The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-06-18

| WOULDN'T have MN hanging arouhu
here" he exclaimed. while his hand
some face crimsoned.
But, Arthur, you brought him here
before you ever spoke OF love to me.
Surely, you are not afraid OF him now
that you have my promiseT' the girl
said seriously.
mo, dearest, l do not doubt you.
felt sorry for him-a stranger there at
the boarding house. And, besides,
wanted him to meet the sweetest WON
an in st. Louis" he whispered, as he
pressed just the suggestion OF kiss
on her cheek
"By the way, Ill go and hunt up that
Harper for you. dear" she said, with
an effort at spontaneity that was not
altogether a success. Then she left the
drawIng-room, walked half way up the
stairs, descended softly and slipped in
to the library. Dulano was at her side
In an instant
I'm sorry you spoke of the jewels
and things" he said II have reason
to think Forrest is the burglar. He has
been losing heavily at cards lately, and
is In danger of losing his position at the
bank" he whispered hurriedly.
At the mention of Arthur's name
Blanche would have cried out, but the
man placed his fingers deftly over her
lips. AS soon as the speech was ended
she fed to her room, hunted up the
magazine and returned to the drawing
room.
hn fxxrA oil fsfn "a
other in angry silence when she en-
tered.
This call promises to be a game Of
freezeout, 30 | guess | will leave and
give you a chance to help Miss Warden
put away the silver" Mr.. Dulano said
In family sarcastic tone to Forrest.
III Miss Warden desires my help |
shall certainly remain" Arthur said.
angrily.
II shall require no assistance what
ever" the girl said. haughtily. and the
two men departed together. For some
minutes she sat in the dressing-room.
sad and sore. Arthur Forrest, a gam
bier, perhaps burglar No, 1t could
not be. And yet why had he been so
moody of late? Her heart was sore.
and, with no thought OF the valuables
in the house, she dragged herself to
bed. The night wore on and sleep came
not. The clock was just striking the
hour OF when the door opened slow
ly, and she could see the shadowy out
line of man. For a moment she was
paralyzed with terror. The scream that
started from her heart lost itself some
where in her throat. A thousand aw-
full fances chased each other through
her mind as the man advanced to the
bed. Then she thought of the revolver
that she had intended to put under her
pillow. Alas, 1t was peacefully repos-
ing on the dresslng-table in her fathers
room. The man was tall and wore a
black mask. He must be the same one
who had visited Mr.. Dulano and Ar
thur the night before. Perhaps 1t was
Arthur. At the thought of her lover
the blood went coursing through her
body, and, to her establishment, she
found that she was calm.
"Are you awaken the burglar whis-
pered, and his voice sounded strangely
familiar.
'Yes," she said family.
"Then get up. Don't be afraid. | am
not going to harm you. only want
the family Jewels Take me to where
they are kept" he whispered again
At the sound of that voice the last
vestige OF fear left her Indignation
and outraged feeling smothered every
other emotion in her heart. She would
prove this lover of hers. Without a
moments hesitation she arose from her
bed, glanced indifferently at the gilt
tering barrel of the revolver in the
burglars hand and walked over to the
table, where she lit her little emer-
gency lamp.
Follow me; | am at your mercy, but
trust you as gentleman even though
you are burglar" she said in frigid
tones.
Then she led the way through the
corridor and down the back stairway tC
the laundry and cellars. Blanche in
her Indignation, knew not that the
granitoid floor was cold beneath hel
little bare feet. When she had almost
reached the wine cellar she remem
bered that the key was on her father,
leyrlng, and was probably at that tim,
In Chicago. An idea struck her.
Here; you hold the lamp while
climb up and get the key" said she. In
dicating niche In the wall. The man.
eyes followed her glance, and he wa,
lost. AS quick as thought she blew on
the lamp. hurled II In resounding frag
ments on the floor and sprang upon tn,
burglar like tiger The revolver wa,
hers without n struggle. and the maj
was her prisoner.
Are you Arthur Forrest? speak o.
I'll blow your brains outr' she cried.
my God. spare me. Blanche, In
! Arthur" the man whispered
: She covered him with the revolver
! while she backed across the laundry
! When she had gained the stairs sh,
bolted the door securely and fed trem
bllngly to the hall above AT the II
! brary door she halted. and low or,
escaped her lips as she caught sight o
another man in the open window.
blanche. my darling. are you safe?
: Arthur Forrest cried. as he beheld he
white-robed figure.