Year: 1868

The door was locked when | got
home, said Tom, and how to get in
without waking the governor was the
difficulty. | know he would give me
particular fits if he knew | was out
after ten, and the clock had Just struck
one. The back yard was an impossi-
bility, and but one chance remained.
There was porch over the front
door, the roof Of which was a few feet
below ;he windows. One Of them |
knew to be fastened down, and the
other opened from bedroom, which
might or might not BE- occupicl. An
'old maiden sister OF the governors
wife arrived ON the same day. and it
was very probable that she was in
that room, but ! knew the bed was in
the corner furthcrmost from th, win
dow, and hoped to be able to get in
and through the room without ava
kening her, and then ! should have a
comparatively easy time Of it. So.
getting a plank from the ncighborng
boardpile, | rested it against the caves
of the shed, pulled off my shoes, put
them in my pocket and "ceoncd. u
All right so far, but | thought it ne
eessary, in order not to arouse suspic-
ion in the morning, to remove the
plank so dragging it up | threw it
off the end, and down it went with an
awful clatter on n stray dog that had
followed me two or three squares, and
who Immediately set up the most aw-
full whine hound ever gave tongue
to. That started halfa dozen dogs in
the neighborhool barking; a mock
ing bird in the window above COM
menced as if he intended to split his
throat at it, and a woman in her
nightclothes appeared at the window
across the street. l knew | was safe
so far as she was concerned but if any
one sl.oIld come to our window the
candle would give light enough to
have discovered me. Nobody came,
however, and the lady after peeping up
and down the street for minute or
two popped in her head and retired.
The mocking bird still kept up its
eternal whistle, and it was full half an
hour before he and the dog settled
down and gave me chance to move.
Creeping slowly along the wall till |
reached the window, | put my hands
on the sill, sprang in, and with my
legs dangling out, stopped to listen.
Yes, she was in the room, for was
sure l could hear her breathing. After
waiting for a minute | cautiously
drew up one leg and then the other,
drew them around, and putting them
down on the floor, was just conscious
that l had stepped on something soft
and yielding, and was withdrawing
them when another yell broke forth at
my feet; the old maid jumped from
her bed crying "murder!" and the
mocking bird started again. A little
darkcy was lying on her back under
the window; and | had stepped on her
face, and of course, woke her up. |
decided in moment what to do. The
house would be aroused, and | would
be caught to a certainty unless l could
get to my room before the Governor
was up; but l hadn't moment to
lose, for the little nigger was scream
ing; SO l started for the door in three
steps, struck chair, stumbled over it.
Of course, making the awfulest racket
you ever heard in the hours of niubt
in a peaceful house. The nipper and |
the old maid screamed louder than
ever; the mocking bird whistled
louder than steam whistle. and tbev
fairly made chorus as loud as JUL
ans.


reached the door, however, and
quietly and swiftly opened it, and lust
got into the hall in time to see the old
gentleman open the door, with a can