The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-04

voice at the end of the long entry, bid
/ was terrified. What were two girls
in the grasp Of man presumably
armed to resist arrest?
las Moline inferred nv room, dears,
the private theatricals commenced, one
actress for al audience of two She
spoke to me, and I moved my head IN.
easily. nuttering like person waking
suddenly in delirium- Her fears at
once took the alarm.
"'Oh. Matte, Matte, dear she
cried, 4 had no idea you were so sick!
Fannyr she called, going to the door.
'Fannyr
Zone of the maids, who was, l
learned later, making up bed at the
other end Of the long entry, for an IN
expectedly detained guest, answered
| the call.
Fanny, Miss Matte is very sick,
Mollie said. Can you stay here while
l call Mrs. Burke?'
''All this time / had been murmuring
any nonsense that came first to my
| lips, but now | said in French:
"'Wait! must speak to You before
| you send for Mrs. Burke. l am not
sick
"'oh. marm.' cried Fanny, what
awful gibberish she do talk, to be
surer
Eyes she has fever said Mo!lie,
coming to the bedside. Get some cold
water, Fannie, and battle her head
Don't start or scream muttered,
still in French in a low tone, keeping
my head in motion; There is a man
hiding in the closet who has designs on
the plate and wedding presents, am
sure. Can you ring the alarm bell in
Mrs. Burke's room and get the man
servants here?'
"'Ohl you poor, poor darlingi' said
Mollie, caressing me. TO think you
have been lying here suffering while
we were dancing and enjoying our
selvesl But you must have something
to take. Fanny, as the maid came with
a pitcher of water, battle Miss Mattie's
head, while see what medicines are in
the closet
II said there was one actress, and
was wrong. MolIie walked ooolly to
the closet, knowing tho thief was
crouched down in the far corner behind
some bundles, and took from a narrow
shelf a few bottles, crossing the room
TO read the labels by the candle on a
table beside the bed, and, returning
again, two or three times, while
moaned and muttered, and Fanny
pitied and soothed me.
Really, my dears," said Aunt Mar
tina, complacently, considered as
first appearance, without study or re-
hearsal, l must say that it was very
well done. The last bottle Moliie took
back was put upon the shelf, and with
out hurry, but quite naturally, she
closed the closet door and locked it.
II knew then, what l had almost
doubted, that she had un derstood me.
There is nothing here that will do,
Fanny she said, quietly. 4 must see
il Mrs. Burke has anything. Don't
leave Miss Matte until come back
Then I heard her go lightly and
swiftly down the long entry. and my
heart throbbed almost to suffocation as
| wondered if the wretch in the closet
would burst out upon us. And all the
time I was keeping up the delirious
moaning and muttering Oh, how long
the time seemed! But at last heard
the sound of heavy feet, the confusion
Of many voices, and. while Fanny stood
in open-mouthed wonder, spiIling over
me the cup of water she held in one
hand, five sturdy men walked into my
room, headed by the upper gardener,
and all armed with pokers, sticks or
other weapons. The head gardener
alone held pistol
Cooking this, he opened the closet
door and said:
suppose you come outl If you've
got a pistol, perhaps you'd better not
shoot, cause what you'll get for
burglary what amt actually done amt
nothin' to hangin', if yen murder me.
And there's five of US, so you can't get
away
Then he came out, sullen and ugly.
His first look was at the bed. but had
added to Fanny's amazement by sud
denly recovering and joining Mollie and
Mrs. Burke, who had followed the men
into the room.
"'OhH said the rufian; that's it, is
it? Gibberish as was giving informa-
ton. If I'd knowed there was a gal
on that bed when I came in I'd
stopped her clack. I'd a strangled her,
that's what I'd done.
And then, my dears, finished up
my private theatricals by falling to the
floor in a fainting fit in which there
was no acting at lL1-Anna Shields.
in n. Y. Ledger.