The National tribune., 1893-11-30

q soaring Hln into a Cl0Set, anu
oh hum! o hum-Im so sleepy" sighed
pretty Mrs. Norcross, lounging back deep into
the pile of cushions around her.
The slow, solemn ticking of the big library
clock and an occasional subdued snap from the
fireplace were the only sounds to disturb the
profound stiffness.
Mrs. Norcross sat gazing dreamilt at the logs
slowly falling into the glowing Goals and ashes,
in her mind vague vision of big, brawny,
heavy booted man being backed into her closet,
and thought she would rather object TO the
crushing her gowns would receive in the pro-
cess
"But then, of course" following up her train
of Thought rather drowsiy, =" he wouldn't
have on big boots, they would make a noise
dear me !"-out loud" what was that?" and
she suddenly sat erect.
Surely she had heard a noise in the direction
of the dinng-rOom,
All was quiet again. however, and not being
an extremely nervous young woman Mrs. Nor
cross subsidized into her cushions again, think
ing she had been mistaken.
Still an uneasy feeling possessed her, and she
remembered that she had sent all the servants
to bed, saying she would wait till Mr. NOrcross
should comd in.
She picked up the despised novel and read
few lines; but it failed to chain her attention,
and again her eyes sought the dying embers
The drowsiuess stole over her senses and she
had nearly dropped asleep when she found her
self half out of her chair, straining every nerve
to listen.
Yes, it is no mistake this time. She can
plainly hear the catch in one of the long dim
ing-room windows rattling gently.
deadly feeling of suspense ereeps over her
and she starts with gasping shudder, shrink
ing as from physical blow as the tall clock
softly chimes the half hour after 12.
The window in the dining-room is gently
roiepd and of fha Ennnd the trnmbliuQ woman
suddenly becomes self possessed and calm.
Rising softly she turns down the blaze in the
tall lamp. and creeping out into the hall has
tens up the road stairs, and Ries along the cor
ridor to her rom.
On the way her quick brain has devised
course of ton. The servants are all Mt the
other end # the house. and she is virtually
alone; for the burglar would surely kill her
before she could rouse them.
She resolves that there is no man on hand
she will herself assume mans garb and STERN
ness.
Entering her husbands dressng-room she
hastily throws aside her trailing gown, and
snatching down trousers and smoking-j Jacket
from the pegs aud soft shirt from the dressing
case proceeds to array herself in her liege
lords attire with a rapidity astonishing, con-
sdering the strsngeness of the apparel.
Pulling q smOking-cap over the soft masses
of her hair. she tiptoes into the hall, and lean
ing over the balusters hears steps IN the library
she had but just left.
60" she thought, II don't feel so very brave,
if am in Jacks coat. What the borrid
creature be doing so long in the library. Hush
he's at the desk. l guess I'll get Jacks
yolver. I've fired papa's auy number of times"
Softly she re-euters the dressing-room, and
there gets terrible shock-there is man ad-
vancing towards her-can there be two of
them.
Involuntarly she shrnks back in terror, and
then even in her fright falls to laughing noise
lessly-for the man does likewise--in the mir
ror at the foot of the room.
Still trembling from her sudden fright she
creeps down stairs. gathering courage at each
step as she grasps the loaded revolver tight
in her hand. Stopping on the last step, just
out of the broad light streaming from the Ii
brary door, she sees the tall, slim figure of man
busted with the papers in her husbands desk.
Half her terror dies away as she notices that
he is well dressed and quite the gentleman in
his appearance, until the thought comes to her
these gentlemanly burglars are all the more
cruel and relentless, and as the man turns his
head at this moment, she determines in her own
mind that there is hard, steely lock in his
otherwise handsome eyes
Deciding that it would be wiser to surprise
the burglar than to be surprised by him, she
steps into the circle of light and mastering up
deep voice:
"Wel, what are you doing here, pray?"
The start the man gave was not very guilty
one, and the GOODNESS displayed by burglar
caught in the very act stirred Mrs Norcrosss
manly mind to wrath.
"Who are yoh2" she demanded angrily,
"and what are you doing2"