Year: 1877

"l"P PPCA ohu " PSuEd iH0 dOoi ~ ~
room, but hesitated after reaching th
hall, for the night was already far ad
vanced, the clock having just strucI
three.


Still that irresistible longing to G
possessed her, feeling it was impossi
bic to define, and gliding down stair
with noiselesS eps, she paused Of
reaching the sitting room door to reas
sure herself


The door was half open, as she remem
bered having left it on retiring, the ligb
burned low. the window was shut, al
seemed quiet and undisturbed. but ;
feeling Of dread crept over her as she
entered the room, for the thought Of thc
money her father bad placed there sud,
denly flashed across her memory.


She would call James But no He
might say she was hysterical or super

stitious; and above all else she detested
nervous woman How foolish of her
to have come down stairs. She would
60 right back to her room again imme.
diately.


Arriving at that conclusion she turn
ed to leave the room, but in doing SO her
eyes chanced to rest on the little safe in
the opposite corner of the room. Her
heart almost ceased to beat, for there,
on his knees, she saw the figure Of a
man


His face was bent over the instrument
he was using to pry open the lock, and
by bis side on the floor lay his revolver.


She watched him open the safe, and
draw from it the box containing the
money. Too stunned to cry for help,
she shivered as if struck with the ague,
while great drops of perspiration rolled
down her flushed face. o, the agony
she suffered, standing there unable to
move hand or foot, fairly stupeied with
fright. She felt her senses leaving her
as the man turned to reach for some in
strument be needed


Had thunderbolt struck the house,
or a bomb-shell exploded at her feet,
she could not have flown faster across
the room than at that moment; for in
turning his head. she had recognized
the burglar.


With one bound she reached his side,
and pale as death, her hand grasping
his shoulder, she stood over him. From
his face too all color suddenly fed. 1t
was Frank hamburg


His face was white with detected guilt;
hers pale with terror and grief, not un-
derstaDding or believing her own senses


Then she spoke, her voice clear and
firm. excessive dread adding energy to
her failing strength.


''What are you doing here at this
time Of the night, Frank hamburg 2"


Detected p was all the answer his
white lips could frame


Birdie felt her strength deserting her,
but rallyiDg again with an effort, she
said hurriedly: "Set down that box of
money and leave this house instantly,
as you value your life"


With quick movement she reached
down and grasped the revolver, pointing
it toward him.


He heard the click Of the trigger as
she drew it back and fearing she was
about to fire, he struck the weapon to
one side, causing it to go off, the ball
lodging in her arm


You have killed me-" she gasped
"James-Mollie," she called family;
then a giddiness came over her; a sud
den dimness hid the surrounding OBJ
jects from view; a feeling of deadly
sickness caused her to reel backward,
and with shrek she fell heavily to the
floor


Weeks Of sickn IS followed, and iD
her delirium she rebearSed over and
over again ber encounter with Frank
hamburg, and the fear that possessed
her while standing SO bravely before
him.


Assiduous search failed to find the
slightest trace Of Frank, as be had es-
capped almost before the insensible form
of Birdie was discovered, and it was at
last given up, the sharpest detective
failing to find any clue to his where
abouts.


Many days passed before the recollec-
ton Of that night faded from Brides
memory-many days before she could
bear to be alone in the evening without
chill creeping over her. But still she
is happy now, for Glide is BY her side
to protect her, and he laughingly asserts
it was that night of terror that gained
for him his precious little wife


Slightly Mixed.


BY BIZARRE.