New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-11

me best n We bide here with her Don't let any
one harm her and stay here till | come for we. -
Toots walked over and licked his master s
/ hand.
Good bowl Yere the best friend / have" said
Rannev Mating him. whereat TOots cooked up
his ears and wagged his tail.
Now lie down and SHOW the lady we mean to
STAY"
Toots obeyed. and quietly watched his master
After carefully locking every door and window.
Mrs Stocler sat down TO write a letter she
found II hard TO infl!sc properly cheerful tone
into IT. and caught herself listening feartully 20
every sound The dog settled down TO a comfort
able nap and seemed not in the least disturbed
by the shreks OF the wind or the rafting OF the
windows She began 10 fear that If any one
broke. in Toots would not even near it.
The ticking OF the clock was almost unbear-
able while It's deberatiOn seemed purp0sely ID
lencthen the minutes as they passed. The wlnd
increased in fury. She peered mo the darKhess'
hu. could nothing beyond the SwaYlng trees.
Toots looked at her inquir.ngly, but as nothing
alarming WAS to be heard settled down once
more 10 sleep
Mrs Stocker took up a book. but found it i'm
possible 10 keep her mind upon It, Frightful and
menacinc faces rose before her, and all the tales
OF violence that she had ever heard came back
20 her She walked The floor, forcing hersef 70
think OF faraway scenes in her Happy girhoOd,
only to be brought back 10 the present by some
fresh rattle of door or window that sounded
as If some one were trying 10 get In.
At last fatigue made her drOwsy. She carried
IN. lamn into her bedroom and left ii burning,
SO that any one who passed might think the ram
ily were awake. and then lay down without I'M
dressing As she doZed off, she was now and
then awakened by the scraping Of the snrubbery
upon her window. and. though she did nor be
lieve In signs and pOrtents II sounded 10 her IKE
the tapping OF the willow Wahd that loreleils
approaching death.
A. last she looked at the clock and saw that IN
all these sleepings and wakings' when had
seemed 20 occupy a lifetime half-hour had
gone by She lay down again ana az last sank
into deep sleep.
she was awakened by a gust that shook the
house As the wind lulied she thought she neard
a noise AZ the front door. She rushed into the
parlor There sat TOots with his eyes fixed in
tently on the. door but not moring muscle.
The noise ceased and she wen Dact 10 peu-
bu: could not sleep.
Again she heard a metallic sound in the lock.
She got up and called: who's there but got no
answer. The dog sat upright ana looked NJ the
door but kept perfect silence. Mrs. Stockei
listened All was quiet for several minutes. but
again came thai metallic clink.
who IL there? What do you WANT she cried
No answer: but this time the sound continued:
AT him. TOots" she screamed; AT MIN.
WIN was the dog go still? In an instant the
reason flashed before her TOOts must have rec
ognized the step OF his master. who had come
back 10 rob her knowing that her only protection
was his dog,
roar OF the house ON. on. she ran toward the
Gordons. stumbling. falling. getting up ana ana
running again unconscious OF fatigue. Tier
breath came In gasps. and she could scarc"y
utter Il hoarse cry of Help, help, as she thre"
herself against the door OF the Gordon house
Nrs Gordon who was lying awake listening
fo- her husband who had gone u prayer-meel-
ing and had not yet returned heard the cry.
She reused the household. and soon th"y We're
hurrving toward the Stocker house
As they nearcd II thoi- nerves were tense
There was a pale moon struggling through thS
clouds and even the most familiar objects looked
strange and spectral a.,
Tho front door was wide open They walked
cautiously toward n. and looked In
on tho floor Law the figure Of masked man
while over him stood the bulldog. bleeding from
several cuts and hts Jaws horribly red Tho man /,
throat was a gaping wound and his right hand
still cutchcd q knife few foot away lay
revolver evidently fallen from his grasp.
Mrs Stocker leaned pityinGlv toward MN
Perhaps he has only tainted. DO see II W. can
help him, Come away. To"ts-good dog. brave
dog" -. ia
Toots looked NJ the moionless form beneath
him and then limpcd toward her
Mrs Gordon bent over the PROSTATE man ana
RULED N his mask An awful cry sounded
through the house g
Tho man was John Gordon-dead-(A. ;.
Wing. In the san Francisco Argonaut,