The Washington herald., 1915-09-22
DAILY SHORT STORY.
BURGLAR BRUCE.
BY JANE OSBORN.

For the first minute Constance lay
| trembling. In such state Of alarm and
! terror that she was quite incapable OF
moving. What had wakened her she did
not know. and save for the far-off trickle
of the little stream behind the house all
| was quiet.
Presently she heard the sound Of foet-
! steps. Some one was walking on the
side veranda. And to have some one
walking about at that time Of night was
| a serious matter. for Constance Preston
was the only person in the house except
her temperamentally help'-5s mother. an
aged grandmother and a new cook. The
boys were away. Billy was with his reg
! iment and Alan was detained in town on
business
With an extraordinary burst of courage
and the sense of her own importance.
Constance dashed into her mothers room
and found her awake and trembling.
Call your grandmother she cried pull
ing the blankets from the bed and wrap
ping them frantically about her.
Hush whispered Constance. trying
to steady her own trembling voice. BE
quiet or they will hear you The sound
of footsteps was again distinct. and then
a long. low. terrifying whistle.
Heavens" whispered Mrs. Preston.
IF one of the boys were only home,"
Perhaps I could wake the cook: she
is so big and strong
But you never could rouse her. But.
Constance. you must get your grand
mother; her room is right over that side
porch"
Constance groped her way to the door
and opened it stealthily. The low. flick
ering light in the hall cast long. waving
shadows on the floor and walls Almost
petrified with fear. she dashed across to
her grandmother's room. Grandmother
Preston. fortunately. was a very diminu-
tive sort of old lady. So Constance,
wasting no words on explanation. lifted
her up, bundled her into her slippers and
dressing gown. and led her. dazed but
docile. back to Mrs. Preston's room.
Constance. throwing on what clothes OF
Mrs. Prestons she could find by the low
light Of the night candle.
Grandmother Preston. who hadn't
heard a sound, was sitting huddled in a
chair. her feet drawn under her and her
head covered with blanket. She was
peering anxiously around.
Hadn't you better cover your heads?"
she asked slowly. If they once get in
it's hard to get them out"
WHAT" asked Constance aloud. fran
tically hooking herself into an evening
gown Of her mothers.
DO you think 1t came in by the chim-
ney?" Grandmother Preston went on in
her gentle old voice.
''Oh. It isn't a bat. grandmother: it's a
burglar!' Constance shrieked But
without her ear tumpet the old lady
could hear nothing.
Just then there was a heavy stamping
of feet below. Mrs Preston clung to her
daughter for protection. I'D give al
most anything for a man. Constance
whispered.
Let's telephone for one.'' suggested
Mrs. Preston.
THE Burglar might shoot him. OBJ
jected her daughter.
But you could call up the police"
Then. with desperate resignation. Con- |
stance swept half way down the stairs to |
the telephone. There. with Mrs Pres |
toms nerve-racking whispers from above !
and the possibility of an attack from the |
burglars from below, she gave the mes |
sage.
Central" she said. holding the receiv-
er with trembling hands. THE police |
station-rell them to send up some one to |
the Preston place-at once.
without waiting for a reply. she sped |
back to the haven of Mrs. Preston's |,
room, where. speechless. they sat wait |
ing, the monotony of their anxiety brok- !
en- only by the occasional sound of foot
steps below.
Then, after what seemed hours. came |
the pounding Of the old brass knocker. |
ringing strong and clear Without q mo-
ments hesitation. Constance ran down |
sairs. and. n she passsd the hatrack. |