Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-27
Connie trailed them fearfully at {

cry step. ..-'s' 1''
When the fire was burning bright
ly, Prudence spoke with great assur-
ance. ''Ili just run in to the dungeon
and see for sure II the money is there.
do not honestly believe there is a
soul in the house, but i can't@restf until
know that money Is safe"
'You1l do nothing of the sort" said
Fairy. you'll stay right here and wait
with US. Il do not believe there's any
one in the house, either, but if there
is you shan't run into him by, your
self You stay right where%you are
and don't be silly. Mr. Allan will do
the Investigating"
/ Every breath of wind against the
younger girls, and both Fairy and
, Prudence were white with anxiety
when they heard the loud voices of
the Allans outside the kitchen door.
Prudence began crying nervously the
moment the two angels Of mercy ap-
peared before her, and Fairy told their
tale of woe.
We'll, there now" Mr. Allan said
with rough sympathy, you just got
scared, that's all. Everything's sus-
picious when folks get scared. l told
my wife the other day bet you girls
would get a good fright some time
left here alone. Come. on, Jim, and
wen go over the house in a ,jitfy.''.
He was standing near the dining
room door,. He; lifted his head sudden
Z y. and scanned to sniff a little. There
was undoubtedly a faint odor. of to-
bacco in the house
Been any men in here. tonight"
he asked. '"'Or this afternoon? Think
now!" ,.r~ - u, . 49,.
mo one" answered Prudence. 81
was alone all afternoon and there has
been no one in this evening"
He passed slowly through the din
ing room into the hall, closely followed
by his son and the five girls, already
much treasured AS he passed the
dungeon door he paused for moment,
listening intently, his head bent. ~
@"Oh, Mr.. Allan cried Prudence,
let's look in the dungeon first. l
want to see If the money is safe" Her
hand was already on the lock, but he
showed her away quickly.
us there any way out of that closet
besides this door," he asked.
No. We call it the dungeon"
laughed Prudence, her self possession
quite recovered. 1T is right under the
stairs and not even a mouse could
gnaw it's way out, with this door shut"
who shut that door," he inquired,
still holding Prudences hand from the
lock. Then without waiting for an an
swer, he went on, Lets 90 back in
the other room minute. Come on,
all of you" In the living room he hur-
ried to the telephone and spoke to the
operator in a low voice. Call the
police headquarters and have them
send two or three men to the Metho-
a burglar locked in a closet and they'll
have to get him out. Please hurry
At this the girls crowded around him
again in renewed fear.
Don't be scared he said calmly,
we're all right. He's in there safe
enough and can't get out for a while.
Now, tell me about it. How did you
get him in the closet? Begin at the
beginning and tell me all about it,
Carol began the story with keen rel
ish. Il woke up and thought | heard
some one in the room. I supposed it
was Prudence. said, Prudence
and nobody answered, and everything
was quiet. But I felt there was some
one in there. ! nudged Lark and she
woke up. He moved them, and we
both heard him. He was fumbling at
the dresser and our ruby rings are
gone, We heard him step across the
room and into the closet He closed
the door after him, didn't he, Lark?2,
yes, he did agreed Lark. His
hand was ON the knob"
$50 we sneaked out of bed, ran
went into Prudence's room and woke
her and Fairy She looked, at Con:
ME and blushed. Connie was asleep
and we didn't waken her because we
didn't want to frighten her. We woke
| the girls-and you tell the rest, Pru.
! dence.' r.