Year: 1876

sessed her, q feeling it was impossible tc
decline, and gliding down stairs with
noiseless steps, she paused on reaching
the sitting.room door to reassure herself.


The door was half open, as she remem.
bered having left it on retiring, the lighl
burned low, the window was shut, al
seemed quiet and undisturbed. but feel
log of dread crept over her as she entered
the room, for the thought of the money
her father had placed there suddenly
flashed across her memory.


She would call James. But no. HI
might say sho was hystericsl or supersti
tious and at owe all else she detested Q
nervous woman. How foolish Of her tC
have come down stairs. She would &C
right back te her room Immediately.


Arriving at that conclusion, she turned
to leave the room, but in so doing hei
eyes chanced to rest on the little safe il
the opposite corner Of the room. Hei
heart almost ceased to beat, for there, OF
his knees, she saw the figure of man.


His face was bent over the instrument
be was using to pry open the lock, and
BY his side on the aoor lay his revolver.


She watched him open the safe, and
draw from il 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 dowr
her flushed face. o. the agony she suf
fered, standing there unable to move hand
or foot, fairly stupeded with fright. She
felt her senses leaving her as the mar
turned to reach for some instrument he
needed.


Had thunderbolt struck the house, or
a bombshell exploded at her feet, she
could not have fown faster across the
room than at that moment for in turning
his head, she had recognized the burglar


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


His face was white with detected guilt;
hers pale with terror and grief, not un.
derstanding 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 vamburgh ?"


Detected" was all the answer bis
white lips could frame.


Birdie felt her strength deserting her,
but rallyiug 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 graspsd 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 60 of, the ball lodging
in her arm.


"You have killed me-" she gasped.-
"James-Mollie," she called family then
q giddiness came over her n sudden dim
ness hid the surrounding objects from
view feeling Of deadly sickness caused
her to reel backward and with sbriek
she fell heavily to the floor.


Weeks Of sickness followed, and 10 her
delirum she rchearsed over and over again
her encounter with Frank Vamburgh and
Of the fear that possessed her while stand.
ing SO bravely before him.


Assiduous search failed to find the
slightest trace of Frank. as he 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 whereabouts.


Many days passed before the recollec.
tion Of that night fadod from Bi-die's
melnory-many days before she could
bear to be alone in the evening without q
chill creeping over her. But still she is
happy now, for Glide is by her side to
protect her. and he laughingly asserts il
was that night Of terror that gained for
him his precious little wife.