l wonde
, if could hypnotic you"
Mr.. Bennett did not know what sh
meant He was only conscious of the mos
singular sensation he had ever experienced
To assist his understanding, possibly, Mis-
Jones gave a practical demonstration o
her meaning. With her disengaged hant
she made some slight movements in tn
air, keeping her eyes fixed on Mr.. Bennett
: all the while. Mr.. Bennett in vain strug
gled to escape her gaze. Suddenly he wa
: conscious that, as it were, something ha'
5 gone from him-his resolution-his free
l dom of will-he knew not what
Miss Jones put down her hand.
a think that you will do. How do 20
, feel?"
every queer"
Mr.. Benefits utterance was peculiar
He spoke as a man might speak who
= under the influence Of drug, or as on
: who ms-unconsciously, without in
= tention, as it were.
: ooh, they always do feel like that a
first. Are you considered good burglar
5 as a rule|
/ "As a rule"
e Mr.. Bennett hesitatingly put up hi
/. hand and drew it across his brow. 1t wa
the hand which held the lantern. Whe
the lantern touched his skin he fould tha
e it was hot. He let it s .aii from his han
with clatter to the floor. Miss Jone
eyed him keenly all the time:
az see Won are not quite subjective ye