The Lamar register., 1893-02-25

thing peculiarly terrif,'ing in a mid
night encounter with a man whom
you cannot see, and who has every
tning to gain and little to lose by
taking your life.
s.Oh" cried Constance ..tha
thought fills me at times with such
horror that am as afraid OF burglars
US my uncle. ] think that IL i saw
one in my room. +! would die OF fright.
81 hope" said the colonel, laugh
ing. THAT l would not show the white
feather. But l must say / do NOT
banker to meet burglar in the
flesh"
At that moment a slight noise was
heard outside the drawing room door.
1t was the faintcst possible creak Of
weak flooring plank under a tread.
Both the tenants of the sofa looked
up and held their breath. with ears
on the full strain. Another board
creaked. and presently, after wait
which seemed at least for ages, the
acute ears of the colonel detected a
mnftied tread on the carpet of the
room in which they snt. There was
a third party in the room. He was
shod with wool. and was moving
noisclessly. and occasionally stopping
as If to list'n whether he was detect
ed. The long expected burglar had
come.
Constance tainted silently on the
sofa The colonel. in whom the pres
euce of danger had awakened his
lighting instinct, rose from his seat
and CROPPED his way noiselessIy to-
ward the Intruder. whom he could
not sec. He could. by this time hear
the scoundie els breath coming and
going and instinct prompted him to
hold his own. lie would have given
worlds for q weapon. bu: his cane
was out Of reach. He must give bat
tic with his bare hands against one
who probably had both pistol and
knife. As he reflected. the intruder's
foot came In contact with a stool.
The colonel hesitsted no longer; with
sudden spring. he was upon the in
vader. He had thrown his weight
into the spring. and fclled the bur
glar TO the ground, face downward.
Then swiftly seiziug his wrists. he
held them in a grip OF iron, twisted
the arms upward. and sat down on
his back
The burglar struggled, evidently
striving TO free one hand TO use his
knife; but the colonel was now fight
I Ing for his lie; mis- clutch Of the
Z wrists did not relax When the
struggle grow weaker. and Pitblado
had got back his breath. he hissei:
You villain, II you don't keep
your hands still. III drive nay knife
/ through your vItals. One motion and
/ you are a dead man"
The burglar made no rcply He
painted. and sounds came from him
which TO Piiblado's ear sounded
strangely like a sob. The colonel
derived q qualified satisfaction from
his stiffness. II he had dared to
loose his clutch Of tho fellows wrists.
I he would have tried 90 throttle him;
Z but the danger OF stab In the side.
. II he moved his hands to the burglars
I throat, was too obvious. He thought
Of shouting for help. But that would
have betrayed his presence in Con-
stances drawinC-room after the
I lights were on; and when her uncle
was In bed lie would rather risk
tho knife than compromise her. He
supposed that she had fed upstairs.
whereas. in fact. she was in u dead
faint on tho sofa
What was he to do? Was he to
stay sitting on that burglar all nlght9
While he ransacked his brain for an
expedieni deep groan came from the
man under him. The burglar gasped
and a: last muttcrcd;
III you'll let me up I'll show
you-'
Yes. darcsay," said Pitblado;
you'll show us lots OF things. That
cock won't fight. It's / that am go
ing to show you the door of the other
world
The colonel could feel a quiver go
through the frame on which he sat-
The burglar went on;
..rll show you"
Haven't told you that am going
TO do all the showing in this me-
nagerie2"
IN you'll only III, your weight of
my lungs, so | can breathe" said
the burglar.
You'd make use OF your breath to
drive n knife into me. wouldn't you9
Not much. I'm just thinking how |
shall kill you so as not to ruin the
carpet-'
..ohi OH OH came from the pros