The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-25
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

IF you make a noise" Kissed the bur
glar. 7 viii cut your throat" He
paused moment, then went on roughly
Where's the chink your husband
brought home this morning."
BE knew IT, then. l felt a cold shudder
Of despair creeping over my body There
was a faint noise outside my room, the
sound OF heavy footsteps on the stairs
Somebody's coming" he muttered
See here. madam. If you dare 10 tell
/ II Kill you and the old niger and burn
the house down"
He stepped behind the massive head
board of the bed.
The door OF the room opened, and old
Aunt Chloe entered. with cup of choc-
oIate.
why. whatever is de matter wild yer.
honey2 Sure de poor chile is gettin'
worse
She placed the cup upon a table he
side me and bent snxiousIy over ne
What should I dO2 just then my eyes
fell upon little notebook with pencil
attached which lay at my side and upon
which IN my stronger moments I had
amused myself and beguiled the time
with fragmenetary scraps OF composition.
sudden inspiration flashed across my
mind. I thanked God then that long
ago l had taught Aunt Chloe TO read
and write. l drew the notebook toward
me, enforcing silence on my garruIoUs Old
nurse by warning gesture. With quick
intuition she perceived at once that some
thing was amiss and stood quietly by IN
til, with trembling hand, 1 hurricdly
scrawled these words:
Aunt Chloe-There is a robber behind
my bed. Do not scream when you read
this. Our lives depend upon you. Go AT
once to DR.. Parkers and tell them TO
halu orr hal ba bod md
dered. Be quiet.
AS the dim eyes of the old woman
glanced slowly over these words grasp
ed her arm to enforce silence, but there
was no need. FOR Aunt Chloe was
shrewd and sensible. I had just begun
TO fancy that she had not understood the
import Of my words, when she mana ged
to whisper:
'All right. missy, I'll go in a minute.
Don't YOU be afeard.'
She vanished as she spoke, and, with
a strange feeling of terror, I lay shiver-
ing, trembling, half insensible.
IN a short time I felt my bel pushed
softly aside, and again the ruffiaa step
ped forth. This time he held his pistol
in his hand.
well, you're a cool one, sure he
said, gazing at me half admiringly.
Now" he exclaimed roughly, turning
the pistol toward me as he spoke.
want the chink. Where is it?"
/ did not answer.
Come, now, you'd better look sharp.
Well never mind, I'm blamed if I don't
believe it's in here"
His hand was on the door CT the ward
robe. My heart sank like lead in my
bosom. He laid his weapon upon the ia
bic and unlocked the wardrobe, for the
key had been carelessly left in the lock.
1t was a huge piece of furniture, without
shelves, the garments hanging from
hooks, and in a small box concealed at
the bottom the money was hidden. I
watched the villain thrust his head into
the wardrobe. Then a sudden thought
struck me. If I could induce him to en-
ter the wardrobe I would lock its door
upon him and hold him prisoner till help
came. acted at once on the idea. Half
arising in the bed, as though in listen
ing attitude, I cried aloud:
Thank God, some one is comingi'
The exclamation sounded very fervent,
although my listening ears could catch
not the faintest sound of footstep. But
the ruse succeeded. With a volley OF
frightful oaths the burglar sprang hast
lily into the wardrobe and drew the door
to upon himself. Now was my time I
sprang quickly from my bed-excitement
lent me fictitious strengthened rushed
TO the door of the wardrobe and turned
the key. In an instant with his foot
he burst it open.
My eyes feH upon the robbers pistol
lying on the table, loaded, cooked ready