The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-09-22

FORWARD ana whispered Ill ftelen ear,
"Helen, DEAR have $4,000 in cash
with met came too late to bank
/ and my diamond necklace. l was
going to Boston tomorrow to have 1t
mended. What shall we do? Not a
man in the house" Miss Norris
! groaned.
Helen turned little pale. "Do not
fear, Aunt Sophia" she said; moth
ing ever happens in Cllfville and no
one here ever burgles."
"Why didn't you go to the pic.
nic?" demanded her aunt little lat
er as they sat together in the guest
chamber
Il did not want to. 1t 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 wonder what
makes you 50 timid?'
Il can't help it," returned Helen.
II am a coward; | know 1t, but It
seems to be rooted too deeply to be
| am rather ashamed sometimes. Now,
dear, must make myself present
able and will leave you to take n
little nap, as ycu 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'
er case, which she carefully deposit
ed on the dressing table. Girls,
she said, Il wish | could sleep here
tonight. i can't seem to get out OF
draft in that room and | hate to
sleep without the windows wide cpen.'
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 a 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 a heroic effort she controlled her
self sufficiently to hum 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
un'S 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 gazing at her
reflection.
Then she lifted the small pitcher
which stood on small table near
the bed and poured some of the wat
er into a glass. After tasting its
contents she said aloud:
"How nasty! It's as warm as 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 is thief
in the house. Hurry!"
After she had hung up the receiver
another feeling of faintness seized
her. 81 must not faint" she said
hastily bathing her face with the
cool water from the glass which she
had placed on the table. She slip.
ped into the embrasure of one OF
the windows and watched the street.
After few moments of anguished
waiting she saw three policemen run.
ming swiftly up the street. Stumbling
to the library door she managed to
unlock it 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 a last violent effort she
wrenched open the door and admit
ted the policemen. She then dartel
II