Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-28
QUITE IN THE DARK.
CONTINUED nom second Pagel


as usual, depositing each in its accus
toned place, for only BY that means
are we incapables able to find any OBJ
ject with certainty again.
Suddenly / thought Of the purpose
which had Brought me to bed so carly,
and began to doubt If / was going
through a good preparation for giving
the sleeping draught a fair chance
had grown wider and wider awake
every moment from that time when.
ascending the stairs, / had first felt a
sense of loneliness. Nevertheless !
would take a glass OF my light elaret
forthwith, considering that by the time
! should be getting into bed it would
be beginning to take effect | stepped
out in 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 / expected, to take
the cork out, when lol there was no
cork. Raising the bottle, / instantly
knew from its lightness that it was
empty This discovery was conclusive
Somebody had been in the room, per-
haps was in tho room at this moment,
most unpleasant notion but was no
longer nervous
''Who is there7 Speak" | cried.
"Who are you, and where are youp
No reply listened intently; not
sound broke the stiffness of the sweet
autumn night Taking my stick,
thrust it under the bed and round
about in various corners of the room.
The furniture appeared little dsar-
ranged, but otherwise there was no
evidence of the presence Of any human
being Very strange, Thought Any
way, must ring for the footinan-for
1 may say here that dislike being
valeted, and beyond indispensable as
sistance prefer doing everything as
much as can for myself, especially in
my bedroom.
AS my hand passed across the corner
OF the table, itknocked something off
on to the ground which ratified like tin
and glass. Not stopping to investigate
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 was, so proceeded
TO grope for the bell rope close to the
bedhead
Now, with all that had gone before,
imagine my sensations when, as my
fingers passed over the edge of the pill.
low on their way to the top of the bed
stead, they fell upon a warm human
cheek Yes the cheek Of a man. as
knew simultaneously from his sparse
beard whisller, and hairl Imagine my
sensations, | say ut that moment!
That / was startled beyond expires
sion admit, but checked my impulse
TO shout aloud stepped back into
the middle Of the room, humping
against chair or something in my
haste In two seconds, however, col
leeted my wits. Quick as thought al
most ! drew my conclusions and settled
what to do. | went to the window,
closed and fastened it as securely and
rs noiseessly as | could, for | had no
desire to disturb the intruder, who SO
far, except for the warmth of his flesh,
apparently showed no sign Of lifo-my
quick ear told me that stood still
for moment listening, and could not
even hear him breathe Then | crept
to the door, felt for the key, which had
been, j knew inside, but it was no
longer in tho lock by great good luck,
just as | was debating on how | might
secure the door outside, my foot trod
on what | knew to be the key. 1t was
lying close to that wedge like bit of
wood with the screw which had first
attracted my attention now guessed
what it was; SO, picking it up with the
key, ] passed out into the passage,
softly closed and locked the door after
me, and jaIuIned the bit of wood in the
crack beneath it, At least thought,
whoever you are, you shan't get out
this way, Then / made what haste !
could along the corridor and down the
stairs, rang the dining room bell, and
in u few minutes had told my story to
the butler
lie was Cor Immediately rushing off
upstairs TO see about it all
"No, no, Pitts said /. "Wait a
bit. Call two of the footmen and let
them take up n position where they
can see that no one leaves that ROOM
Go out and get hold of two or three
gardeners-anybody and post them
under the window. Then start off
somebody from the stable to the village
for the constable two constables,
If there arc two. Now quicii'3 the
word. The fellow is sound asleep, who.
ever he is, but we may MS we'll 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 unoer the window; the second
the head constable, went upstairs with
the butler aud me. lie was the first to
enter the room. / slipped in last to
listen.
"Hullo my man, what are you up to
here2 Come, wake up! Give an ac-
count of yourself"
A pause.
why, he is sound as top still"
A noise Us of shaking something
another pause.
ooh, yes, of course, here's the littls
game-darls lantern rolled over on the