The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-07-21

ner of his hosts daughter, Zoe Went
worth.
mot in the least. 1 am accustomed
to being alone" Miss Wentworth re-
piled. II remember on one OCCASION"
she continued, cit was when my father
and Gerald were up in town, there was
an alarm of burglars. l was anxious
on my mothers account, for, as you
know, she is an invalid, but fortunate
ly she heard nothing of the excitement.
The servants were nearly in Mysteries
from sheer fright
"And you, Miss Wentworth"
80, l rather enjoyed the reconnoiter-
ing than otherwise" she replied, with
a laugh.
"This house is bit lonely, 1 must
say" observed Gerald Wentworth, but
1 back Zoe against any ordinary burg
lar
The Major smiled good-humoredly.
Not that he wished to doubt the truth
of the latter's remark, but he had no
faith in woman's presence of mind in
any emergency. True, Zoe seemed
rather different to the average woman
he had met in his thirty-five years, still,
she was only a woman. Though pos
sessing a natural courtesy of manner,
there lurked, deep down in the Majors
heart, half contempt-a condescend-
ing indulgence towards the weaker sex.
AS Gerald spoke Zoe glanced at Ma
jor Miner, and observing the half
amused look in his gray eyes, she
smiled to herself-a smile half-disdain-
full, half-defant.
"Your opinion of our sex is not fat
tering, Major" she said, sweetly, turn
ing her beautiful dark eyes in his di-
rection. you did not think l could
read your thoughts so WELL" she con-
tinued, "but, tell me, am | not right,
you think us altogether inferior be-
ings"
80, come, Miss Wentworth, you are
very severe. Please do not imagine
that l wish to underrate your capabil-
tiles. feel sure you would do justice
to the family name if occasion arose"
"Thank you, Major. Your good opin-
ion is invaluable to me, l assure YOU"
she replied, quietly.
He shot a quick glance in her direc-
ton. Was she laughing at him? But
her face was bent down over her plate,
and her downcast eyes with their heav-
lily fringed lids, revealed nothing.
"By Jove! 1 believe am wrong this
time in my estimate of a woman"
unused Major Miner to himself. "She
may be the sort who would have shone
in the Indian muuny. like that proud
curl of the lip"
An hour later Zoe Wentworth was sit
ting alone in the drawing-room. The
men had gone off to a political meeting.
and Mrs. Wentworth was upstairs
asleep. The girl held an open book in
her hand, but she was not reading; she
was thinking of some one with pair
of gray eyes, until at last, tired out,
she fell asleep.
She awOke with a start. Surely she
had heard some peculiar noise in the
dining-room? Opening the door eau
tiously she peered into the hall. The
next moment she started back as if
electrified, for close to her stood a
masked figure with a revolver in hand.
mo sound or l will shoot you dead, .
he Kissed. "Show us the silver, and be
quick-we've no time to waste"
She had barely time to exchange one
Mortified glance with the old butler
whom she perceived lying on the floor
of the hall gagged and bound, when
her assailant pulled her roughly by the
arm into the dining-room, closing the
door noiselessly behind.
"Now, nay girl, hurry up" he said
rudely.
Zoe Wentworth appeared not one
whit abashed. She calmly sat down OIL
the nearest chair, and smiled serenely
upon the strange company. There were
five of them, and all strong men
armed and masked.
Gentlemen, you have so taken me
by surprise that you must first allow
me to regain my equanimity Listen,
and her voice became serious, 81 have
an invalid mother upstairs. Any SHOCK
might kill her. Promise on your oatf
to make no noise, and l will show yor
the valuables. Do you agreeY
Eyes, yes. We've no wish to harm
the old woman, but business is bust
ness, and ahr' for the girl had unlocked
an oak chest containing the rich family
: plate.
: You will need a cart to carry all tina
t away" she observed. with a smile.
t 30, Wen manage somehow, miss
don't fear" laughed one of the rob
bers.
They drew from their pockets large
= cloths. in which they commenced Z