Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-25

many poor people who need it. TeiI her I the only horror I have in facing this I thing tonight is in leaving her to become l that mans wife. God knows he cannot | take care of her or make her happy. l discovered in Atlanta that he is a bank rupt Tell her that
 Say, are you goin' to take all night?' | cried the man at the door.
 George deftly slid the unfinished let ter into the book on the desk and drew another sheet of paper to him. This sheet he held before his eyes as if studying it as he turned to the speaker. 'I say, are you goin' to set thar all night?' repeated the burglar testify.
 George tore the sheet into small bits and threw them on the floor. eve been thinking it over," he said. You've got the upper hand of me, but'-he stood up and leaned. on the back of his chair, grasping 1t firmly "I'm going to refuse" -.. "RefuseT'
 "Yes I'm going to refuse" Georges fingers closed on the posts of the chair like prongs of steel, and, swinging 1t upward, he sprang toward the man on guard. But he was not quick enough. With grunt of alarm the burglar fired l directly at his breast. George had seen his peril and tried to dodge, but the shot struck him in the forehead, and he 1 reeled, tottered against the wall and fell. The others rushed in and would have fired again at the prostrate form, but their leader stopped them with a | motion of his hand. Kneeling, he put his hand in the vicinity of Buckley's heart. s
 That will do," he said grimly. He's done for. Now, git yore tools and set to work. We can't afford to miss on this job now"
 "I reckon not" said the man called Bill, and he hurried out into the dark ness of the warehouse. While he was creeping about over the rough, grain strewn floor with massive, crunching tread the remaining two stood facing each other, their faces paling under the growing realization of what had been done.
 ''He fetched it on hisse'f," said the man with the smoking revolver. He didn't intend to give up the combina- tion. He was playin' us to gain time ol' done it well. I'll say that fer i'm" | He stepped to the office door and called out, What in thunder are you doin' back thar?'
 l A smothered oath was all that came to him and the dangling chatter of a | pair of iron floor scales, against which the searcher for the tools had stum- bled. Suddenly rapid footsteps sound ed on the sidewalk near the front door, and hand was laid on the latch
 George! George Buckley! Whats the matter in there? Killing rats, old manT It was Bob Hanks voice
 It was the signal for flight. The man who had gone for the tools could be l heard unbarring the door i'll the rear. The two in the office tiptoed out into the warehouse, and then, seeing the door open, panic seized them, and they 1 ran for their lives. Bob Hanks heard them, and, having had no reply to his I question, he suspected foul play and darted at once round the warehouse toward the back end. He was just in time to see three figures running at | the top of their speed down the rail- | way. He pulled his revolver and fired an intellectual shot after them. With the weapon in his hand he entered thu open door and groped toward the light in the office, calling loudly for Buck | ley. Reaching the office, he found George stretched upon the floor. Turn ing him over, he saw the wound in his head and hastily felt his heart.
 "My Lord, they've killed imp he l gasped Fastening to the front door, he opened it and ran out. Tn the half moonlight down the street he saw q man standing motionless.
 What's the matter over tharw the man called out "Shootfn' at some l body, Mir. Buckley?''
 "Buckley's been shotv' Bob answer ed. Run for doctor, quickw
 My Godv' the man exclaimed. 'IT be as quick as I can. Dr. Jobe's al l home"
 1 When the physician came ten min utes later Bob met him at the door. ''I thought he was dead just now" he said, "but he's still breathing"
 Hold the lamp for me-" said the doctor as he bent over the wounded | man, and as Bob obeyed he quickly made an examination of the wound. The firm pressure of his fingers seemed to revive tbuCkley SOueWudt, AOI Ac groaned and began to struggle.
 'Is this all the wound he has?" pr. l lobe asked.
 "I think SOL saiR Hanks. Il heard 1 only one shot.''
 1 Are you sure of that?"
 "Yes, am. I was on the far corner of the vacant lot going home. Pm pretty sure only one was fred"
 The doctor made another examina- 1 tion.
 'Is it badY' asked Bob anxiously.
 Cant tell yet" said the doctor, but I think he has good chance to pull through. He's badly stunned, but I don't think there's any fracture of the skull. We must move him up to Hill l yer's. This is no place to nurse a man as bad off as he is.''A
 CTo Be Gont;nued.)