The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-12-12

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W0 lonely hours to face and ther
that brother Of hers would bt
here.
All there were those sounds again,
The giri sprang 70 her feet, thereby
considerably upsetting the equilibrium
and dignity Of the yellow cat
What g goose I ami" she declared
resolutelY returning to the arm chair
It's only the Pest, with its &C
count 81 the Wilson robbery, that has
filled my mind with burglars / won't
look at the horrid paper again
Yet Notwithstanding she was nc
sooner comfortably settled than she
took up that identical sheet and with
true feminine Inconsistency proceeded
to read certain glariEg headlines word
Tor word.
Burglars make a clean sweep"
crowned the page ii large type, then
below followed the details Of one Of the
most noteworthy robberies Of the sea
son.
Silver, jewelry and other valuables
made way with, Detectives on the look
out for John Bulr asNhe is known in
housebreaking circles, who Is believed
to be at the bottom Of this and other dar-
ing %burglarics. A reward Of $4,000 is
oHered for hig capture"
The girls eyes, horribly fascinated,
travelled to the bottom Of the sheet
whore a description Of the notorious
British burglar was presented in large
letters. age about 30. Height over
six feet. Figure athletic, Complexion
fair. Looks like q gentleman"
Was it only her absurd fancy that
was attng a Iatchkey to the outer
door?
Her hands gripped the sides Of the
chair. What was to be done? She
thought Of the dinner gong yearningly,
and with sudden inspiration Of Toms
pistol in his top drawer upstairs. With
these trusty weapons at hand how safe
she would feel.
The gong was easily procured from
the dining-room, but it took a lengthy
search amid a troubled sea Of hand
kerchiefs and neckties in Toms top
drawer to discover his pistol This
wasn't loaded, fortunately for her, but
held in Tho proper masculine attitude
would do beautifully, and down the
stairs she fed, the little steel revolver
heid aloft at full cock. her forehnger
on the trlgger.
But on the bottom step she came to
a fun stop-for something strange and
familiar confronted her in the shadow
Of the library door. At first she joy
fully thought IL was Toms valise
standing there nicely strapped but in
conspicuous, but a second glance re-
moved that possibility.
The girl stood ~irresolute on the stair
case trying to think clearly. OF course
mis- drst object would be the silver in
The dining room, he must be there now,
In which case her refuge should be the
library.
She reached that conclusion and the
door simultaneously, pulled back the
portiere with a jerk and drew up
painting on the threshold, for before
her, standing with his back to the fire.
in tho act Of examining a bejeweled
paper weight, which he must have
picked up from the table beside him.
was the burglarl
At her approach he turned A startled
face, and for a momen the little re-
pousee ornament trembled in his hands
the next he had replaced it on the
table.
Miss Hayersham, I believe" he said,
coming TO meet her with what she felt
was q pitiful attempt at nonchalance.
The girl only stared at him. Her
dazed eyes we're taking note of his
height, the athletic. gentlemanly hg.
ure. The close cropped, blonde hair.
The enthusiastically English face.
Her inventory tailed exactly with
the original Was 1t possible that be-
fore her stood the great notorious John
Bull himself?
But a sudden laugh from the man
brought her back to her senses.
May / ask" he was inquiring def
erontialiy enough. IF those two alarm
ing objects you are holding are intend
ca for me?"
The pistol and the gong! of course!
how absurd she must look! The girl
flushed with annoyance.
ITS just because I'm the only per-
son In the house" she began in self
defense and then stopped abruptly.
What a thing to tell a burglari
Bis tWinIling eyes only increased
her confusion.
mot shat I am alone in the house, "
she went on desperately. MY brother.
Of c~ourae9 How she was going to
truthfully end that sentence She had
not the least idea, but the burglar
saved har che trouble.
"0h. yesl he interrupted, with a
bragen efrontery that astonishcd her.
apm afeaid you went see your BROTH
81 for another hour. He's been de-
tained ID Boston on business
80 y3u came On ahead and took
possession she reioined, with a Bit
ing little laugh.
The villain, he had timed his visit well.
40 wonder be felt secure with only
ono d-efenselesa girl to cope with.
With swift decision she seated her
aelf in the arm chair. II he could be
delayed. diverted, engaged in CONVEX
arYf0U-