The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-08-14

WllCQ were really III Vi4o iIA0 Va p4N"'
ures to her womanly nature. Then
size saw that the house was locked up,
sent Kitty to bed, and went into her
front parlor. which was lighted and
COSY, lust as if the master of the house
were at home.
II Iuust send fathers message to
Howard" she sollloQuiZed, and seat
Ing herself at the pretty little desk
which had been one Of her wedding
presents she wrote a postal card.
After giving the business message
from her father, she added one Tor
he,self. When the card was adj
dressed she went to the window and
looked out, wondering why she had
not thought to write it earlier in the
evening. There was a mail box
diagonally across the street on tho
! corner.
"I'll just run across and mail it.
ri leave the door open-it won't
take a moment"
Taking wrap from the hat-tree in
the hall, she threw it about her, saw
that no one was passing, and slipped
ont. It took her only moment to
drop that card In the box anc run
back to the house. The door was ajar
as she had left it. no one was on the
street; but in that one moment
49,
It was past midnight Mrs Bas-
comh was reading a very interesting
rovel. She was surprised when the
clock struck the half hour, and laid
her book down. Not that she felt
sleepy, but she had just determined
that she would sleep downstairs in
the new foldlng-bed in the back par
| lor. There were portieres between
the rooms, but these were drawn
back and hung limp on either side.
The "bed" was large handsome
bookcase, with brlc-a-brac on.lts top
shelf. Mrs. Bascomb let it down and
admired it from all sides. It took up
all the space between the walls, ex'
cept Just room enough for her to pass
to the little table under the mirror,
where Howard's revolver lay. She now
pushed this further back and laid her
watch and chain-her wedding pres
ent from her father-her diamond
graduation ring, and her purse which
she took out Of the pocket Of her
dress, on the table In shining heap
II wonder il be married the tall,
thin one, or the short. homely one, =
she said to herself, and, going out
into the parlor, picked up the book
again. and was soon deep in the plot.
A noise reused her. She looked at
the folding doors leading into the
hall. They were locked, she knew.
Then she turned her eyes toward the
back parlor.
"It's the new folding bed getting
used to being open" she thought,
conscious Of slight exhilaration il
the region of her heart Then She
glanced at mirror, in which she
saw the full-length figure Of a map
standing back Of the portieres.
I have heard lt>said, or read some
where, that every man is ready to
protect woman from every other
man except himself. At that mo-
ment Lottie Bascomb would rather
have seen tiger standing ready to
devour her. Her next surprise was
at his manner Of address:
GOOD evening, ma'am," and he
stepped from the portiere and stood
before her. "You needn't be fright
ened, amt goin' to hurt you"
"What do you. want?" Her voice
did not even tremble.
II want the money yer husband
brought home that he's goin' to take
to New York tomorrow.
II don't know what money YOU
mean, but my husband is on his way
to New York now. He left to-day
noon"
She had risen from her chair and
started forward to reach the revolver.
But she could not outwit the disap.
pointed and enraged burglar.
He sprang to intercept her, and
struck his foot against the folding
bed, throwing himself across 1t In his
attempt to retain his balance. There
was a grinding, whirring sound and
a complete disappearance Of one OF
the principals in this affair.
On that tsame night a belated citi.
zen hurrying home was accosted from
the lower window OF house he was
nassinp In the residence portion Of the
city,
''Sir, oh, sir"
He stopped, for it was 9 wcnassa's
voice, pitched at s:a ae7afta1 alarm Key
"WiaIyTJGp VII yJG please find the policeman
On this beat and send him here In
stantly?" r.
.Can I be Of any assistanceo"
mo. It's burglar, and l have
him safe"
The policeman arrived, and with
him the passer-by she had accosted,
whose services were not required,
however. The policeman went to
the telephone and summoned help.
Mearwhil he took up a position
where earlier IN the evening the fold.
1ne-bed had stood. It was now shut
up, and looked merely a massive
bookcase again.
When the patrol wagon arrived,
this desk became an object Of lmme
dlaue interest one Dlue-coated ON.
cial was stationed on either side and
two at the foot Mrs Bascomb and
the now awakened Kitty were de-
tailed at a little distance.
"Nowm said the sergeant, and he
manipulated the desk as Mrs. Bas-
comb had shown him how to do, a
hapDra