The Tupelo journal., 1912-07-26

Drown Stuu0 DulluluS. Ills ldlCHhey
admitted him and she slipped in
directly behind. Yes. there was the
| warm red carpet In the hall and the
serpentine stairs winding up around
| the wall.
Her room was dark and empty.
Lucille had not returned. The bed
invited her, and she CROPPED across
to It.
It was grief-stricken face that
rested against the pillow, aged by
many years since Its round be-
nef1cence of the morning The phys
ical comfort soothed her as a moth
er's arms q tired child. the
shadowy room filed with vague. in
distinct forms that came and went
and floated off into the darkness.
Suddenly she was awake, wide
eyed, conscious that she was no
longer alone. Eagerly she raised her.
self on her elbow. The light from the
street sent long, bright ray across
| the room and her near-sighted eyes
made out form in front of the dress
ing table.
"Lu-" the word was checked.
The form had moved 1t was man!
Limp, nerveless, she dropped back
! on her pillow The fear that haunted
her by day, the trembling terror Of
her waking hours at night, had taken
shape.
She was alone In the presence of a
burglar.
In her fright and horror she lay,
| following in maze the mans smooth
dexterity as he handled the objects
on the dressing table.
The man moved from tbo dressing
! table; a door creaked. She oked up
to see his square shoulders disappear
| ing into the closet.
| Her blood leaped and coursed
through her veins. Her fears dropped
from her She was no longer fright
ened, helpless little woman. She
slipped from the bed; her noiseless
feet skinned the floor. Just before
she reached the closet they caught in
a rug. She stumbled; her out
stretched hand hit the door. 1t
swung to with bang. Instantly she
was up, her fingers grasping the key.
She turned it and leaned breathless
but triumphant against the panel.
There was moment Of quiet.
Neither she nor the burglar moved.
Then the knob of the door was turned
gently. The man breathed heavily as
he braced himself to break the lock.
Again her fears were upon her. Her
shaking knees failed her; she was
sinking to the carpet when louder
rattle of the knob behind stiffened
her to life.
She started to run. The floor rose
to meet her. but she kept on till she
reached the hail.
| Murder! Murder!" Only whis-
per came to her lips.
Murder! Murder!" A thin, quaver-
ing falsetto.
what is it, madam? What is it?"
exclaimed big man, struggling with
collar button at the back of
his neck.
"a man." gasped Miss Bartlett. "a
man"
"A man. madam, man"
"Yes, yes; burglar. He went into
the closet. l locked him in"
"Why? What the devil?' exclaimed
the big man, when he opened the
closet.
mo, Johnson, l deny the tender ap-
pellation.
what in thunder, Atterbury, are
you doing locked up in your own
closet?"
well, Sammy, that's something l
wish you would explain"
! Ben! o Benz" Miss Bartlett
pushed to the center of the group
and seized Mr. Atterbury by the arm.
"Why, Aunt Lucy, Aunt Lucy,
what are you doing here?"
where's the burglar?"
"But Aunt Lucy, how did you come
here?"
Il came to see Lucille. Where's the
burglar?" she demanded peering
around into the closet.
"There isn't any burglar that
know of. Who locked me in there?"
"Why, 1 did. l thought thought
you were a burglar"
'But l don't understand. How did
you come here in my room?"
Your room? Lucille said it was my
ROOM"
Seems to me things are a little
mixed. Lucille lives two blocks from
here"
Miss Bartlett's bewildered eyes
wandered from one to the other of
the three gentlemen. Il see how 1t
is" she said at last. tive got into
the wrong house. I'm just stupid
old woman"
Supported On Ben's strong arm, the
street lamps blinked merrily at her
through the whirling flakes, and the
wind that caught her skirts and
whipped in her face, was but glee-
full winter sale.
'Do come in, Ben; do come in"
she urged at the door. Don't leave