The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-11-05

where Tom had slept for SO many
years, where he and l as boys had
struggled to keep awake on the nights
before the Fourth of July that we
might begin the celebration of the ma
tion's birthday precisely on the stroke
of II. Tom was the best friend had
in the world, and believed most heart
lily that he would feel almost as bad
as did when he came to know that
Nellie and l had made an end of our
love story in the first chapter.
The door of that room was ajar, and
| might have tossed my note in, but
had forgotten all about it, l went on
and down the broad staircase, which
creaked for the first time in my long
experience with it and seemed to wake
alarming echoes in all parts of the
house. | remembered that the front
door creaked upon its hinges and also
that it was secured by a cumbrous
lock that would not fasten itself be-
hind me. 1 resolved, therefore, to go
out by a side door which had a spring
lock-
This exit was from what might be
called the basement of the house, and
to reach it l must descend another
flight of stairs. At the foot found a
locked door, but the key was in the
lock. tried to turn it and in my nerv-
BUSINESS let it fall to the floor, and it
jumped into corner where could not
find it.
| felt like a burglar who had mis-
taken his vocation, and this thought
reminded me with startling sudden
ness that the house was protected by a
burglar alarm. 1t is amazing that
should not have thought of this before
The big gong over the door in Toms
room had long been familiar to my
eyes, though l had never taken the
trouble to learn just how the doors and
windows of the house were connected
with it by the electric wires.
l knew in a general way that every
door and window had its wire and that
the whole system was controlled by a
switchboard in Toms room. Every
night the trap was set at least for the
lower parts of the house, and | was
on the point of being caught in it.
Two courses We're possible. might
try n drop from an upper window,
trusting that the alarm was set only
for the lower floors, or l might steal
into Toms room and turn off the cur
rent upon the switchboard. chose
the latter alternative.
1t was more burglarious climbing the
stairs than descending. My hands and
even my knees began to shake with
nervousness, and for a few minutes
the interest of the adventure relieved
my mind of the burden of my grief
forgot Nellie in the excitement of run
ming away from her.
Toms room was unillumined save for
CLEAN from the hall and q glow
from a window where a curtain was
tapping in the wind of the night. 1t
happened, however that the ray from
the crack of the door fell directly
upon the switchboard. This was for
tunate, but | would have liked a little
light on the bed so that l might make
sure that Tom was asleep.
The sound of heavy breathing was
reassuring, and l stepped softly into
the room. When l had crossed to the
switchboard, | set down my dress suit
case and then nearly fell over it with
noise that was augmented by the
rolling of a big chair which l grasped
to steady myself.
For few seconds crouched upon
the floor listening but there was no
sign that all this disturbance had
reached the ears of the sleeper,
Presently | stood up and examined
the switchboard. There were many
switches and all pointed downward
except one which was at the end of
the line. l judged from this that the
current was "on' for only the lower
floor of the house, and so, with conf
dence, turned the switch.
If the last trump of doom is as loud
as the noise which ensued, l shall be