The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-01-16
BURGLARS.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

looks as el Wouiun I DE nome tonight,
and there's all them contributions for the
yaller-fever sufferers up chamber in the
red closet (arnation fool ] was to take
charge of 'emD. There is about two
thousand dollars altogether, and that's
enough to tempt thieves. Eff your ma
was to hum, wouldn't feel skeered.
She's woman of sense and experience,
but Sarey Ann had to hev her twins Just
on this pertickler occasion, and there is
your ma off for week."
"Why, pa, nobody knows the money is
here, cried the second daughter, Kitty.
''They'd be more likely to expect to find
it at the store in the safe"
"That's jest why fetched it up" said
the deacon. 81 hev got to produce it up
to the church meetin' to-morrer, and IA
feel purity GURUS eff l had to go and say
'twus stole-and them boys is so long
tongued and gabby. Can't sell pound
of -four without tellin' all creation all
they know. So led them to believe I'd
put it in the safe, and made a lot of fuss
about their lockin' up keerful, and mean
while hum fetched it."
"Well, that was cute!" said Kitty.
"Leave pa alone for fixing things, "
said Matte.
The two girls were remarkably fond
of their father, and believed him the
wisest of men. AS he got ready for his
journey, they lowered about him, bring
ing him his gloves, tying his Sunday
cravat, putting little dainties in his
traveling-bag, filling a small bottle with
lemonade, in case he should grow
thirsty, parting his hair so that the bald
spot on top wouldn't show, and listening
to his counsel.
"Ef l amt to hum" said he, ''you'll
find the rifle and the pistol both loaded
but l guess the bolts and bars on this
here house is all good. You jest see to
them, and it's all right. Fasten up
early. Don't go away nowhere, and see
you don't let no beggars in
All of which the girls solemnly
promised, and kissing their father,
waved their kerchiefs from the porch
until he vanished at the turning of the
road that led to the station
Usually the Farley farmhouse boosted
both maid and man. But it so hap
pened that the last man had fallen in love
with ike rosy-cheeked "help," and that
they had married and departed together
only the day before. The new servants
had not yet arrived, and the farm was in
a lonely place, and the mother--as the
deacon had said-was at her daughters,
where two little strangers had arrived
together.
Still the girls, healthy, merry, and not
at all imaginative felt no alarm. They
went to work with a will to tidy the
house. They had a pickup dinner in the
kitchen, and they took their crochet
work and couple of novels on the porch
in the afternoon.
"1'll get tea, Kitty" said Matte, as
the sun began to set. 81 know you want
to finish that blue row."
And Kitty answered.:
eyes, l should like to, Matte, if yor
don't mind"
However, when Matte had gont
kitchenward, it occurred to Kitty thai
there might be letter at the postofiict
for her. The young druggist spoken o
In the neighborhood as "Kitty Farley
steady company lived in New York
and missive was to be expected from
him at any meizent. Therefore Kit,
thought that she would run over to tn
office while Matte was making tea S,
she caught up her shade hat and started
off down the lane, taking a short Gu
over the meadows. Matte at the SAM
time having put on the kettle, believed
that she could just step in to the mex
neighbours and get some patterns she hat
been promised before the water dubbed
The neighbours back door was only acros
two vegetable gardens, and Matte dic
not need hat, for the sun was QUIT
gone. Away she went, with her ligf
step and quick movements, never guessir!
that her sister had left her post SO i
came to pass that the house was desertac
for the space of an hour; for when Kit.
got to the office the mail was Just IN
the letters had yet to be sorted, am
while she was waiting for this to be done
an old friend stepped out of a wagon at til
door. Of course, there was long chat
for Mrs. Jones had to tell of deaths AM
marriages, of an elopement, of til
"doings" of the evil-disposed and tn
good luck of her son Billy, who ha,
gone to California and made little for
tune in Los Angeles in no time. Will
at the neighbours the pattern was hard t
find, and then Matte had to learn jus
how to match the notches, and then
was not civil to 60 without little tall,
and there was confidence only to b
impaired at the gate, regarding certai
John, who was paying attention to til
young lady of the house Time flies S
much faster at such moments than W
can believe. 1t was quite dark whe
Kitty flew in at the front door, and Mat
tie bounced in at the back at the same il
slant. Neither of the girls guessed tina
the other had been absent The kettl
was boiling, so Matte made the tea an
set the table and rang the bell, tuckin
the patterns behind a platter on tn
dresser, and Kitty entered at the sigma
expecting scolding for keeping t.
waiting, but none came.
The girls took their tea, chatting plea
antly over it, and then Matte said:
s'Suppose we lock up and go up to OF
room. 1t does feel little spookish dow
stairs alone"
at docs" said Kitty. "Down cell'
first and then everywhere else"
Farley farmhouse was well provide
with bolts and bars, and every room ha
good locks of its own. The girls fastene
everything on the lower door, and the
went up to the front room, where the
parents slept, to see to the window
though it was probable that their fathc
had attended to that before he wei
away. Kitty went first with candl,
Matte followed. She had stayed to D.
the cat into the wash-nousc, and no
came up on the full run with that feelin
that some unseen thing Is behind yo