The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1889-02-09 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

CRIAPTER XXVII. 39 THE MIGHT WATCHES.  fe was about one o'cloek, and Mr. Rlop, took's! bed was in the shadow, while his sister and Ruth were seated by a little table on which burned the reading lamp. The noise which took the elder lady's attention was a faint rustling, and fcir a few momenta the blood of the watchers seemed to run oold. 'rhe r dread parsed off directly, for their reason teld them that it was not likely that a second attempt would be made to rob the place, especially as there was now a policeman sitting up with Mrs. Ball in the basement, and the law was in charge of the place for the time being. But still the rustling continued, and they eat listening for some minutes before Rath made an effort over herself, and slightly raised the lamp-shade so that its light fell across the great gloomy room. She si!ivercd with fear for the moment for there, standing beside the bed ,in his long loose drawing-gown, was the figure of the old man, looking, with hie bandi,sed heed and white face, ghastly in the extreme. • lie was paing across the room in a peculiarly filed was, end as the two women watched him, be walked ,towly to the large wardrobe, and stood there listens lag, the watehtre being too much overcome to spesk. Then, raising his bands, he suddenly drevad it tipen, and looked inside, mutteneg to himself the while, before closing the doorsearetully, and returning slowly to his bed. " Are you in pain, dear said his sister, who had cuinut.ined up courage enough to emirs to his hecleide; but there was no answer, tor the old man was fast asleep, and breathing IN gularly. Mies Klopstoek returned to her seat with a shiver, and shading the lamp mum more, the two watchers resumed their conversation.  " Whoever it was must have hidden himself there," whispered Ruth, as she glanced fearfully towards the great wardrobe, and her companion nodded assent, making an effort directly after to Wit upon some indiffteent matter. But the recollection of what mu..t have taken place in the room they now re-co:tied, flee:pally damp d all conversation, and they sat tit hust in perfect silenoe, listening to the ocoesional mitering, of the old man in his sleep. Soon alter he grew agitated, and it became evident .0 the watchers that be was going over the etruvgles of Ite3 night hr fore in kite dreams, and at times his voice ,ounded load and excited. Then it would sink, mind he listeners hoped that ho would now slee.. peacefully, shen he suddenly eat no in bed, exclaimil : " Mark, Mark! would you murder me? Ruth could not contain herself as she heard the words, and a piteous cry escaped her lips—a cry that was frozen in hoiror as she stopped short, being violsntly clutched by Mite Rlopstock. For the old wan bad reached f row his bed and pulled open the little drawer in the table that generally -ore his night-lamp, and before the two women could -.illy realise what was about to take place, there was a -.tarp cliek, a dash as of lightning darted scrawl the -own, followed by the report of • pistol awl the crash ,f wood.  This was repeated, for the old man had bred twine 4.; the door of the wardrobe before sinking back eahanged upt.n the bed, while the double-barrelled pietol et, hail taken from the drawer fell from his bawl upon I,e, floor.  Directly after there were the hurried sounds of step, tile door opened, and, trunoheou in hand, the constable .h 0 124.(1 ben watching below entered, and on learning • lie cause of the alarm, undertook to ait in the room for he rest Or the night. -  His preeenee, however, proved to be needle's, for, exhausted by hie efforts, old glopetock lay perfectly Owvaire, and hardly moved iigain before Use morning wf another eventfal day.