The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-06-06

| gotten to put away. Softly she Slipped
| Err hand down over the bedSpread un-
| til she grasped the weapon.
ut was lucky | forgot to put 1t
away" she thought as she saw the
burglar making himself at home. "IIe
intends to take Off his shoes here and
then rob the he Use"
AS she came to this conclusion the
burglar arose and turned toward the
bed. A look of surprise flashed over
his face, but before he could move the
rusty old gun was pointed at his head
and feminine voice called:
Don't move or will shoot! Throw
up your hands! I've hit smaller OBJ
ject than you many time"
The burglar paused, but did not
throw up his hands, and the girl In
the bed, realizing the uselessness Of
her weapon began to weaken and wish
she were not so entirely at his mercy.
Il beg your PARDON came from the
burglar.
"Oh. he's one of the polite kindw
groaned the girl
know this room was occupied. Excuse
me and l will leave, although l don't
like to wake up the folks In the house."
ut would be rather interesting for
you if you did" But the burglar did
not seem to catch the drift of her sar-
casm and continued, 81 assure you /
had no idea any one was in the
ROOM
81 do not doubt your word in the
least"
"And so, If you will excuse me, ]
will leave and hunt up mother or Ger
tie"
Mother or Gertie! How do you
know Gcrtie's namer'
because l happen to be her broth
err" was the amused reply.
"IIer brother! Dick~
"les, Dick. at your service. And
now, as l have said once or twice be-
fore, if you will excuse me I will go
and hunt them" He passed swiftly
through the bathroom, and a moment
later she heard him feeling his way
along the hall to Mrs. Manders' room.
Can it be Dick, or ought I to give
an alarmT Before she came to a de-
cision she heard Mrs. Manders eXclaim-
ing:
"Why, Dick! What do you mean by
coming home ut this time of night?
We all thought you would remain in
Montana for another MONTH"
"Quite an adventure" murmured
May as she dropped to sleep half an
hour later. But to think that 1 threat
encd to shoot the man Gertie Is so
anxious for me to marryr'
"Oh, l am so glad that you like
Dick was Gerties greeting the next
morning.
Like him! What do you meanT'
queried the bewildered girl.
"Why, didn't you try to bring him
down with your revolver, the way you
said you intended to get your hus-
band?" Gertie asked. with a fine as
sumption of innocence. Il naturally
supposed 1t was case of love at first
sight"
Never during the following weeks
were May and Dick together that Ger
tie. the tactless, did not appear with
some senseless remark about guns and
game until her friend began fairly to
loathe her unfortunate adventure, her
visit and everything connected with 1t.
Her manner to Dick became daily more
constrained and chilly. lie was In
despair as to how he could please her
and at last confided in his sister.
$50 you are really in love with her
and are desperate because she will
have nothing to say to you" was her
consoling exclamation. "Tell her so,
you goosy"
He acted so promptly on her advice
that Gertie heard the welcome news
that very night in a bedtime con-
fidence.
but, oh, Gertie," May whispered,
half laughing, half crying, chow could
you tease me SO all the time?"
My friend" was the oracular re-
spouse, for all your bravery with a
gun l dent believe that you would
have bagged your husband if had not
made you think you did not want to-"