South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-20
THIRD YEAR OF WARREN IS CREDITED WITH
MARRIED LIFE. He WoUID HAVE MADE "
HERBERT URNER.

Helen awoke with start. What
was it? Where had that noise come
from? Something had been knocked
down or stumbled over. She sat up
in bed listening tensely and quivering
with the tremulous fear that comes
with any such awakening.
Then came the sound of something
moving stealthily in the dining room.
Then again that cautious, creeping
sound.
Someone was there The silver!
All the accounts of burglaries and
house breaking that had filled the
papers lately flashed before her. War
rem. Warren! In her fear. as at all
times, her mind leapt 20 him. Ii he
was only herei
If she called-who would hear her?
The adjoining department was va
cant, and they could not hear across
the hall. The telephone. But the
telephone was in The next room. The
burglar would hear her run TO it and
would strangle her into silence before
she could call.
Another stealthy movement from
the dining room! With her heart in
her throat she leaped out of bed,
snatched her dressing gown from
chair as she passed and flew out into
the hall. Down two flights of stairs
with fearful glanceS over her shout
der. before she paused to ring wildly
the elevator bell
But bv chance the elevator was just
coming up with a passenger, a Mr..
Bennett. whom Helen recognized as
living on the floor above. Both he
and the elevator boy stared at her
wonderingly.
Oh. there's a man in my apart
ment." she gasped "Quick-Quick.
He's in the dining room"
Mr.. Bennett, who was IN evening
dress. gripped his cane and started
mp the stairs. Leaving the elevator
where it was, they all three ran up
the steps. Mr.. Bennett started to
open the door-then hesitated.
These fellows are pretty desperate
sometimes. Guess ia better get my
revolver. Wait here a moment,
starting 10 dash up to his apartment
on the floor above.
But Helen and the elevator boy,
with visions Of black-masNed des-
peradO darting upon them, dashed al
ter him. In Il second Mr.. Bennett
had his revolver and they were all
running down the stairs again.
Cautiously opening the door, with
the revolver in one hand and his
stick tightly gripped i'm the other. Mr.
Bennett paused on the threshold.
Nothing greeted him but darkness
and silence.
.sThe button to switch on the light
is right here to your left" whispered
Helen
Cautiously he stepped inside and
switched on the light II lit up the
hall and part OF the front room-but
the dining room lay in darkness be-
You'd
Helen was waiting for Mr.. Bennett
10 stride into the dining room. collar
the black-masked ruffian and drag
him out But it seemed that such a
course Of action was not in Mr.. Ben
nett'S mind.
Just then came the sound OF the
same stealthy movement from the
darkness Of the dining room.
"There-don't you hear that?
whispered Helen.
It was plain that Mr.. Bennett had
heard but il was also plain that ne
was not going TO risk his life by en-
cOuntering a desperate burglar IN
darkened room.
you run down and phone to the
police" he whispered to the elevator
boy. who was lowering wide-eyed in
the background. "Pll see that he
doesn't get away before they get
here"
Again came the stealthy sound from
the dining room. Now IL seemed
coming nearer, 1t was coming near
er.
Mr.. Bennett grasped tighter the re-
volver and cane, but at the same time
took a step backward. Then through
the folding doors OF the dining room
and into the front room which was
dimly lit by the light from the hall
something was slowly cautiously,
moving towards them.
At first Helen thought il was the
creeping figure OF a man. But as II
came nearer their astOnished gaze saw
I only WinifreG's high chair-comlng
slowly across the room. But as II
moved alone the apparitiOn was as
I terrifying as would have been the
most formidab Die CrOuching burglar.
The chair was not upright IL was
turned over. on it's face as II were,
and was slowly. surely moving nearer.
Suddenly Helen. with a hysterical
\ shrieking laugh, pushed Mr.. Bennett
aside and darted into the room. Pick
/ ing up the chair she disclosed en-
tangled in the tray and Crib-poor
/ frightened little Pussy Purrmew.
II was absurdly clear now. The
crash which awakened her had been
the falling chair that in some way the
/ kitten had knocked over As the
chair was very light and a little un-
steady on its tall. slender legs. she had