Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-01-04

> - " AASAAS VI aunt ne0TleTCefS nerves
were In particularly irritable condi-
ton.
AND she says we mustn't throw the
lariat in the house" Roy said, ruefully
one day when he and Tad had been
having a high old time with Tony,s
rope and saddle and Indian trophies.
and 1t had ended in Shakespeare being
lassoed and yanked unceremoniouslv
from his pedestal in the library and
hauled at the end Of the lariat by a
whooping brave until plaintive voice
came from the regions above calling
for "Antoinette.''
So the "rope' was looped I'M and
hung on a peg In the den, and TONY
tried to be dignified and graceful like
Marion, and not rush up the stairs two
steps at time, or whistle, or tell the
twins blood-curdling narratives that
savored of the adventures of Rattle
snake Bill and his kind. But still she
felt that she was far from being salts
factory representative Of the Ceilings
worths in her aunt's eyes, and many
time, after every one had retired and
the house was still, white-robed girl
would steal softly down the broad STAIR
case and into the den to have a quiet
cry all by herself, with Rattles' head
on her lap as he watched her with his
deep-set, solemn eyes.
It was on one of these nights that
the great event happened which
changed the whole aspect Of things so
far as Tony was concerned. She had
been In disgrace that day. There had
been swell function of some kind, and
the twins had been summarily called
from the den to appear before select
company. But instead Of two pretty
figures in black velvet and point lace
there had come forth two full-fedged
Indian braves in feathers and war
paint bubbling over with laughter and
all ready for a powwow.
OF course, Tony was blamed, and she
would not have cared IL only dismal
wall Of woe from the nursery had not
told her that others shared her punish
ment, so it was great relief that night
to steal down to the den to have the
usual cry, with Rattles as chief con-
soler.
The hour was very late. Tony heard
the clock in the library chime II and
then half-past, and Rattles moved un-
easily once or twice, his head raised in
the air as il he scented danger, but the
girl was too tired and heartsore to no
tice Him, and at last, with parting
pat on Rattles' nose, Tony left the den
and started through the long, dark cor
ridor toward the stairs, when, all at
once, she noticed that the door of her
uncles private room and study was
ajar and saw a faint, wavering glim-
mer Of light shine through the aper-
ture.
Alert and soft-footed as one Of her
own Wyoming wildcats, she tiptoed
across the hall and looked In. A broad
mahogany desk stood in the center or
the room, and just beyond this was a
small safe, light steel one, in which
Mr.. Collingsworth kept his papers and
all articles Of value. On the desk was
a carefully wrapped bundle suggestive
Of silyerware and other things portable
as well as valuable, and kneel1ng on the
floor in front of the safe, with his back
to the door, was a man working stead
ily at the combination lock.
TONY hesitated an instant, her first
impulse being to run upstairs and tell
her uncle. The burglar alarm was at
the front door and another at the draw
ing-room windows opening on the We
randa. and she thought that while she
was trying to reach them her presence
might be discovered and there would
he trouble. And, besides, she suddenly
remembered Aunt Henriette's nervous
condition. She would have Mysteries
or something just as dreadful II she
heard a commotion downstairs. Tony
decided. and with a new IDEA III ner
haaa she turned and went back to the
den.
Rattles was settled on the rug, ana
with a long yawn stretched nlmseil
when he saw the familiar figure; put
sho did not rouse him. Taking the
1o,.,at from it's peg, she withdrew on
+intoe leaving the door unlatched.
Tbora was little smile on her lips as
che stood again outside the study ooor'
.,,s +in,a with Rattles crouching by
49, s;da and with the long rope colied
~ po+tlesnake Billies favorite style IN
her left hand. After all, 1t was sucn
ioke for her to be using II mere IL
Cbica 90. Just as 1t might nave ueen
-, ahout the throat OF any halI-
,,.aod ar criminal off on the plains, ana
~ Iee u,,shad in that moment Of hesitancy
sue VS. >, thor were there to see her
throw Then noiselessly she moved the
door open, and her heart beat faster faster
as the dark head raised bit higher
over by the safe. The next moment
tbere was a swift swish as. the long
curling rope cut the air with true, sure
aim: then the quick, tightening JERK as
# drew taught about the mans neck,
tighter and tighter, for was nv
Marion's slim, soft hands tnat Mele
pulling on the other end, put q pan =