New Britain herald., 1922-05-10
The Effort Lillian and Madge Made
 to Catch the Intruder,

What 1t is, Madee? Ah-h !"
 Lillian's quick brain did not need my gasp Of fright in answer to her question She had seen the look of terrified amazement on my face as l stared past her toward the window, and even as she spoke she had whirled, leaped to the window and was pulling frantically at the adjustable screen.
 quick. Madge." she commanded, and putting down my terror with an iron hand. I rushed 10 her side just as she lore the screen from its place, threw 1t out of the window, grasped with both hands at a queer-looking contrivance Of knotted rope which hung taut just outside the window. l noticed that as she did so she sank to her knees inside the window.
 Your knees. Grab it with me- she commanded. and I obeyed her, feeling my arms almost drawn out of my sockets as l did so, with the un- seen weight which depended from the rope,
 Shake it-hard. That's right. Can you keep it up if l take off one hand ?"
 l-l--N6S, l Sdli INlcTIll1fIsJ between my set teeth.
 l had not the slightest idea of her reason for the request, but l realized that upon that rope beneath me there was something human, evil, which Lillian wished to capture if possible.
 She withdrew her hand gradually, so that there should be no sudden strain on mine. fumbed in her blouse, a gesture which chilled me. l knew, of course that Lillian in time of stress. is never without a tiny re volver. but the prospect of her using it was terrifying.
 Tt isn't Smith" I gasped hastily. "The face looked like a boy"
 I'm not going to shoot him. she said impatiently. then she thrust the revolver through the window and fired three shots toward the peaceful sky above us.
 "Going That Way
 There was violent shaking of the rope. which did not come from our muscles, then a thud upon the earth below. followed by an involuntary groan quickly smothered.
 Put out the light"--Lillian whis- pered the words close to my ear and I hastened to obey her. noticing that she drew back to the side of the win dow as she spoke.
 Keep back there" she command ed. still in a whisper, as l started to- ward her. He may take notion to answer that last message of mine, and there's no need of giving him target
 For answer, dropped to my hands and knees and crawled to her,
 When you leave the window, Il shall.'' I said firmly.
 I'm not quite an idiot" she re torted. I'm not exposed to his fire, But you can help. at that. Get up the other side of the window, so you can watch that direction. He'll have to crawl across one of our lines of vision. or else he'll be going toward the open road ..
 l initiated her strategy, shielded myself at the side of the window, and peered out into the darkness.
 There was a nasty scrambling mo- tion on the ground beneath the win dow, then rustling movement in the grass. I strained my eyes, of course. unable to distinguish form or color, saw a grayish, formless shape moving swiftly along the ground, melting in- to the darkness. Going that way" l whispered, l nudging Lillian. i "All right" she whispered back. | Now, let's pull up this contrivance.
 
 next thing"
 From the other side of the house rose sound as of kicking, and a long, hysterica wall, katies voice, mingled with peremptory cries from my mother-in in-law, shrill little cries from Junior. and one scream, short. quickly cut off, from Marion
 "Nobody's Hurt"
 It was not necessary for me to see them to know that Katie was hysteri cal with fright, Mother Graham. more angry than alarmed, that Junior was crying because he had been suddenly awakened. and that Marion-true daughter of her mother-had choked back her own terror and would re- main quiet until some one came.
 Go to them, quickly" Lillian said, 'J'll manage this. Tell them we thought we heard somebody trying to steal the chickens. and that I fired the revolver to frIghten off the thieves" I departed not without a dualm of misgiving at leaving Lillian. I said to myself grimly that she was perfectly capa hle of leaving the window by the rope ladder and pursuing the fugitive single handed should the thought oc- cur to her. But there was no alter native for me. and l hurried to the other part of the house my pace ac- celerated by katie's crescendo Of sound
 I went 10 her door first for | feared that she would have it down with her