River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-23
Ill.


What was that2
Mrs. Fielding sat up, bathed In cold
perspiration.
What was-there IL was again
scratching on the window. She
listened-her heart beating a wild tat
too against her ribs. Yes-there again
somebody was trying 90 break inl
Only a sliding door separated Mrs.
Fielding's room from her daughters.
Her teeth chattering in time with the
wild tbrobbing of her pulses, Mrs
Fielding crept out of bed end, the slid
ing door being partly open, into her
daughters room. Ethel was slumber-
ing peacefully. but a touch woke her.
There was hurried explanation In
whisper 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 the
shutting sound could be heard; then
there were footsteps on the gravel
walk. and then the scullery window
(which was Immediately benesth) was
shot up with a force that denoted
careless haste on the part Of the mid
night intruder.
"A burglari" exclaimed Ethel, pale
to the lips, for she was only 10, and
an ordinary girl with ordinary nerves.
UDconsciously her lips formed the
word "Dicki"
I'll wake Mr.. Waterbury," ID
Mrs. Fielding. She tripped swiftly out
Of the room. down the passage. and
raped az her guests door.
In almost less time than Il takes TO
relate IL, Dick found himself standing
at bis door. In dressing gown and
trousers. trying TO instill some calm
ness into the troubled breasts of Mrs.
Fielding. her daughter, the cook and
the housemaid-for Mrs. Fielding had
aroused the servants. there being COM
fort in numbers. even scared ones.
stop here" said Dick. 'I1l go down.
IL he dosen't use arm, I can manage
hirui"
S. saying, he moved quietly down.
stairs. and the women, afraid TO be left
by themselves, followed him at O 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 was a crash Of crockery
and a savage exclamation. Then an
other crash. Then a whole series of
crashes. The cook and housemaid
shrieked with fright. Mrs. Fielding
grasped the banisters and trembled.
Ethel trembled. too. for Dick. Yes,
for Dick. She loved him. she knew IL
now. His life was in peril.
A desperate fight was going on in the
passage leading 10 the kitchen. The
women could dimly discern the forms
of the two men, who. breathing In short
quick gasps. were struggling furiously
Cor the mastery. Backward and for
ward they swayed. with clenched teeth
and strsining muscles. Still the women
dared not move. The couple had fought
their way down TO the extreme end of
the passage. and were close 20 the soul
lery door. Suddenly pistol shot rang
out, there was a cry, splintering %
wood and a crash of glass, and the two
vanished.
A few seconds later Dick returned,
''IIe got away" he exclaimed; ''but
he didn't take anything. I'll get some
things on and be of TO the police sta
ton"
The women gazed at their hero with
fond admiring eyes. Once again they
breathed freely. Slowly they moved
upstairs-all but Ethel.
Are you hurt p she asked him, with
infinite tenderness In her voice.
"0nly bruise or two" he replied.
"I'll soon set the police on his track.
But first"
He took her hand In his.
81 said would not leave the house."
he began.
Ethel looked swiftly up the stairs TO
make sure they two were unobserved.
Then she bent forward. quickly bresthed
"Yes" in his ear. and fed to her room.
The police never caught the burglar,
who got back to Friar's Court quite
safely, after catching the earliest truin
from a roadside station six miles from
Market Norbury.
Ethel quite meant yes" and In due
time was married to the IMAM In pos
session" much TO the cooks and house.
maids wonderment.
And Mr. John Blunt, reading the we'd
ding announcement. chuckled softly 10
himself