The Carlisle independent., 1918-01-31
CHAPTER iV.-Continued.

All the time I was listening my mind was occupied with trying to ac- count for the thrill which had iolted me when I had taken Luciles hands in mine at the top of the staircase. I decided to put my fortunes to the test. l would sit up until Bopp went to bed and then ask her to marry me.
 Kent, the telephone man, retired first.
 q think I'll sit up awhile" I said, stealing a look at Lucille and hoping that she would comprehend my inten. ton.
 If you're going to sit up I'll stick" said Bopp, with Machiavellian cordial ity. "Ill split gallon of water with you"
 There we sat, and we drank glass after glass of water until Il o'clock. Then Lucille decided to retire and spoil. ed the whole game.
 T guess I'll turn in now, too" I sug- gested tentatively, hoping at least that I would get chance to speak to her on the stairs.
 But, no. Bopp developed a sudden fondness for my society and accompa- nied me to my room and sat on my bed for awhile talking about affairs the atrical, assuming that I was interested in them, which I was not.
 When he finally departed the house was dark and the wind of the storm made unearthly noises around the caves. I was more tired than I re- membered to have been for years. but not sleepy I don't know whether it was actual hunger or merely the idea that I had not eaten anything for for weight hours which haunted me At any rate. every time that I closed my eyes I'd have a vision of those dog .b.seilits. I might just as well have A Anctured a chocolate cake or a dough Vfut to myself; but, no-it was a dog biscuit
 After an hour or so of that kind of torture I at last decided to satisfy my fool imagination by showing it a dog biscuit in the life and proving that it was not desirable at all. That was the only reason that 1 went downstairs. II It was rather tiekiish business roam ing around a strange house wearing no other padding than a suit of pajamas. I banged my shins unmercifullJ against several hundred pieces of fur niture, but I toned my remarks there at to pitch below the bowling of the storm. An occasional flash of light ming helped me momentarily from time to time. but left me laundering in the intervals.
 Finally In the kitchen. I groped my way to the shelf. and the box of dog biscuit was in my hands. Furtively I took one out. fondled it and sniffed it. Being alone there with that unpro- tected dog biscuit was too much for my moral courage. I decided to throw honor to the winds. There was so much wind and so little honor that no one would notice it.
 I set my teeth in the dog biscuit!
 Suddenly there was sound on the stairway. listened intently-the creak- ing of stair.
 Who could it be? Possibly it was Kent. the ex-wire tapper. His early training might have proved too much for him and he had decided to loot the place and make his escape. 1 made np my mind to behave valiantly and grasped a dog biscuit firmly in one hand. determined to sell my life as dearly as was consistent with the high cost or living. The box containing the rest Of the biscuit I put back on the shelf and crouched behind the stove ready to spring at the intruder un- awarcs as soon as he entered.
 I had one of those flashes of insane bravery which is nine-tenths fear when I saw the light of a pocket lantern stra,- ing along the wall at the foot of the stairs. I jumped four feet straight up in the air when something wet touched the sole of my bare foot which was extended behind me as knelt behind the stove. My exclama- tion was drowned in a crash of thun- der. Burglar or no burglar, l was about to run to him for protection N from that clammy thing which had touched me when a second flash Of lightning showed mech. horrorsi It was Tootles frisking around my feet.