The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-01-15

stairs as softly as you can-there's no
body on the top floor, and there's
light enough in the halls for you to see
your way. Don't make a noise, or
you'll rouse my family. Now's your
chance-knock me aside and hurry
across the fence-quick. Go softly-on
your toes-keep in the shadow
Away sped Maytham, andfZenas con-
tinued, as two men came hurry1ng into
the garden gate:
Remember, madam-'twas burglar
he ran across my back yard-he hurt
me badly-you're trying to restore me
make them help you-don't let them
take me into my house till I'm re-
| Stored-''
| Then, for the men were almost upon
him, that good little man played hypo-
critic with consummate ability. He
begged the men not to leave him,
bade them see how terribly injured he
was, sent Mrs. Maytham into her house
for water and stimulants, and told the
story of the attempted burglary at great
length, until one of the men said:
well, l 'spose faint no use to try to
AAhNt uAAC ACIlSl N"-lc gov UOO IluCU
start. It's only by chance we followed
him anyway. thort heerd a ladder
bein' took from a house next me.
Thieves says 1 to myself. peeked
out of winders one side an another:
then woke brother Jim an he an me
went out kinder keerful like. We could
see in the moonlight where the ladder
had been dragged along in the dust of
the road. Comm round a bend we
thort we heerd it hit somethin'-ladders
allus make noise when they bump a
wooden house, an it's kind O. noise
you can hear good way in a still night
like this. We began to run then, an
when we heerd the hollerin' we knowed
where to come"
$50 good of you." whispered Mrs.
Maytham.
ever so much obliged" said Zenas.
Then, realizing for the first time that
Mrs. Maytham was not in daylight at
tire, he whispered something to the
men, who abruptly turned, said: Good
night and went away.
''Mr. Bortley," said the woman, seiz-
ing her neighbours hands, you are a
noble man."
MADAM" said the little man, who,
| in spite of broken nose and closed eye
now felt himself the equal of anyone
alive, ''you are true woman. Try to
feel easy about your husband. He will
be safer in my house than in his own,
until we see how the authorities regard
the burglar story. They can't suspect
me-with this face"
Then he turned quickly and entered
and searched the top floor, light in
hard until he found the fugitive, to
whom he whispered:
"Take the room with the bed in it.
Turn the key, so none of my children
happen in on you in the morning. I'll
arrange for your wife to come in. I'll
get my wife and the youngsters off
some way after breakfast, and we
haven't any servants to poke around.
Good night
Then the little man proceeded to
bury himself in his own reflections and
a wet towel with a lump of ice in it.
With clearer head than he ever had
taken to his desk in the city he never
theless had many conflicting emotions.
| Within a single hour-a mere quarter
of an hour, indeed, he had been guilty
of cowardice, suspicion, heartlessness
and several other objectionable sins:
he also had INDUCED in violence, dis
stimulation and threat to commit muir
der, or at least manslaughter. He had
imagined himself dying of fright: he
had fought larger man without the
slightest sensation of fear. He, mem
Der of the church, was even now hiding
a fugitive from justice; he, married
man, had stood some moments in the
presence of another mans wife who
was in light evening attire before he
was conscious of the delicacy of the
situation. He had spraDg to the rescue
because the intended victim-as he sup.
posed-was woman, yet that very
same woman had called his incompar-
able family a gang" AS he reviewed
the evenings experiences his mentality
became clouded to such an extent that
he, crcpt into bed to seek refuge il
sleep. AS he softly stretched himself
his wife sighed, half Weakening:
81 thought heard a noise-little
while ago.
Eyes, dear; tumbled down. It's al
right now; go to sleep"
CHAPTER III.
Amusement sat enthroned on the
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