Year: 1875

when Ralph put his hand over hel
J, mouth.


'Sh Bell there's man down stair.
robbng fathers desk.


Robbing fathers desk ? gasped
Bell.


Yes, and Tn going for my gun
said Ralph, as he disappeared in his
room. He was back again in an in
stant with his gun in his hand,


You won't shoot him |? said Bell
nervously.


What can 1 do 4? he exclaimed. |
can't get to Uncle Dicks room
without going right by the study.


Call Polly, said Bell.


Polly what good would she do,
and how am I going to call her when
she sleeps over the Kitchen


But you will be hung if you kill
him demonstrated Bell, with tears in
her eyes.


But Ralph was too excited too heed
what his sister said and replied


You 60 into your room Bell and I'll
go down stairs and fire at him and
then run up stairs.


So saying he crept down and looked
cautiously into the room. The man
had got the desk open and was exam
ining the contents.


Now is my time, thought Ralph,
nerving himself as he raised the gun,
aud trying to steady his hand which
shook in spite of himself, he took u
quick aim at the form outlined in the
dim light and pulled the trigger.
There was snap but no report, the
cap had missed fire. The burglar
wheeled around at the sound and see
ing Ralph had jerked the hammer of
the gun up and was raising it to his
shoulder, seeing which, the man with
the quickness of thought drew re-
volver, leveled it and with a.


Curse you, take that discharged
N' ,..,pl. heard the hiss Of the bullet
as it passed his head, and feeling
deathly faint aimed at the figure rush
ing towards him through the binding
smoke, and fired The was stun
ming report and dropping his gun
Ralph ran up stairs with thrill at his
heart as he heard a groan from the
study showing that his shot had taken
effect.


He rushed into his room exclaim-
ing breathlessly:


I've shot him, Bell, I've shot him !!


And he sank down on the bed be-
side his sister, who had lighted a lamp
and was trying to quiet Freddie, who,
frightened at the noise was crying
loudly for dis father.


O, what shall we do =? said Bell to
Ralph, who, now he had time to real
ize how near he had come to death,
was almost as frightened as his sis
ter.


We must get to uncle Dick some
how answered Ralph. lshould have
thought he would have been in here
before this, he must have heard the
noise.


They waited few minutes, but all
was still below.


I'm going down said Ralph, at
length, | can't stand this. Pm going
down to rouse up uncle Dick and Pol
ly.


So quickly but silently going down
he crossed the sitting-room. The
study door was shut.


He isn't killed anyway thought
Ralph and feeling greatly relieved
hurried to his uncle's room and raped
loudly, but got no answer; he i'm
patiently tried the door it yielded to
his touch, and he entered the room.
1t was empty and the bed smooth and
untouched.


George Harry /! exclaimed Ralph in
amazement. What does this mean ?
and he threw the rays of his light
into every corner of the room but he
found no Dick.


What are you doing? What is the
matter Ralph ? said a soft voice behind
hlm.


Is that you Polly ? he said turning
quickly.


Yes it is me, said Polly. What
have you been doing? | heard noise
like cannon going off and dressed
myself and hurried down stairs to see
what the matter was.


Matter enough Polly thereis aman
in the house after fathers money, and
| came in here after uncle Dick, but
he is not here.


yVLo,o e, +ho ,,,o,9 cold po1lv nor