The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-13

self 81 the pretty little desk which had
been one Of her wedding presents shc
wrote postal card After giving tho
business message from her father she
added one for herself When the carl
was addressed she went 10 the window
and looked out. wondering why she
had not thought 70 write II earlier IN
the evening. There wns a mail box
diagonnlly across the street on the
corner.
''l'll just run across and mailit In
leave tho door opcn--it won't take a
moment
Taking wrap froR the hat-trce in
the hall she throw IL about her, saw
that no one was passing and slipped
out II took her only moment TO drop
that card In tho box and run back TO
tho house. Tho door was ajar as she
had left Il; no ono was on the street.
but In that one moment
II was past midnight Mrs Bascofnh
was reading d very interesting novel
She was surprised when tho clock
struck the half hour. and laid her book
down. Not that she felt sleepy, but
she Ind just determined that she would
sleep downstairs In tho new folding
bed in tho back parlor. There were
porticrcs between tho rooms, but these
were drawn back and hung limp on
either side.
Tho bed, was largo handsome
bookcase, with bric-a- brao on It's top
shelf Mrs. Bascomb let 1t down and
admired II from NIL sides Ii took up
oil the space between the walls, OK
ccpt just room enough for her 10 pass
to the little table under the mirror,
where Towards revolver lay. She
now pushed this further bnck and laid
her watch and chain her wedding
present from her father--hcr diamond
graduation ring, her diamond engage
ment ring and her purse, which sho
took out Of tho pocket of her dress. on
the table Ia a shining hcap.
~ wonder II he married the tall,
thin one, or tho short, homcly one. :"
she said TO herself, and, going out into
the parlor, picked up the book again.
and was soon deep iii tho plot.
A noise reused her. She looked at
the folding doors leading into the hail.
They werc locked, she know. Then
she turned her eyes toward tho back
parlor
.It's the new folding-bcd getting
used to being open, she thought, con.
scious Of q slight exhilaration In the
region Of her heart Then she glanced
at a mirror, In which she saw the full
length figure Ct a man standing back
of the portieres.
have heard IL said, or read some-
where, that every man Is ready to pro-
tcct woman from every other man
except himself. At that moment Lot
tie Bascomb would rather have seen d
tiger standing ready to devour her.
Her next surprise was at his manner Of
address:
Good evening. mn'am." and he
stepped from tho porticrc md ntood be.
fore her. "You needn't be frightened
I amt goin to hurt you.
what do you want?" Her voice did
not even trembIe.
Il want the money yer husband
brought home that he's goin to take to
New York tomorrow
II don't know what money you
mean. but my husband is on his way
to New York now. He left to-day at
noon. >
She had risen from her chair and
started forward to reach the revolver
But she could not outwit the disap-
pointed and enrnged burglar.
He sprang to intercept her, and
struck his foot against the folding bed.
throwing himself across II In his ut
tempt to retain his balance. There
was q grinding, whirring sound and q
complete disappearance Of one Of the
principals In this affair.