Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1909-09-25

Helen turned a little pale. do not
fear. Aunt Sophia" she said; moth.
ing ever happens in Cliffville and no
one here ever burgles."
why didn't you go to the pic.
nic?" demanded her aunt a little lat.
er as they sat together In the guest
chamber.
Il did not want to. It was down
river. you know, and am afraid Of
boats"
Aunt Sophia snorted. "You always
were coward. Helen" she said.
Afraid of boats, afraid Of mice,
afraid Of the dark-1 wonder what
makes you SO timid?"
II cant help It," returned Helen
II am a coward; know 1t, but u
seems to be rooted too deeply to be
overcome now, although I confess
am rather ashamed sometimes. Now,
dear, must make myself present
able and will leave you to take q
little nap, as you must be pretty tired
from your Journey" and she slipped
out OF the room.
That night while the two girls sat
talking together in their room Aunt
Sophia entered in her nightgown.
she was carrying a small, red leath.
err case, which she carefully deposit.
ed on the dressing table. "Girls."
she said, IL wish I could sleep here
tonight. ] can't seem to get out OF
draft in that room and hate to
sleep without the windows wide open.'
Helen offered her bed to her aunt.
1T will be comforting a favor on
me-" she said, "for want to finish
reading the most absorbing love story
have read for long time, and
Mildred hates to have the light burn.
ing after she Is in bed"
An hour later Helen laid down the
book she had been reading with
sigh of satisfaction. Good story"
she yawned. As she seated herself
before the dressing table she was
Mortified to see reflected In the mirror
mans hand grasping the dark drap'
cry which hung at the side OF the
| east window. For moment she
thought she was going to faint, but
by q heroic effort she controlled her.
self sufficiently to hum a little tune,
She knew the man was covertly
watching her. and she OWNED that
he had come to rob and perhaps
murder her aunt. In some way he
must have discovered that her aunt
had a large amount OF money ana
jewels with her.
What should she do? She tried to
think; but her brain seemed In
whirl. Slowly she began to take the
pins from her hair. The moments
dragged like hours. and still her
brain refused to work. Just as she
had taken the last pin out and hal
begun to braid her hair. she be.
came possessed of sudden courage.
The man did not know she had seen
him and probably was only waiting
until the room was quiet before he
would act. She swiftly braided her
hair and stepping over to the tall
chiffoniere (which also had mirror)
she stood thoughtfully va::'ST o. her
reflection.
Then she lifted the smaif pitcher
which stood on small table nenr
the bed and poured some Of the wat
err into q glass. After tasting its
contents she said aloud:
How nasty! It's as warm a. milk
and I'm dying OF thirst" She seized
the pitcher and slipped out Of the
room. II she only dared to lock the
door! Once In the hall she tiptoed
quietly to the door OF her room. open
ed It softly. and removing the key
very gently locked It on the outside,
then she sped down the wide. stair
case and darted into the library
Carefully she closed and locked the
door. and after turning up one OF the
electric lights sped to the telephone.
"Give me the police station" she
breathed. "This Is Mr.. Norris house
SO Chestnut street. There Ii q thief
In the house. Hurry!"
| After she had hung up the receiver
another feeling OF faintness seized
her. II must not faint" she said
hastily bathing her face with the
| COOL WdteT tTOu Vuc BtuSD ""sS~ $50
had placed on the table. She slip
ped into the embrasure Of one OF
the windows and watched the street.
After a few moments OF anguished
waiting she saw three policemen run.
ming swiftly up the street. Stumbling
to the library door she managed to
unlock Il noiselessly. In a trice she
was at the front door fumbling with
the lock. Just then a pistol shot
rang out from the top Of the stairs
and with last violent effort she
wrenched open the door and admit
ted the policemen. She then darted
behind the door and pressed the cleo
trio button and there standing re-
vealed by the brilliant light was the
form OF q rough looking man with \
smoking revolver In his hand. A
sound as Of rushing water filled her
ears and she sank iainting to the
floor.
As Helen slowly regained con-
sciousness half an hour later, she
heard the voice Of her aunt as from
a great distance. And to think ]
called her coward. The darling
brave girl! am ashamed OF my
self. would have been robbed and
| - ...., noI hod mt hoon