The Helena independent., 1893-06-29
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

And my spirit 10 blIth0 --aa q Iivul0t clear.
For the summer the golden crowned summer. Is
hore boston Herald.
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
II had struck two clock and had been
awake listening for some time whom
Blanche suddenly sat up beside me and
said:
"Aenss! Oh, gracious Agnes. think
hsar noisew'
'Nonsens.," said. ITS nothing. Go TO
sleep. Blanche. You're always hearing
something"
"Oh. but. .Agnes,' began Blanche again
very shakily and couldn't 20 on. bsoause
Just then Kitty Fox came rushing wildly In
from ths next room and almost killed her
self By falling over ths trunk.
Girls" she whispered hoarssly ~ she
picked herself mp in the darkest end Of the
room, ''there are burglars in the houssl ]
hear them"
II told you co." said Blanche. with grim
triumph. % ws both spranR out on the
Aoor. And there ws stood iSreaoluts. three
shiverin6 images of despair.
"Thats the worst of these seaside oot-
taRes-hateful things" Rroaned Blanche.
''Wsll. then, what in the name Of COM
mon esnse made mamma and tho boys miss
the train our very first night down here2"
l said quite viciously. '"rhsy'll be sorry
when they come in the morning and fnd %
murdered" added Gloomily.
AFTER all, maybe we didn't hear any
thing at all," interposed Kitty, With :
forced attempt at cheerfulness. but as IL to
mock at her rising spirits there came again
ths ominous muffled sounds. striking terror
10 our fainting hearts. ThumD. thunT.
thump!
.'Oh, Agnssr' cried Blanche hysteriqally.
'don't 60. don't lsavs usv'
III you will kindly let 70 my plait,
Blanche" said sternly. II won't desert
You. Pm only going over to the window"
left the poor thing collapsed entirely on
the edge Of the bed. and crossing the room
softly looked down into the side yard. Ho.
1or OF horrors! there was bright light
streaming from the dining room windows.
Ny frightened exclamation brought the
other two flying over. Heavens! how
many of them are hereY'-this from Kitty.
'Will you 90 up and wake Ann Doyle.
Aenes?" ssked BLANCHE;
stairs. II you and Kitty want to run the
risk and 20 up TO the third story In the
dark, why. 90 ahead"
II guess Ann Doyle. can take care Of her
self" said Kitty. with conviction.
"Agnes where's the candls2"
unnatural calmness. So she went over to
find il ana oouldn't. and Blanche and
holped, and between 10 We sucoeeded In
knocking over the alarm clock. pitcher Of
water and glass, but NO candle material
lied,
This was truly dishearteninR. rs there
any blessed thing TO defend ourselves with
when they get up this far?" asked level
headed Kitty.
"Not a mortal thing but the ourlinR
irons." said, land you'd better take them,
Kit. You're the strongest"
"You take the jamaica ginger, Agnes.
and throw 1t In some Of their eyes" sug-
did.
DO II yourself. Blanche" I answered
scathinRly, and then began tuaginR might
and main at the bed to drag II in front of
the door. With tremendous effort We
managed to dump the trunk in ON the mat
tress and piled all the ehsirs and promisor-
Gus furniture on top Of that again. and then
there was nothing to do but plump down
on the floor and await eur awful fate in
the sickeninR silence.
In the meantime the muffied pounding
still continued. Presently Blanche stirred.
agnes. 1 feel that I must Scream" she
snid presently.
"Don't dare" I commanded hereely.
"Let us all put our heads out front and
shriek," suggested Kitty. So We funbled
our way over and raised one of the windows
very gently. 1t was inky black outside.
and with the exception of tho habitation
joining ours there was not a cottage within
half square in any direction, and the
wavcs were booming on the shore at deaf-
sninR rate.
mo use screaming against that evsrlast-
ing wind and water" said. "A steam
whistle couldn't be heard with that COM
motion"
Blanche began to deliberately whimpeY
At this. Big baby! Really Blanohe sone-
times acts more - If you were eight than
eighteen.
''Aanes. don's you remember seeing Dr.
Coor er's sign up next door as We came in
yesterday p suddenly whispered Kitty. HE
must be man, you know. she added logic
ally, 80 let's all thump on the wall. II he
sleeps in there. he'll hear us and come to
the rescue unless he's coward
Thank heaven! that's . grand idea,
Kitty" / orisd almost joyfully. and with
that we each found slipper or something
and began hamMerinR in unison at about
the spot where ono would suppose the doo-
tors headboard 10 be.
II seemed as though We had knocked for
hours before We heard an answering voice
and when We did hear il We we're 80 startled
that we dropped brush and irons and every
thing simultaneousl. ''Hellov' came
through the partition In sleepy masculine
tones. whats up anyhow"
! put my lips close to tho wall and replied:
''For uity's sake help u.s. There are bur-
glare In the house." There WAS muffied
sound Of energetic motion, and aaain the
doetor spoke: Hold on. cheer up" he
room. and III Just wake them up at tho
station. You'll have couple of policemen
in less than Ave ininutes."
''Oh. thank God!' exclaimed Blanche.
tragisally. and We all sank down on ths
couch and huddled mp close. All this while
the noises below had never ceased, .Tboy
must be smashing all the down staira fur.
niture." said poor Blanche. dolefuIlv. and
Kitty and sighed in dismal acauiesence.
Presently there came tap al the wall. sntl
disenos1inR myself violently from Blanche
and Kitty ran over and answe.ed tho sia-
nal. "Can't get an answer from ths sta
tion." called the doctor through plaster and
paper. will 60 In gladly myself. il you
want help"
"Ob. please eoms-and hurry. hurry" I
hastened 10 answer.
"Wil! you let me In the front door?" was
bis next sally. which. by the way. almost
drove Blanche into spasms at the mere an
sicipatioA Of such unequa.ed daring ON our
part.