Year: 1878

fell out of the fire, and every moment
| fancied heard footsteps. l got up
and walked about the room, and stirred
the fire to make blaze, as the candle
had burned down.


Presidently Rory gave low grow
and raised his head as lfto listen. Then
he growled again. That frightened me
very much, forI knew that he must have
heard some one so listened intently'


Yes; did hear footsteps-it was no
fancy this time Quite distinctly l
heard them on the gravel outside. In
tbe greatest terror l went and called the
servants. I told them to dress as last
as they could. We then went to the
bedroom next to mine, the shutters ol
which were not fastened. peeped oul
and as we'll as the darkness would per-
nit I saw six or eight men trying the
windows of the lower rooms, and also
the hall door.


Let us pray to heaven to help US
said. They are come for the money
they must know it Is here. 1t VIII take
them some time, however, to break IN
for they cannet easily cut through the
iron shutters


Just then there was crash OF glass
Rory tried to rush down stairs, but l
held him back, not wishing the robbers
to know that we heard them.


How stupid OF me not to think o'
Rory before, Ellen said.


As quickly as l could got a sheet
of paper and a pencil, and wrote to
William telling him the robbers were
trying to break into the house, aud ask
ng him to come back without any de-
lay. and bring a sufficient guard oil po'
lice TO take them. | tied this round
Rory's neck, and having ascerialned
that there was no one as yet at the
house, | opened the door leading into
the garden. aud sent the faithful dog 10
find his master. praying terventlv tha'
he might be successful. Tie wall al
the end OF the shrubbery was 10"
enough in one place to jump over 1t and
was his usual way Of coming aud gong
But what if any one were in the gar
den on his return : l could only hepe
Tor the best.


| returned to the room where the TWO
servants were. We had no light and
so could not be seen from the outside.
softly raised the window a few inches
so that we could hear what the men
were saying. They seemed to oe
dreadfuly disappointed at not having
effected an entrance.


If we don't be quick about it now
Bill. the master will have found out by
this time that the story Of the tire was
all sham, and he'll be here in jlffy.


Here was revelation ! No fire II
was all a plan Of theirs TO get William
out of the way, knowing there would
only be women in here then. For o.
course they knew that the coachmar
and his son were at the wake


Finding they could not get in through
any of the front windows, to my horror
heard them say they would try
the back.


Then my poor dog is lost = 1 said


With breathless anxiety we watched
and listened. At last, having no bet
tor success with the back windows thar
the others. to our great relief we hearC
them leave the garden, and as they dit
not come round in front very quickly
we fancled they were having a consul
tation as to what they would do next


All this time l was in the creates
apony of mind, for, unless something
had happened to Rory, lie ought to b.
back. | went down to the gardel
door, to be ready to let him in when hi
came. | strained my ears to listen, bu
there was not sound of any kind. Th
robbers were not in the garden-tha
was one comfort.


| heard something soon, however. |
came nearer-nearer still. All, then
knew what it was. and with thankiu
heart | opened the door. Rory dear
faithful Rory, was back again, pantini
after his long journey.


Had he brought me an answer le
he had a note for me. tried TO rea
it but could not see. my eyes were s
full of tears, and my hand shook 50
Al length was able to make out thes
words


NV own darling. Have courage
little longer. | will be back immediate
ly with help


knew nothing more. | was CON
pletely overcome at last. had tainted
When | recovered | found WilliaI
standing by me, holding my hand in bis
1t was some time before | could remen
Der all that happened however. q
| was able to attend to him, he told m
when he arrived at the Office and 50
, no sign of fire anywhere, he thought
/ very strange.


1 L feared all was not right he sai'


and determined 10 ride home as rast I
/ possible. | was about two miles On n