Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-07-30

lat opened the right one, hut failed to
teel the wrap,
at must BIO in the wardrobe after
all. " she thought, and accordingly clos
| ed the drawer with some noise, tripped
across the dark room, opened the ward
robe tioorwith ismne diffichlty and bur
led herself in its spacious reoesses.
Maurice was heavy sleeper. and
consequently apt to be bit bemuddled
on first awaking--moree especially in the
daik. On this particular night, after ap-
parently dreaming for full fortnight
Of excursions and alarums, " he awoke
with violent sturt. The room, to him,
was pitch dark. There was not even the
suspicion of moonlight on this side Of
the house. Besides. the blinds were
down He sat UP, every nerve and sin
ew taut now. He was fully awake.
by lingo" no breathed, and he felt
the cold sweat start to his brow, ''shs
was right 7 They've come" He put out
his hand to wake his wife. He felt her
form under the bullying bedclothes at
his side, He gouldlhear the baby breath
ing huskily. There was only one other
person in that house unaocounted for.
That was the little servant maid. But
why should she be! trying drawers in
the spare bedroomp No, they had come,
after all. Mrs. Green was right. 1t was
burglars.
Maurice Withdrew his hand, which
rested ON the hillock by his side, with
the thought: I'm not waken her, poor
soul She'd be scared to death. I'll
L.
and with sort Of infatuation-which
was perhaps bravery--to get u glimpse
of the marauder. he stole out Of bed.
Luttoned up his dressing jacket. took
the little bedside chair by the back. and
thus armed, his heart beating like
mutied drum. stealthily turned the cor
ner between the two rooms.
A faint light came through the land
ing skylight. Heavensl The villain
was ut the other end of the room. right
opposite the door. What no was doing
he could not make out, for no looked
like man seen through mist. The
wretohl just then the draft along
the landing took Maurice shrewdly on
the bare legs The influenza asserted it.
self. He fought against it desperately
for moment 1t but augmented the
force Of the explosion. Like II thunder
bolt no sneezed.
There was muffied exclamation in
the room. Maurice rushed forward with
uplifted chair The burglar too, had
seized chair and was making ut him
with equal fury. Crash The house
seemed to have fallen. There was u
fearful CHATTER of falling glass, pierre
ing shrek. the sound of IA body falling
cn the floor, and all was still but for the
wall Of the frightened babe In the room
he had left.
What had he done2 He kneeled down,
careless of broken glass. and his hand
rested on bare foot. Sick with appre
hension, lie CROPPED elsewhere and en-
countered plated head and few curl
ing pins. "A match. IA match. my king
| dom for matohl" he would doubtless
have said had he not been NO terribly
upset.
Just then rectangle Of light APP
peared and increased until, pale and
trembling. stood the little maid in the
doorway, a farthing dip In her hand,
amazed to see the following tableau
viyant: A wardrobe door swinging
upon Its hinges, with its long mirror
smashed to fragments; u chair, with u
broken leg. lying close by; mortified
man in nightshirt and dressing jacket,
kneeling ut tho feet of PROSTATE WON
an in dead faint, IL dressing gown and
plaits, who was none other than tho
Mortified mans wife.
Maurice Green never turns the gas or