News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-09-10

company" said.
"Do! Go now You can come
back on the five-thirty," said Susy.
81 shall not sleep a wink if they stay
here. OH" and her very lips were
white, eff / saw a burglar, l believe l
should diel"
And looking into her white, terrified
face, believed so too, although Ser
ena said loftily:
'What nonsense you do talk,
Susy"
But, aunt Jane consenting, | went
upon my proposed errand, arranged
to have the boxes sent for the follow
ing day, and was on my way to the
depot, when l met an ola friend and
patient. The ten minutes chat that
followed cost me the loss of the $50
train. Not another one stopped at
WestonvilIe, excepting the midnight
express, until the next day.
Fretting, reproaching myself, pas
sed the time as best | could until mid
night, my heart sinking at the
thought of the three lonely ladies at
WestOnville. There was but one man
on the place, and he slept in a room
over the stable. What if any thief
attempted to obtain the valuable
boxes piled in the hall? Serena
could be trusted to be cool and col
lected; aunt Jane was not timid; but
Susy-poor little Susy-she would
die, she said; and | feared she would.
AS the train sped on, this thought of
Susy's terror became almost madden
ing; and when, at last, l was at the
little way-side station, quarter of
mile from aunt James, | started on
run for the house.
The hall-door was open, and heard
81 sound in the sitting-rOOm that
seemed to chill the blood in my veins.
Throwing open the door, l saw Susy
little Susy-clinging at the throat
of man roughly dressed, who held
aunt Jane in a chair, while he tried
to shake off Susy's arms, at the same
time keeping aunt Jane down. Sere-
ma lay in dead faint on the floor.
"You shall not hurt her!" Susy
cried, her slender arms strained to
choke the sufferer. ''Let, go, you
wretch I'll kill you ! 4"
One blow on the top of his head
from my heavy walking-stick brought
the fellow down insensible Susy
dropped her arms and stood white as
death, but perfectly calm, facing me.
"Can you find me rope to tie this
fellow ?" / asked.
She nodded, sped away, and return
ed with coil of clOthes-line.
''ListenP' she said, speaking quick
ly. "There is another one in the
china closet, locked in. He is trying
to kick the door down. Do you see,
this is James ! -
James was the one man-servant
aunt Jane employed. Tying him
firmly, | gave my next attention to
aunt Jane, whose whole face was COW
cred with blood from a wound in the
head. Knowing how the SIGHT of
blood always sickened Susy, l tried
to keep her back, but she said
quietly
"Tell me, please, what you want
and how to help you"
| sent her for water, rags, lauda-
mum, and while we bound up aunt
James head and restored her to con-
and sat up, white and shaking.
ooh, Susy' that man will kick the
closet door DOWN." she cried, as the
| blows from the next room became
more violent.
1t seemed as if he would, and l
started to quiet him, when Susy
grasped my arm.
'Don't open the door!" she said.
''There may be more than one there
You see, we were all sitting up here,
hoping you would come on the mid
night train, but aunt Jane had not
told James to go to the station be-
cause she thought you had rather
walk up than have us alone. So l
suppose James thought you were
gone for all night and he came in at
some time in the evening, we do not
know when, and hid in that china
closet. | went to the dininG-room in
the dark for some water just as he
crept out. | could just see him, and
that another man was creeping af-
ter him, but not out of the closet. |
slammed the door, locked it, and ran
in here just as James struck dear
aunt Jane on the head and tried to
push her down in her chair. Then ]
flew at him and you came in. But
there may be more than one man in
the closet. The door is strong, and
| will run down to the police station
while you take care of aunt Jane and
Serena"
Before | couldstop her she was run.
ming across the hall, out at the door
f and down the road, while James sud.
denly revived and began to struggle
and curse.
Nv hands were full, for aunt Jane
was severely hurt, and Serena was sc
terrified that she could not stir, sob
bing and half fainting in sheer terror
cannot tell how long it was before
Susy came speeding back with three
strong policemen behind her, but il
| the meantime some of the maids were
reused and had come to my assist
| ance.
, There proved to be but one burglar
: in the closet, a Westonville man anC
crony of James, and the two wer,
: marched off, securely bound Aun
= Jane was put to bed and made az
comfortable as possible; Serena haC
/ gone to her own room; the hous,
t was locked up and turned to bic
5 Susy good night.
She was standing at the foot o
e aunt James bed, holding fast to ;
5 chair, her face perfectly colorless, anC
her limbs trembling. / mixed her ;