Connecticut western news., 1896-07-16
his property.


 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 up and gazed with wonderment, not unmixed with anger, at me. as in- truded myself on his solitude. at once came to the point.
 ''Sir," I 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 leen for the fact that I already knew of the contemplated rob- bery he would probably have heard noth- ing of the burglars, taking for granted that they succeeded in reahing the din- ing room, where tLe family plate-their object-was secured
 He gazed at me ouriously 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 stole along at his heels. Arrived at the 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 were the three men, young Mir. Godfrey, 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 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 lifeless 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 father
 My sin has found me out' she moaned. My sin has found me out ]" And then, her eyes wandering to the little pool of blood which V as crimson ing the cold flags. she cried out: "I can bear it no longeri Father, father, the forgery was my work" ]"
 Casting one look of concentrated hate and anguish on the wretched girl at his feet, he brushed her tremblingly aside and knelt down. moaning softly to him. self, beside the body of his apparently lifeless son.
 MT. Godfrey did not die. His father had shot somewhat high, and the ball had glanced along the collar bone, mak- ing a long, jagged wound. But still he after yard, and for some time he lay lowering between life and death. I 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 MT. Godfrey were terribly poignant.
 As for Miss Linda, her story can be briefly summed up in the following l Years ago she had 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, 1 laying the blame on and weaving her | subtle net of accusation around her in- nocent brother. What ultimately became | of her never knew.
 If I had only kept my presence of mind and carried out my instructions, the baronet's hand might have been staid and Mir. Godfrey 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.