Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1924-02-01
CHAPTER xvI-continued.


rattle and, at the same momen
from the direction Of the door Their
came low but distinct gasp whic
made her resolute heart jump and fut
ter. II was too dark to see anythini
distinctly. but, in the instant before /
turned and fed, she caught sight of ,
shadowy male figure, and knew tina
her worst fears had been realized. The
figure was too tall to be Eustace, anC
Eustace, she knew. was the only mar
In the house Male figures, therefore
that went fitting about Windles, must
be the figures Of burglars.
Mrs. Hlgnett, bold woman though
she was, stood for an instant spell
bound, and for one moment OF not un-
pardonable panic, tried 10 tell herself
that she had been mistaken. Almost
Immediately, however, there came from
the direction Of the hall dull chunky
sound as though something soft had
been kicked, followed by low gurgle
and the noise of staggering feet. I'm
less he was dancing a pas seu out of
sheer lightness Of heart. the nocturnal
visitor must have tripped over some
thing.
The latter theory was the correct
one. Montagu Webster was man
who at many a subscription ball had
shaken a wicked dancing-pump, and
nothing In the proper circumstances
pleased him better than to exercise the |
skill which had become his as the re-
suit OF twelve private lessons at half
a-crown visit: but he recognized the
truth OF the scriptural adage that
there Is time for dancing, and that
this was not IT, His only desire when.
stealing into the drawing room he had
been confronted through the curtains
by female figure, was to get back to
MS bedroom undetected. He supposed
mat one Of the feminine members of
the mousse party must have been taking
stroll In the grounds, and he did not
wish TO stay and be compelled to make
laDorious explanations of his presence
there In the dark. He decided to post ]
pone the knocking on the cupboard
door, which had been the signal ar {
ranged between himself and Sam. until |
more suitable occasion. In the I
meantime he bounded silently out into {
ne nan, and instantaneously tripped
'Ver the portly form of Smith, the bull [
iog' who, reused from a light sleep f
o the knowledge that something was
soing on, and being dog who always |
liked to be in the center of the mael-
'trom OF events, had waddled out to
investigate. '
by the time Mrs. Hignett had pulled 1
herself together sufficiently to feel t
'rave enough to venture into the hall v
NeDster's presence of mind and L
smiths gregariousness had combined l.
restore that part of the house to its
ornal nocturnal condition of empti- s
ess' Webster's stagger had carried p
I'M almost up to the green baize door II
'ading TO the servants staircase and b
e proceeded to pass through it with b.
Ut checking his momentum, closely
'iowed by Smith, who now convinced OF
lat interesting events were in prog So
IS when might possibly eliminate in In
IKE mad abandoned the idea of sleen m
III meant to see the thing through
e gamboled in Webster's wake m ae
e stairs and along the passage lead &C
Z TO the latter's room, and only on
USED when the door was brusouely
Ut IN his face. Upon which he SAT
wn TO think the thing over. He was sa
no hurry. The night was before sw
H. promising. as far as he could
lge from the way 1t had opened. ex-
lent entertainment. the
Mrs. Hignett had listened fearfullv ter
the uncouth noises from the han tue
e burglars-she had now discovered WI
II there were at least two of them IN
'eared to be actually romping. The rec
iallon had grown beyond her ham rel'
~. II this troupe of terpsicborean pat
rauuers was to be dislodged she the
81 nave assistance. 1t was mans 10
X. She made brave dash through and
nan, mercifully unmolested: found ne
stairs; raced up them: and fell alul
'ugh the doorway OF her son Eus. sine
IS bedroom Ike spent Marathon rool
ner staggering past the winning deel
. 81