Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-04-15

down the road). "And-by the way,
I'd nearly forgot tive letter for
you, too. That's what brought me
here"
"For me, Mrs. Gludge?"
Instinctively put out my hand to
grasp the treasure, while the woman
fumbled first in one and then in the
other of her pockets.
'It's very strange" she said. 81
made sure had it. did have it when
l started away from home; but now
remember. Just at the foot of Gibbs
Cliff took out my handkerchief to tie
around my neck-the wind came so
keen around the rocks-and / must
applied it out with that, and every
thing too pitch dark around me to see.
Oh, Miss Ruth, I'm so sorryl Please
don't report me, that's good young
lady, or shall lose my place"
swallowed down a big lump of dis
comfiture in my throat and tried to
laugh.
Report you, Mrs. Gludger' said |.
"Of course not. 1t wasn't your fault
If you hadn't kindly thought of me
and started to bring it on your way to
Romney's you would never have lost
it."
"And quite true" said Mrs. Gludge,
ruetully; "but all the same wish /
hadn't been SO thoughless. I'll send
the boys out to look for it just as soon
as"--
"Ob, never mind the letter. in.
terrupted. 81 dare say it's only from
Jack. Tomorrow morning will do
very well for that. But Mrs. Gludge,
you'll come back and stay with me till
Peter comes back? Jean is away, you
know, and"-
4 "Yes, my DEAR I'll do that assented
the woman, evidently relieved to be let
off so easily on the score of the letter,
land it won't be long first. It's only a
short half mile to Romney's, if the
wind didn't blow so like all possessed"
With good-humored nod she disap-
peared into the rain and darkness, and
/ ran back to pile fresh logs Oh the
waning fire. Bank burglars, extradi-
|
with all these possibilities whirling in
my brain it is not strange that light
ed second lamp in order effectually
to Danish all lurking shadows from
the angles of tho room and started
nervously when sudden blast of
wind shook the window shutters as if
with some imperious hand
I'm go up to the garrett and bring
down some butternuts," thought |,
"and then I'll get some cider from the
cellar. 1t will be fun to crack the but
ternuts and watch the shells blaze in
the fire, and Mrs. Gludge would like a
drink of cider when she comes back all
wet and chill"
Cheered by this happy thought, !
caught up q lamp and flew to the gar
ret of the roomy old house, where my
father had bestowed all the nutty
treasures of the autumn woods. Some
how Priscilla, the cat, had got locked
into the garnet, and had to release
her from durance vile and replace a
box or two which she had knocked off
from the window-sill before / came
down, driving her catship before me,
with the lamp in one hand and an
apronful of butternuts in the other.
Through the open keeping-room
door streamed ray of ruddy light into
the Zimmerman darkness of the hall.
stopped abruptly. Surely l had
closed that door when came out, re-
| ha,, .4o,, 4,,;a1 II
slamming to and fro in windy weather
like this And at the same time q
curious consciousness of some human
presence near by crept over me like an
unseen magnetic current
Nor was it false premonition. AS
] stretched my neck to peep cautiously
, into the room, saw seated before the
| fire youngish gentleman, pale, black.
) haired, and, as l thought, rather un
, settled of aspect And decidedly wei
and mud despatched gentleman, whose
raiment steamed in the glorious blaze
and crackle of the pine logs, as he sat
there holding out his hands to the gen
ial warmth.
, How had he gained an entrance'
, Had carelessly neglected to bolt the
, big door after Mrs. Gludge's depar
ture? Yes, must have done so-anC
that was proof of how utterly unfit
was to be left by myself, For SECOND
| stood there quailing and quaking, my
heart thumpeting like triphammer
and cold sweat breaking out upor
: my forehe ad, before decided what t,
do.
l had never seen bank burglar, I,
be sure, but / was pretty certain thi
black-haired gentleman did not belong
4 TO that race. And l did not think h,
acted like any other sccundrel who wa
fleeing from the rigors of the law. II,
must be the English gentleman gon,
wrong in-his head, who had escaped
: from the Stephensons
/ was alone in the house with ma
e MAC. And at the idea my heart bea
more violently than ever, and the coli
e drops grew colder ON my brow.
With sudden instinct decided tina
t that there was nothing for it but flight
e The worst feature of the case was tina
n l could not get out OF the house (be
S remembered that Peter had taken ava
the key TO the back kitchen door in hi
, pocket without passing directl