The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-04-16

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.
The two men were glaring at each
other in angry silence when she en-
tered.
This call promises to be game of
freeZeout, so l guess l will leave and
give you a chance to help Miss Warden
put away the silver" Mr.. Dulano said
in a family sarcastic tone to Forrest.
eff Miss Warden desires my help 1
shall certainly remain" Arthur said,
angrily.
Il shall require no assistance what
ever" the girl said, haughtily, and the
two men departed together. For some
minutes she sat in the dressingroom,
sad and sore Arthur Forrest, a gam
bier, perhaps a burglar! No, it 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 a man. For moment she was
paralyzed with terror. The scream that
started from her heart lost itself some
where in her throat. A thousand aw-
full fancies 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, it was peacefully repos-
ing on the dressing 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 it was
Arthur. At the thought Of her lover
the blood went coursing through her
body, and, to her astonishment, she
found that she was calm.
"Are you awaken" the burglar whis-
pered, and his voice sounded strangely
familiar.
"Yes," she said family.
s'Then get up. Don't be afraid. l am
not going to harm you. 1 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 smotlered 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 to
the laundry and cellars. Blanche, in
her indignation, knew not that the
granitoid floor was cold beneath her
little bare feet. When she had almost
reached the wine cellar she remem-
bered that the key was on her fathers
keyring, and was probably at that time
in Chicago An idea struck her.
Here; you hold the lamp while
climb up and get the key" said she, in
dicating a niche in the wall The mans
eyes followed her glance, and he was
lost AS quick as thought she blew out
the lamp, hurled it in resounding frag-
ments on the floor and sprang upon the
burglar like tiger. The revolver was
hers without a struggle, and the man
was her prisoner.
"Are you Arthur Forrest? Speak or
I'll blow your brains outr' she cried.
"My God, spare me, Blanchei Pm
Arthur" the man whispered.
She covered him with the revolver,
while she backed across the laundry.
When she had gained the stairs she
bolted the door securely and fed trem-
blingly to the hall above. At the IL
brary door she halted, and low cry
escaped her lips as she caught sight of
another man in the open window.
blanche, my darling, are you safe?'
Arthur Forrest cried, as he beheld her
white-robed figure.
How did you escape? l thought the
outer door was locked" she said, as she
repelled his touch.
"Escapew the young man cried, In as
tonishment. 81 have been following
him since midnight. One of my men,
who was left here to guard the house,
| tells me that he entered this window
| ten minutes ago. The fellow was
afraid to follow alone. l have tracked
him from Broadway and twice he eyad-
| ed me. Where is he, darling?"
"Who-who is 1t you are looking for?'
the girl gasped.
"Wallace Dulano. The officers are
here to arrest him. Is he still in the
house?" Arthur asked, eagerly.
There is no way of escape except up
the pantry stairs" Blanche replied.
| Then, while Arthur led the officers in
she slipped away to her room and
donned her dressing gown and slip
pers. In few minutes she Joined her
| fiance in the reception hall. The gas
| was burning brightly now and she
could hear the heavy tread of men as
they took their prisoner from her i'm
promptu Jail.
"You are a brave little woman" Ar
thur said fondly as he led her to a
| divan
| mo; l am a miserable coward, but
am proud woman, and when a WON.
an thinks she has been wronged fire
and storm cannot stop her." Blanche
said, humbly.
what do you mean by that, dear
| est ?" the lover asked