Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-04-21

ham in a timorous voice. First \
heard the front door rattle. Then
someone tried the side windows Then
there was a window lifted in the gar
ret. Oh. am sure someone is up
therel Now, Earle-do you not hear?"
You're right. Rachel" assented Mr..
Pelham, after a moment of intense
listening.
There was no doubling the fact that
the floor overhead creaked as hurried
footsteps crossed it. Then there was
a scraping sound, as of someone pull
ing trunk or box over the boards.
Then breaking sound.
Mr.. Pelham got out of bed, dressed,
and lighting a lamp got a revolver
from a bureau drawer. His wife fol-
lowed his example by throwing on a
dress. She was close behind him az
they crept up the attic stairs.
"Oh, do be CAREFUL" she implored
whisperingly, as they reached the top
of the stairs, and low, vague Groom
ing sound reached their hearing from
beyond the threshold of the attic
door. b.
Hold the lamp" directed her hus-
band. when l pull the door open
suddenly lift it so l can see where to
fire."
Mr.. Pelham gave the door a quick
pull. With trembling hand his wife
lifted and extended the lamp.
screamed Mrs. Pelham. Its a girl
a womanl"
The Pickering lamp fell across q
woman, singing softly to herself and
taking dress after dress from trunk
she had opened. She turned toward
the intruders in a surprised way.
visitors" she observed in a soft
plaintive tone. you will have to ex
cuse me till l get ready to go down
and meet my guests. have Just ar
rived home. Some wicked people
stole me from my husband and
escaped"
"Oh, Earlel" gasped Mrs, Pelham
Juggling at her husbands sleeve
don't you understand? It's that poor
lady next door they mourn as dead
Oh, quick! quick run for her hus
band. She has found home at last
and see, that open window. She mus
have reached it with the stepladder
Mr.. Pelham, terribly excited. hurried
away. Mrs. Pelham advanced to the
side of the woman, whose garments
were nearly in rags.
Pick out your dress, DEAR" sh,
said soothingly. Your husband will
be here soon"
'But-strangers in the housed" be
gan the other suspiciously.
"Oh, we are just guests" assured
Mrs. Pelham. "You will find every
thing in order below"
1t was a great shock for Robert Me-
son when his neighbor advised him o
the strange arrival of the night. H
Gained himself as he realized the situ
alton. AS he entered the attic, with
wild cry of delight his wife ran int
his arms.
: "Oh, Robert! those wicked men VIII
) stole me away from you"
Gone entirely out of our life, m
darling" assured Mason. Come t
your own rooms and get ready to joi
our kind neighbors at little lunch,
he proceeded, and made sign to tn
Pelhams, who retired.
Half an hour later Mr.. Mason led hi
wife, neatly dressed and looking cali
and happy, into the rooms below TIL
quick-witted Mrs. Pelham had sprea
out a small rejection. To the lette
the program of visitors" was carrie
Q out, and in the eyes of the poor wal
derer all could trace a slow but sui
l. returning of reason.
g you will have to keep up the pr
b tense of going over to the next hous
r till 1 can arrange otherwise" viii
d pered Mr.. Mason to Mr.. Pelham.
t. "Oh, you mustn't disturb your vii
p with anything" answered Mrs. Pc
g ham. And besides-we like the lit
home besti"
l. Famously good people, the Pelham
t. shared the glad, grateful joy Of the
j. landlord, as the days went on and Mr.
e Mason came back into the full su
r shine of reason and health.