Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-25

"But must" persisted the stranger.
II tell you you cannot. Mrs. Norcross
Is not at home"
"Not at homer Are you surei"
II am sure, and now will you oblige me
by leaving my house'-this very grandly.
Your housei" echoed this rude man.
"Mr. Norcross desired me to get some pa
pers for him, and leave message with his
wife"
"Will you leaves" interrupted Mrs. Nor
cross, who, reasoning that an unknown
man bringing message from her husband
would hardly have crept In by the dining
room window, raised the revolver and lev
eled it at the burglars breast.
Thus threatened, the intruder shrugged
his shoulders carelessly.
81 do not know who sou are, but II Mrs.
Norcross Ii not at home, and you say she
Is not, the message is unnecessary. Let me
pass, sirl"
mot so fast"-still I'm deep tone Of
voice-"you will walk In front Of me-"
said this slight but courageous youth.
And so they proceeded across the hall to
the vestibule door, when the unwelcome
visitor let himself out, and with cool
"good night" ran down the steps aud
away.
Mrs Norcross closed the door, drew the
heavy bolt, entered the library, pulled the
bell rope convulsiyely again and again, and
then sank in a most unwomanly heap on
the floor
In few moments several Of the serv-
ants came rushing breathlessly to the Ii
brary, and the hrst-Mrs Norcross' own
maid--gasped:
"Mr. Norcross, are you ZIP What ia 1t,
Oh, mercyl Are you killed. Why, It isn't
Mr.. Norcrossl Oh, it's a burglarW And
the frightened Abagail threw herself into
the arms of the butler.
Lefty, you stupidl It's Mrs. Nor
cross. There was "A burglar here and put
on Mr.. Norcross' clothes and scared him
away. He's gone now, ana I'm so fright
ened. 1 don't see where Mr.. Norcross Is. |
do believe that horrid wretch has muir
dered him, h-hl' And she subsidized into
a flood Of tears.
In the midst of this babel there came a
violent ringing of the bell and one of tho
servants admitted Mr.. Norcross, who strid-
ing into the library exclaimed angrily:
"What the devil does all this confusion
mean, and who confronting the dishev-
eled but beautiful youth who had sprung
to his feet--are you who presume To guard
my wife's whereabouts' And where is she'
What-w why-Helenl You In that rigi"
"Oh, Jack, Jackl ! thought you'd never
come. DO send them all away. and III tell
you all about il"
Left to themselves, Helen related, with
many sobs, the events of the evening.
"My dearest, began Mr.. Norcross, with
an odd twinkle in his eyes when she had
finished, "I hate to spoil your story, and
you were certainly very brave, and such
striking man ass you make, too-dont
blush, my love-except that your hair has
tumbled down, you look very manly"
"But that terrible burglar was my cous-
In, Arthur Wellertol."
"Jack"
"And he is noted among the ladies az
having the most bea utiful, lovable and
kindly gray eyes"-
"Ohn
"Yes. Let me explain. You know he has
lately been taken into the firm, and we
were going over the books this evening.
As II grew late thought would make a
night OF 1t and not come home, 30 sent
Arthur up to the house to get file Of 40
counts and tell you of my decision.
"Well, Arthur hadn't been gone long
when discovered I had given him the
wrong latch key and started after him. for
knew he couldn't get in.
"He must have been gone longer than
thought, for met him on the way back.
He told me how he got In and then hest
tated.
"'Jack, old boy, he said. Il don't know
what to think Of It all nor what to tell
| you, but just as l was closing your desk
mana deucedly handsome young fellow
appeared in the door and ordered me
out. / asked for your wife, and he grandly
informed me that she was not at home.
Never saw the fellow before, but ! know
II was a lie, old fellow, for l swear heard
, the swish Of a woman's dress on the stairs
as / stepped into the dining room
"You may imagine, my dear girl, my
feelings at this intelligence. Who the
deuce was this handsome young fellow who
made such startling assertionst l rushed
| homeland the rest you know"
"Oh, Jack" cried Helen in an agony OF
modification. "Jack, how can l ever look
him in the facei Oh, what an idiot l ami
Oh, dear, dear, dearl Jack, did he tell you
about the revolverS He didf OBJ
"There, there, don't cry, you little
goose. Arthur will think you are the BRAY
! est little woman In the world, as | do, and
he thought you were such handsome
! youth"
alt was all that stupid novel. ! shouldn't
! have been 30 nervous IL hadn't been read
! ing about burglars. And, really, your
cousin, or my burglar, Is the handsomest
man l ever SAVIOR bloDdp'-Maragret
Rolfe Ia Boston Globe.
TV apfa aI an Ihs,