Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-07-16

done.
Hes been sent, and he's got to
STOP" was cooks verdict. And mis-
tress is making the best of a bad job by
treating him as a gentleman guest. I've
always understood that the poor master
left her comf'able off, and l can't un-
derstand how she's lost her money. I
suppose it's a mine or something.
Thank goodness! I've got all my little
savings wrapped up in stocking and
locked in my boxP'
Seven days had gone-the seventh
night had come, and still Ethel remained
obdurate. But she paid, her mother
noticed, considerable attention to her
toilet and wore her prettiest dresses.
What was that?
Mrs. Fielding sat up, bathed in cold
perspiration.
What was-there it was again
scratching on the window? She listened
her heart beating a wild tattoo
against her ribs. Yes-there again
somebody was trying to break in
Only sliding door separated Mrs.
Fielding's room from her daughters.
Her teeth chattering in time with the
wild throbbing of her pulses, Mrs.
Fielding crept out Of bed and, the slid
ing door being partly open, into her
daughters room. Ethel was slumbering
peacefully, but touch awoke her.
There was a hurried explanation in
whispers from Mrs Fielding, and then
the two women, clutching each other
for comfort, stole into the outer bed
room and once more listened. The
scratching had ceased, and only shuf-
fling sound could be heard. Then there
were footsteps on the gravel walk, and
then the scullery window (Which was
Immediately beneath) was shot up with
force that denoted careless haste on
the part of the midnight intruder.
"a burglarP' exclaimed Ethel, pale
to the lips, for she was only 10 and an
ordinary girl with ordinary nerves.
Unconsciously her lips formed the
word "Dickr'
"I'll wake Mr.. Waterbury," said
Mrs. Fielding. She tripped swiftly out
of the room, down the passage, and
raped at her guests door.
In almost less time than it takes to
relate it Dick found himself standing at
his door, in dressing gown and trousers,
trying to instill some calmness into the
troubled breasts of Mrs. Fielding, he1
daughter, the cook and the housemaid
for Mrs. Fielding had aroused the
servants, there being comfort in mum.
bers, even scared ones.
stop here" said Dick. "Tll &C
down. If he doesn't use arms can
manage himp'
So saying, he moved quietly dowr
stairs, and the women, afraid to be left
by themselves, followed him at a re-
spectful distance. A few moments and
the darkness had swallowed up Dicks
form. An anxious interval followed
during which nothing could be heard.
Suddenly there were a crash of crock
cry and savage exclamation; then an
other crash; then whole series of crash
es. The cook and housemaid shriekeG
with fright. Mrs. Fielding grasped the
banisters and trembled. Ethel trembled
too, for Dick-yes, for Dick. She loved
him; she knew it now. His life was il
peril.
The house was filled with sounds Of
the struggle. A desperate fight was go
ing on in the passage leading to the
kitchen. The women could dimly dis
cern the forms of the two men who
breathing in short, quick gasps, wert
struggling furiouSly for the mastery
Backward and forward they swayed
with clinched teeth and straining mus
cles. Still the women dared not move
The couple had fought their way dow1
to the extreme end of the passage anC
were close to the scullery door. Sudden
| ly pistol shot rang out, there was {
cry, splintering Of wood and crast
of glass, and the two vanished.
A few seconds later Dick returned
his dressing gown half torn off his back
He got away" he exclaimed. "Bu
he didn't take anything. I'll get some
things on and be off to the police sta
ton.
The women gazed at their hero will
fond, admiring eyes. Once again they
breathed freely. Slowly they moved ul
stairs-all but Ethel.
"Are you hurt?" she asked him, witt
infinite tenderness in her voice.
"Only bruise or two," he replied
"I'll soon set the police on his track
But first'-
He took her hand in his.
II said / would not leave the house, ,
he began.
Ethel looked swiftly up the stairs tt
make sure they two were unobserved
Then she bent forward, quickly breathet
Eyes" in his ear and fled to her room.
The police never caught the burglar
who got back to Friar's Court quit
safely, after catching the earliest trail
from roadside station six miles from
Market Norbury.
Ethel quite meant her "Yes," and il
due time was married to the man il
possession" much to the cook ant
!housemaid's wonderment.
| And Mr.. John Blunt, reading th'
wedding announcement, chuckled soft
ly to himself.
"It was a good idea Of Dick Isl" wa
all he said Tit Bits.