Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-03-12


mentioned the meditated robbery to the
baronet, for that would have spoiled ev-
erything.
At 12 O'Clock stole noiselessly down
to the kitchen and quietly waited till
the burglars should arrive. I had not
long to wait heard the muffled sound
which warned me that they had com
menced operations, and, slipping away
as noiselessly as had come, I departed
to apprise my master of the outrage on
his property.
found bin sitting in his bedroom
on a chair, clad in his dressing gown
and slippers. His face was buried in his
hands, and he was evidently lost in
thought. At my entrance he started vio-
lently mp and gazed with wonderment,
not unmixed with anger, at me, as in-
truded myself on his solitude. I at once
came to the point.
''Sir, | said, there are burglars
trying to force an entrance at the back +"
Now, my masters bedroom was at
the extreme wing Of the building, so
that had it not been for the fact that I
already knew Of the contemplated rob-
berry be would probably have heard moth
ing of the burglars, taking for granted
that they succeeded in reahing the din
ing room, where the family plate-their
object-was secured.
He gazed at me curiously for few
seconds and then calmly walked across
the room to his chest of drawers, which
he opened, taking therefrom small re-
volver, which he slipped into his pocket,
handing another TO me at the same time
Sir Mortimer took the lead, and, fol-
lowing close behind him, noiselessly
kitchen door, the sounds inside told us
we had come at the right moment. The
baronet threw open the door. The gas
had been lighted and standing in the
middle of the room We're the three men,
young Mr.. Geoffrey, apart from the
other two, pallid and haggard looking.
And then do not rightly know what
happened. it was all done SO quickly.
Sir Mortimer, stepping calmly into
the room, raised his revolver and fired
at his son, who was waiting for me,
who had lost all presence Of mind,
to act on the initiative With groan
he threw up his arms and fell forward
with dull thud ON the stone floor. The
other two did not wait for more, but
with incredible swiftness darted through
the pantry, and, locking the door be-
hind them, made good their escape
just then a white robed figure appear
ed at the open kitchen door and gazed
wildly about her. AS her eyes fell on
the body of the man lying prone and
ifeless ON the floor Miss Linda Barbi-
can, for it was she, rushed forward and
with a moan threw herself down beside
her brother, apparently dead, killed by
his fatherl
my sin has found me outr' she
moaned. my sin has found me ont r.
And then, her eyes wandering to the
little pool Of blood which as crimson
ing the cold flags, she cried out: II can
bear it no longer! Father, father, the
forgery was my work II
Casting one look Of concentrated hate
and anguish on the wretched girl at his
and knelt down, moaning softly to him
self, beside the body Of his apparently
lifeless son.
Mr.. Geoffrey did not die. His father
had shot somewhat high, and the ball
had glanced along the collar bone, max
ing long, jagged wound. But still he
was seriously i'll, brain fever setting in
afterTard, and for some time he lay
lowering between life and death.
/ explained fully to the baronet the
scheme his son had formed for thwart-
ing the burglars. who, by the way, were
captured some weeks after the attempt
ed burglary, and Sir Mortimer's feel
ings Of remorse and sorrow at the way
in which he had wronged Mr.. Geoffrey
were terribly poignant.
AS for Miss Linda, her story can be
briefly summed up in the following
Years ago she had a worthless lover,
with whom she was completely infatuat-
ed. Gambling and other forms Of excess
had left him in low water, and his
sweetheart had forged the check to give
him the money he had needed SO sorely,
laying the blame on and weaving her
subtle net Of accusation around her in
nocent brother. What ultimately became
of her never knew.
If | had only kept my presence of
mind and carried out my instructions,
the baronet's hand might have been
staid and Mr.. Geoffrey would not have
been shot. But then perhaps Miss Linda
would not have confessed. Thank heaven,
there are not many women like her in the
world. Chicago News.