The morning call., 1891-02-16

was 10th to leave her; but all was so pleas
AIT there, so guarded. SO comfortable, and
then the waiting maid always slept in the
small room adjoining. that she had no ex-
cusp for asking to stay.
With her diamonds still about her and her
face growing more and more serious she
stole softly up the stairs. Dolmer was lock-
ing doors aud eXtingushing candles with
a painstaking air. He bowed to her as
she passed. His eyes and his dark skin,
with its yellow scars, made her think Of a
tiger.
She hurried to her room and locked the
door She had never done this before. She
did not know why she did it now The house
she had known ever since she was born felt
unsafe to her.
She had mind to 60 back and beg to stav
with her grandmother, after all, but dreaded
the stairs aud passages, now dark and silent.
AT last she knelt down and prayed, felt
comforted, and rising, began to undreSs
She removed the diamonds. laid them in
their rich old cases. and placed them in the
bureau. She had not the courage to go to
her safe with them-she, who had often
boosted that she did not know what fear
meant She threw her pretty dress across
a chair, attired herself for the night and
slipped into bed, leaving the nght-lamp
burning 1t was a curious little thing, from
which q white moon face set in a sea of
blue looked at one with its almond eyes,
when the lamp was lighted. 1t usually had
jolly expression; now it seemed to give her
chances of warning. Yet she might have
fallen asleep but for new and horrible
thing that happened,
We all know that the coughing or even
hard breathing of any individual is very
distinctive sound, alike in no two people.
Patrick, the dismissed servant, had pecu-
liar way of catching his breath when IA
tigued.
Suddenly in the silence, this sound struck
or Queens ear. Was it Imagination ? No,
she heard it again. At once she was assured
that Patrick was concealed in her room be-
hind the curtains of an alcOye. 1t could be
for no other purpose than that of theft. Dol
mer had been right, an honest guardian of
her aunt'S interests; Patrick, wretch who
deceived his benefactress.
She tried to think OF some means of escape
from the room. Should she rise to cross it,
Patrick, powerful and alert, could stop her
with a finger She might bring about her
own murder. Perhaps to felgu sleep was
the best and safest thing to do.
At last grandma was safe for the pres
ent. Patrick must know the diamonds were
in her room. Again that sudden catch of
the strong mans breath. Queen almost
tainted.
Suddenly another sound struck her ear.
A step upon the roof of the porch, which
was below her window.
The shutters opened a dark head pro-
trudt d into the room, light figure fol-
lowed DOlmer himself, pistol in his
hand.
Cal ILLS We lIutE Thought the girl.
This man l suspected has proved my
guardian angel; lie has come to save me
from Patrick."
In her relief she sat up in bed and clasped
her hands and cried
Dolmer-good-kin Dolmarr
But his answer was an oath. A hand
struck her, not heavily but sharply, on the
shoulder, and DUlmer's voice Kissed il her
ear
of, | h. MI, go
was to be dismissed. eh? Oh. yes, yes, be-
cause | am 50 dreadful to behOld!'
And then the young lady thought.
" looked like an escaped convict? Very
well, | am-from the galleys at Toulon
For what was there, Ell? For killing a
woman. Now kill another. Then take
the diamonds! All! you did well to keep
them In your room tonight, and, at day
light / discover you are murdered and rob-
bed. Dead women cannot tell talesl Per-
the thief Who knows? Not honest Dol
mer-who soon goes to be rich in his own
country. hate you. | like to kill you! |,
who look like an ugly tiger, eh? ?"
The girl Shrank back powerleSs to move
or to speak, but seeing what Dolmer does
not see; the alcoye curtain thrown aside
and great, well-built Irish figure emerging
from it, and lifting its strong hand above
Do!mers right arm. The next instant Dol
mer is on the floor. and Pntrick, kneeling on
his breast, ties his hands together with
red cotton handkerchief. as he cries:
mo fear now, miss darlin'l | was I'D to
the thricks Of the crayther and watched
him. l knew he was afther thin di'mints.
and | saw him thry the windy to see ii 1t
was alsy enthrln'; SO | riSked me carack-
Their for the sake of the family, prayin' the
saints be wild Inc. 'Asy, Miss Queen. Hes
as helpless as babby in me hands"
Pat gave his testimony in court, when
Dolmer was tried, in way that made much
laughter. Dnt IL with him OF
Dnlmer, an escaped murderer who had
killed lady for the sake of her brac eiet
was returned to the authorities of his own
country; and Patrick is now Guardian
General OF the house and the ladies' A
more faithful one could not be found New
York Ledger.