The St. Mary banner., 1909-11-20

iHe OlQ lazy SldTeu at ueT. helel
! Norris, you must have heard tha
bell Why didn't you answer it,
Dear Aunt Sophia, l couldn't gC
to the door, Can't you see my stream
ing hair? The fact is While yoy
! We're ringing the bell | was wringine
my hair. Sally was wringing ou1
i my white dress; in fact, we were
/ all w-ringing." She smiled mis-
chievcnsly into her aunt's face.
Where is your father?" inquired
! her aunt.
Father is in Boston on business
and will not return tonight. Mildred
is at a picnic down river and will
be home at s.
Your father gone for the night?''
gasped Aunt Sophia. She darted
forward and whispered in Helen's ear,
"Helen, dear, l have $4,000 in cash
| with met came too late to bank
and my diamond necklace. l was
going to Boston tomorrow to have it
mended What shall we do? Not a
man in the house, Miss Norris
grcaned.
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. 1t was down
river, you know, and l am afraid of
boats"
Aunt Sophia snorted. "You always
were a coward. Helen," she said.
Afraid of boats, afraid of mice,
afraid Of the dark-I wonder what
makes you SO timid?"
Il can't help it," returned Helen
Il am a coward; I know it, 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
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-
er case, which she carefully deposit
ed on the dressing table. Girls"
she said, II wish could sleep here
tonight. 4 can't seem to get out OF
draft in that room and I hate to
sleep without the windows wide open.'
Helen offered her bed to her aunt.
1T will be comforting favor on
me-" she said, "for l want to finish
reading the most absorbing love story
1 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
a 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 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
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 gazing at her
reflection.
Then she lifted the small pitcher |
which stood on a 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