The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-02
AS THE BURGLAR WORKED.
BY E. B. K.

know 1 should while our host turned
indignant.
Lie still?' he cried Why, every
I nerve in my body would jump to get at
him" The little man squared himself
! I'd pummel him for all was worth. I'd
knock the soul out of him-a ruffian to
/ enter my house unbidden,'
! These were great words from a five
] foot man. They created an immense eff
] feet, and even those OF us that carried six
feet locked at Fred Benton with a certain
respect.
Each of US contributed something from
the quota of his experience. The women
listened, shuddered. looked sympathy as
our tales demanded-one after the other
Of us had conducted himself with exceed
| ing cleverness
"A clock tinkled a late hour With
gracious hospitality Benton and his wife,
TO speed our parting. walked with us down
the gravel walk to the gateway.
Fred put his arm about her-an in
voluntary act of manly protection called
forth by her mere exclamation. Our last
glimpse of them that night was as they
stood thus, the last words we heard Fred
utter were: I'm a match for any man,
and none shall ever enter my house I'M
hidden that doesn't suffer for it..
And now, how did ! learn the rest
of the story? / attended, he paused a
scarcely perceptble instant. Il attend
ed Mrs. Benton through a long attack
of nervous prostration.
1T was midnight. The Benton house
hold was quiet and our timid blue-eyed
little hostess was wrapped in sweet
dreams of winter gayeties, when she was
suddenly reused TO full consciousness by
the awful feeling of a strange presence
in her room.
Great heavens.' she murmured, under
her breath.
I'm one instant, by that swift train
of memory said to be familiar to tho
drowning man, she lived her life again
through to its latest hours, to the even
ing's gay pleasure, her dinner, the talk
of burglaries, the advice of her guests
flung out at random.
"One had said. Lie STILL She had
vowed she could not She was about
to make good her vow. She was about
to scream, but sudden thought re-
strained her. Great heavens, one thought
alone-Fred.
IF Fred should awaken, he would
throw himself upon the murderous
giant, Her scream might cause the
death of her darling, noble husband; her
valiant Fred would be killed for his
bleeding, mangled, hacked. Oh, the hor-
ror of it,
Her heart beat wildly, cold per-
spiration spread over her body, seemed !
to dry and burst forth again. She |
closed her trembling lips, and then she |
opened them to breathe this prayer: |
Keep me motionless, my God. and keep |
him asleep
by the dim light she could just dis
tinguish the figure OF man; she saw
that he was large; he seemed to her to |
have the proportions of 4 giant, bending
over her dressing table.
THE burglar moved over to Fred's
.lothes; his hands crept stealthily in and
tut among their pockets as he extracted
ais spoil.
1T seemed to her an eternity before
she opened her eyes again. The room
vas silent and dark. The tension gave
way, and she murmured, The saints be
it's over.
The doctor paused a moment, and look
d at the brunette as though the story
we're for her. She had both eyes fasten-
ID on him, and he went on:
Mrs. Benton felt a movement The
-aliant form beside her turned and clasp
ID her in his arms.
oh, Mollie,' 1t cried in a weak,
rembling voice, I thought the william
would never have done -
The doctor ceased and cast a laughing
lance at the interested group.