The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-26

IL
in the corner. probably pulling over
him some of the articles on tue floor.
III dared not move Alone, weak
girl, far from the other inmates of the
house. WAS afraid he would murder
me If tried to get to the door. lav
shivcring one minute, hot the next, my
heart beating so hard / was afraid the
burglar would hear it. cannot tell
how long twas before heard Mollic's
voice at the end of the long entry, bid
ding some one good night. Even then
was terrified What were two girls
III tnn gasp of man presumably
armed 20 resist arrest?
us Moluc uttered my room, dcars,
the private thca,ricals commenced. one
actress for an audience of two. She
spoke to rlc, and moved my head I'M
easii v m";tering like person waking
suddenly in dclirium. Her fears Mt
once took TIE alarm.
oh Matte, Matte, dear she
cried, i had no idea you were SO sick.
Fanny" she called, going to the door.
Fanny"
Ono of the maids. who was,
learned later, making up u bed at the
other end of the long entry, for an un-
c%pectedly detained guest, answered
the call.
Fanny, Miss Matte is very sick
Mollic said Can you stay here while
call Mrs. Burkc?'
"All this time had been murmuring
any nonsense that came first to my
lips, but now said in French:
"Wait! 1 must speak to yon before
you send for Mrs. Burke. l am not
sick
oh marm,' cried Fanny. what
awful giobcrish she do talk, to be
surer
"'Yes, she has fever said Mollic.
coming to the bedside. Get some cold
water, Fannie, and battle her head
Don't start or scream muttcrcd,
still in French, in Il low tone. keeping
my head i'll motion; There is n man
hiding in the closet who has designs on
the plate and wedding presents, / am
sure Can you ring the alarm bell in
MIS-. Burl1c's room and get the man
servants hcrc?'
oh. You poor, poor darling.' said
Mollic caressing INC. TO think Won
have been lying here suffering while
we were dancing and enjoying our
selves! But YOU must have sometime
to take Fanny as the maid came with
pitcher of water, 'bathc Miss Mattic.s
head, while | see what medicines are in
the closet
II said there was one actress, and l
was wrong. Mollic walked coollv to
the closet knowing the thief was
crouchcd down i'll the far corner behind
some bundles. and took from II narrow
shelf few bottles, crossing the room
to rcad the labels by the candle OH n
table beside the bed, and, returning
again, two or three times, while |
moaned and muttercd, and Fanny
pitied and soothcd me.
Really, my dcars," said Aunt Mar
tina, complaccntly, considered us a
first appearance, without study or re-
hcarsa, l must say that it was very
we'll done. The last bottle Mollie 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 understood me.
There is nothing here that will do,
Fanny she said, quietly. Il must SEQ
if Mrs. Burke has anything. Don't
leave Miss Matte until como back
Then heard her go lightly and
swiftly down the long entry, and nv
heart throObed almost to suffocation as
l wondered if the wretch in the closet
would burst out upon u.s. And all the
time | was keeping up tho delirious
moaning and muttcring Oh, how long
the time seemed! But at last heard
the sound of heavy feet, tho confusion
of many voices, and. while Fanny stood
in open mouthed wonder, spilling over
me the cup of water sho held in one
hand, five sturdy men walked into nv
room. headed by the upper gardener,
and all armed with pol1crs. sticks or
other weapons. The head gardener
alone held pistol.
Cooking this, he opened the closet
door and said:
Suppose you como out! If you've
got pistol, perhaps you'd better not
shoot, cause what you'll get for
burglary what amt actually done amt
nothin' to hnngin', if you murder me.
And there's five Of us, SO you can't get
away
Then he came out, sullcn and ugly.
His first look was at the bed. but had
added to Fanny's amazement by sud
denly recovering aud joining Mollic and
Mrs. Burke, who had followed the men
into the room.
"'Oh! said the rufIian; that's it, is
it? Gibberish as was giving informa-
ton. If I'd q lSnowcd there was n ral
on that bed when I came in I'd a
stopped her clack. I'd strangled her,
that's what I'd done.
"And then, my dcars, finished IN
my private thcatrionls by falling to the
floor in fainting fit i'll which there
was no acting at all."-Anna Shields,
in N. Y. Ledger