St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-04

| eaten on one OF the dining-rOOm win
dows could be easily unfastened. 1t
was one of these little things about the
| house that had needed attention for
years. 1t had been neglected, as all
| things are when it is everybody'S bust
! ness to have them repaired.
The crust of the snow In the yard
seemed to snap with unusual noise as
Fred carefully made his way around to
the window. The valise was put down
in the snow, and after some trouble the
window was unlocked Witha jack-knite.
The window was an old-fashioned
one, without weights, and although
raised with the utmost care, it creaked
numerically. A fork-shaped button
held it i'll place when open. 1t was a
long reach from the ground, and before
the window was secured it very nearly
dropped back again. A bang SO caused
house. After the window had been Sc
cured, the valise was quietly lifted in,
followed by its owner. First the head,
then the body, then two long legs came
silently in. Once more Fred stood in
his fathers house. He closed the Win
dow and prepared to go to his room.
But suddenly it occurred to him that
his room might not be in order. Not
being expected for two months, the fur
niture might possibly have been moved
out, and certainly the bed would not
be made up. At the head of the stairs
was room that was invariably kept in
kept in readiness for unexpected guests.
1t would be far better to spend the
night there. Also, as this necessitated
the climbing of but one flight of stairs,
there would be much less danger of his
being heard.
AS he started to leave the room he
| stubbed his toe against chair. He held
his breath and listened. There was no
| sound, and again he started into the
hall. Slowly and carefully he climbed
| the carpeted stairs. He held the valiSe
behind him that it might not bump
against the wall or the balustrade. He
| had nearly gained the top when another
| thought presented itself. What if some
guest was at that moment occupying the
| room? There would be nothing then
| to do but spend the night on the floor IN
| his room or go down to the sitting room
and sleep on the lounge. Why had he
| not thought of that before? He would
| have made much less noise and would
| have been sure to remain undiscovered
| until morning. But as he was so near
the chamber, it was best to ascertain if
| it was unoccupied. Fortunately the
door was open. He put his valise down
| on the outside and listened for the
breathing of sleeper. All was quiet
| save the humping of his own heart, for
although at home, there was somewhat
of an exciting sensation caused by
proving about in the dark in so secret
a manner.
Feeling sure that the room was unoc-
cupied, he entered. and with little diff
| Guilty found the center table. He had
but lighted the lamp upon it, when an
indiScribable sensation came over him.
him. 1t was the sensation one feels
when suddenly realizing that some one
is watching. He raised his eyes toward
the door at the opposite side of the
room, and was startled to see entering
a strange young lady dressed in long
wrapper. In her left hand she held
lighted candle, in her right cooked re-
volyer. The latter was aimed unpleas-
antly in the vicinity of his head, and
considering discretion the better part of
vaior he jumped into a small closet at
his side and closed the door. The next
instant he heard knee press against
the lower part of the door and the key
turned in the lock.
His first impulse was to prevent any
firing that might take place, and he
fastened to cry:
81 have no intention of doing So"
answered voice from the outside. Il
think L have you very securely now,
, and will be able to keep you here as
long as wish"
Here was certainly peculiar posi-
ton. To be locked in a closet in his
own home by an absolute stranger was
hardly the reception he had expected to
have on his return. But he was greatly
perplexed to know how to begin con-
verSation with his fair captor. At last
he said:
VINO are you, and what are you
doing here?"
THAT is nice question for you to
ask. / think it would be more sensible
if | asked you that"
This was logical. He had made a
fool of himself i'll beginning, but would
try again and endeavor to do better.
II am the son of the house and have
Just returned from a Journey"
''That is very likely story" she re-
piled. lit is more foolish than your
first remark. The son of the house is
now in New Zealand, and will not re-
turn for two months or possiblya longer
time. If he did, he would not be very
likely to come at this unSeemly hour
and enter in this unceremOnious man
ner.'
This was as logical as her first re-
mark. Circumstantial evidence of the
most convincing character was certainly
against him.
But won't you tell me who YOU
are?"
"Certainly l sha'n't. What good will
it do you to know who [ amp"
1t would, indeed, be hard to make her
understand the reason. Nevertheless,
something must be done and be done
quickly. Although living in the coun-
try, Mr.. Boylst enjoyed all modern i'm
provementS possible. The house was
heated by steam, but owing to its hay
ing been introduced many years after
the house was built, the pipes were
not SO conveniently arranged as
they would have been in new
house. built to accommodate them. The
pipes to the third story passed through
the corner of the closet in which Fred
and filled with dresses, and there was
barely room for person to stand in
side. The poor fellow was uncomfort-
able, to say the least.
"You don't seem to realize that the
steam pipes pass through this closet.
shall sutfocate if you don't let me out"
II am perfectly well aware OF the po-
sition of the steam pipes, but have no
intention of letting you out"
but l must have air.
tWell here 1t is" she said, and taking
the bellows from the fireplace, she fitted
the nozzle into the keyh0le and blew a
lot of air into the closet. This had little
effect, however. and it seemed necessary
that he should start off on new tack.
"Wny don't you call my father? He
could certainly help YOU"
81 don't need any help" she tersely
replied.
But if he was here I know he would
recognize my voice."
AS she had him in such absolute Sc
curity there seemed to DE no harm IN
telling him that there was no other man
in the house. 1t would also be best to
tell him the truth. Undoubtedly he