Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-10-06

W an lul"S "o''o "0 o'o' ooA"""o
to anything? What did she care {?
Was he brave and manly ?
/ The question gave her an inspiration.
It wouldn't be much of tl'al but it at
least would be little fun, and all they
had hone in all their courtshlp was to
sit OIL the opposite sides of the parlor
and talk to each other. She rose and
went out in to the hall. D.ck eyed
her rs she went out, but he never ques
toned anything she did, so he said
othing. She walked back to the stairs
leading to the basement and looked
down. Everything was satisfactorily
dark. The light in the lower hail had
been turned out. and from this she
knew the servants had gone to bed. 1t
was nearly midnight she noticed by the
dining rom clock. With satisfied
smile she walked on tiptoe and with Il
great pretense Of fright back to the par
lor.
Dick she said in a whisper that
seemed terrified, i heard some one
down stairs, and I'm afraid its Eurg.
lar. Would you just as lief go down
and see ?
With pleasure he said, in that
calmly polite way he never forgot.
She smiled as she noticed that he
carried his gloves In his hand as he
would on the street, and felt uncon-
sciously for necktle to see see if it were
adjusted correctly. Dick walked to the
head of the back stairs while she re-.
NAMED in the parlor peering cut, half
hidden by the portere. He leaned far
over and listened intently.
DO you hear anvthing: she asked
in whisper.
Yes, he answered.
She smiled. What does it sound
like she continued.
Like man saving. he answered.
She had hard work TO prevent her.
self from laughing outright. She had
been in the Identical spot where Dick
now stood but minute before and she
knew the basement was as still as the
grave. 1t was his frightened imagna-
ton, that was all. She would see the
thing out. Perhaps Dick was afraid
after all, She whispered again.
DO you want Il revolver: she asked.
No. he answered. 4 wouldn't know
what to do with it if had one. Then
she saw him disappear down the stairs.
She went back into the parlor anu
picked up his hat. She smiled as she
noticed how new it looked, just like
everything else he had. Then she tried
it on and stood before the glass won
dering if it wouldn't make pretty
riding hat. She remembered that if
any other man were to come back into
the parlor and find her with his hat on
her head he would demand kiss, after
the good old fashion.
But Dick-no, Dick would never
think of such thing or dare to do so If
he did Presently she wondered why
he was gone so long. He wasn't afraid
after all. He must have decided on Il
very thorough search. She wished her
father would come down stairs and dis.
cover that Dick had done at least that
much in che world. But no she could
hear her father walking up and down
the room Immediately above her, think
ing OF all sorts of things that he called
important, but which did net interest
her at all. She was just beginning to
feel lonely and to wish that Dick would
get through and come back when she
heard a dull sound, as though some-
thing heavy had fallen in the kitchen.
There was silence for u moment after
that, and then she hea,d great crash
ing of glass aud then heard Dick call
Justify for the police. He: heart leaped
up into her throat. She tried to call
hlm to come back to her as he loved
her, but she could not utter Il word.
She ran to the front window in fear and
threw 1t open.
A stockily built fellow who looked
gigantic in the half light of the street
lamps was just making his escape
through the gate and down the street.
while right underneath her, barehead
ed, but still with his immaculate gloves
in his hand, Dick ran after HIM. still
calling at the top of his voice for a
policeman. She saw them 90 forty feet
apart down the street at the best speed
they could make. She saw them dis
appear from The light of one street lamp
and come out into the light of another
twice, and then she saw the stockily
built fellow wheel quickly around she
saw little sharp line of flame; she
heard loud report and then-she
c.,.I.,l