Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-06-12

window it is bound to ring"
He took a trip around the house
and returned to the veranda.
There's an outside cellar door that
is not wired at all" he said.
How careless of Guy not to see
to that" exclaimed the sister.
When the brother came home in
the evening and heard Of the derelic-
ton, he replied:
Il was talking with a detective to-
day"
"Well?"
"He advised me to sit up for few
nights and watch and shoot. No bur-
glar gets to work before midnight, and
it is daylight at about four at this
season"
"And you will sit up in your ROOM"
was asked.
Yours truly"
"And I in mine," said Mr.. Haines.
Where do you think he will get
in?" asked Mr.. Haines.
"At one of the bedroom WINDOWS.
"And shall we shoot to kill?"
You bet!"
The girl didn't name the location
she would take, but she had it planned
out. Firstly, she didn't believe that
any burglar would show up that night,
or for many another night. either.
Secondly, if he did come it would be
by the cellar doors. 1t was the Wi.
nerable point, and he would take no
risks in trying experiments. And she
laughed to herself over the sort Of
watch the two men would keep. They
would sit down in rocking chairs, feet
up, and pipes a-going, and within half
an hour they would be sound asleep
to last till morning.
The girl was right In the main, but
she missed 1t In the case Of Mr..
Haines. Not that he did not fall
asleep within the allotted half-hour
but that he pitched to the floor about
midnight and was very much aroused.
No sooner had he got his wits than
he got plan. He would slip down
stairs and turn off the. alarm, and
then 60 out by the back door and thus
reach the cellar When he came back
he would pick up some bric-a-brac to
carry to his room until the joke was
ready to be exploded.
He had almost reached the door
leading into the kitchen when he
heard a movement and Strengthened
up. Then came a flash Of fire in his
face, followed by cries of Guy!
Guy!" and the switching on of electric
lights.
What the devil is the row." de.
manded the brother as he came tum.
bling down stairs.
His sister was crouched against the
front door and wringing her hands,
and she gasped out in answer:
II have shot the burglar"
where is he?"
"There-there-in the dining-room!
Bully for you! I'll have look at
him"
There was the burglar, lying on his
face, and there was trickle Of blood
on the parquet floor. He drew up one
leg as the other man looked down on
him.
"Why, it's Mr.. Haines!" shrieked
Miss Frances, as she came running In
aDorpad IL II icn'tin
Mr.. Haines opened his eyes and
family remarked that everything
could be explained, and then tainted
away and did not come to until the
doctor was probing for the bullet.
When the hustle and hurry were over,
the girl told her story.
II thought I heard the burglar at
that cellar door. Then I was sure
heard him creeping up the cellar
stairs and across the kitchen floor.
I wanted to scream and run away,
but I dared not move. Then the p1s-
toll went off by accident. I didn't even
know that it was pointed at him. He
must have thought he heard some
thing to bring him down to inVesti
gate"
But what in the Old Harry were
you doing down here In the dark and
alone!" was demanded.
II was waiting for the burglar!"
well, he came along, and now you
are in for a job of nursing. If you
don't pull. him through in good shape
and then marry him I hope he'll sue
you for a million dollars damages!
Copyright, 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Nightmare Stories.
It Is always a question whether
literary man should seek to eVade III
digestion, remarks writer in the Lon
don Chronicle. Did not Mrs. Radcllfe
confess that some of the most thrilling
episodes In the mysteries OF IDOL
pho" came to her in a nightmare con-
sequent upon eating pork chops? May
not the brownies" also, who gave
Stevenson the dream inspiration OF
"Jekyll and HYDE" have been trace
able to some similarly injudiclous but
lucky meal? Personally, l have had
after-supper dreams long and circum-
stantially worked out, which, could l
remember them more distinctly in
waking moments, might make my for
time as q writer of "thrillers."