Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-03-18

them. and 1t was late in the afternoon.
Miss Blenkiusop's step was natural.
ly noiseless. for the pile OF the
'Jacquerie' carpets was deep and
soft. She advanced slowly at first
without any thought OF cautiousness.
Then Miss Blenkinsop suddenly stood
| perfectly still upon the doorsill as her
astonished eyes saw ChinamaE
STOPPING over drawer in her dress.
ing-tahle. There were the brass
buttons the loops OF braid. the dark
blue blouse with its labyrlnthine
pockets SO convenient for thief and
the long sinuous sweep OF pigtaiL
II did not take Miss Blenktnsop long
to make up her mind; she felt in
some way that tnere was a Judgment
on her for having given away to that
contraband thing, adesire for sensa.
tiou. Bitterly would she have
cursed her folly y except that she
was not bitter or eursing person.
She was only aware Of distinct repul-
sion for what was in store for her.
She had vague idea if she sprang
to the door and shut it suddenly vio-
lently the thief would get up the
chimney or let himself out OF the
window as the robbers did in plays
aud IL she did it at all she wanted to
do it we'll II she called for help out
OF this most disagreeable of situations
he would shoot down the tangle OF
halls and vanish before she could De
answered and what was Infinitely
worse than all if she gave the alarm
she might have to go into the police
court Il was melodramatio and
horrid.
All at once Miss Blenkinsop made
up her mind She had never 'crept
stealthily" before in her life she had
never ambushed anybody she had
never done conspicuous or dreadful
things but she must do this
She inwardly than ked heaven that
she still had her gloves on as she
reached in after the queue OF the
kneeiing Chiuaman. Then she picked
it up deity. softly purled it out
towards her and slammed-yeS
slammed-the door upon it turning
tho key in the lock. and gave little
hysterical laugh and wondered why
her cheeks were so hot
There was mu led turning
sound on the other side OF the door.
Perhaps it would DO just as we'll
If you kept still. " said Miss Blenk n
sop. please don't say you don't
sabe. for you do you know"
An angry voice cried through the
panels: "Letes glo!"
Il can't really" said Miss Blen.
kinsop.
II took all the presence OF mind
Miss Blenkinsop could summon to her
aid to hold the greasy half-yard OF
braid in her hands She was AFRAID
to let go for fear it would slip into
the room. whore she had no DOUBT
the baf.ed Chinaman was pulling
with all his might so TO make it
more secure tore OF one OF her bon.
net.string5 and wound it around the
knot and knob admlring her own in.
genuity with compiacence.
Now can think. she said.
Thinking was not such an easy mat.
ter with an oily celestial and a pre-
dicament confronting her. The awful
consequences of her successful cap
ture now began to present themselves
for the hrst time. Her first feeling
had been one of righteous indignation
to punish the offender but she began
TO consider the cost to herself OF such
q step. She would be the heroine OF
the headlines OF to-morrow's issue Of
the paper TO say nothing OF being
the victim of endless cha though no
one had ever yet been found who
chaffed Miss Blenkinsop Could she
endure these compound results! Sha
who had never been ridiculous or
conspicuous in her life! She fairly
wrung her gloved hands together ia
an agony OF indecisiou- Oh why
had it ever happened? Why had
she given way 10 an impulse and
gotten herself into this mess?
1T must have been a common
streak in me somewhere" she muir.
INJURED / suppose 1 wanted to do
something heroic or great or some.
thing" sarcastically II wanted to
do what was right anyway"
There was a bell just outside the
door-extremely easy to ring it and
have crowd there ia a minute. A.
crowd! Miss Blenkinsop shivered.
After ALL how did she know that the
Chinaman had really had time to
take anything! He would certainly
not confide in her il he had Then.
too prisons were not the most de-
lightful places in the world. and even
| q Chinaman might have an e5thetic
aversion OF them Poor fellow she
would like to be spared the pain OF
knowing that she had been the cause
OF making wretch--of course. he
was a wretch-more unhappy than
he already was Not to mention the
relief it would be to herself 10 be rid
OF the responsibility OF bringing the
creature to justice which was always
hard on the nerves.
Miss Blenkinsop unwound the rib
bon united the knot OF hair and
opened the door
.You might as vol go I suppose.
shouldn't know what TO do with you