HOW WE CAUGHT THE BURGLARS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 10, 6 July 1894, Page 23

HOW WE CAUGHT THE BURGLARS.

(From Ca.vu.lVs Saturday Journal,') (Concluded.)

I had often been told I should have made s good ac'ress and was complimented more than once on the way I performed my part in a charade, or an amateur theatrical performance. Would that talent be of use to me now? Could I act well enough to deceive those argua eyes which I felt were watching my every movement 1

To betray, by word or look, that I was conscious of the intruder's presence would, I knew, be certain deafi to ua. What could we helpless women do agamit the attack of a desperate and determined ruffiin, should he suspect that I wia aware of his being concealed there when I had left the room? II j wjuld know I had don) so but for one purpose — to Bend for help.

11 Here's the water at la?t !" I exclaim? 1. " I hai to wait till it boiled, and the fire was rather low. Than I had a bunt for tha mustard, as I did not kcow where Elleu kept it."

"But what do we want them for, Nellie, dear? Is time you were in bed and asleep, my child. Look at the hour ? Going on for two o'clock, Ido declare 1 There, that wil' do, Desmond. My head much better. I'll go to bed now."

No, indeed, Aunt Bab, you'll do ni such thing, until you have put your feet for a qaarter of an hour in hot water and mustard, as Dr Moore ordered you Bhould do whenever you got one of those bad headaches. There it is, all ready for you now, and into bed you

shan't stir to-night until you do as I tell yea. It would be so very ungrateful, you know, after all my trouble." " Very well, dear ; aa you put it in that way, I'm sure I'll do anything to pleaai you, and after all it may do me good." " I know it will," I said, with a deeper meaning than my aunt could dream or. " Now," I continued, " I am going to show De«mond how ' Ruth ' acted in the scene whore she knsels to < Frederick,' prayiu* him uol to leave her. Shea ia iove with Lita, you kaow, though she ia year* and years older. Now, aupp)se you are " Frederick'—tho younj pirate, you know, Desmond— and lam ' Ruth ' ; I kaeel to y .a— i m I mm 3 aa— iad I catch hia hand like thia," taking Desmond's hand in both mine, and looking up at har in a most beseeching way, to her great amusement. «• But ' Frederick ' would have nothing to do with her, and throws her from him, and she falls to the ground, poor thing, in d>spair. " But the best part of it all is when • Frederick ' asks her what she really thinks of herself, and she says, its a delicious question to answer, but- but standing in this way, her head thrown back, and one hand on her hip, while she stamps her foot—' I think I'm a fine woman.' Then everyone clapped aod cheered her. Sic did it so well, you know."

In thia manner I went through a good many of the principa, parts, actiog and einging them aa well aa I could. For worlds though I would not glanca upwarda. I kaew that these watchful eyea were fixed upon mi. I could even fancy they were exercising a baneful power over me, to compel me to raise mine, and meat their burning gazs.

" I'm aura, Misa Nellie, Dismond said, when 1 had finished, «no one could act it better than yourself. Sure everybody knows tha t you re a born actress, if ever there was one. You'd make a fortune on the stage."

" I've more than a half mind to try it. What do you say, Aunb Bab ?" I asked. " You know I have a good voice, and my face and figure are— well, not bad you know. Positively I think I'll try it. Why shouldn't I make a fortune aa well aa "

" Nellie, my dear child, don't say such a thing. You're not serious, are you ? " poor Aunt Bab said, looking sorrowfully at me. " Well, I'll notdoanything just yet," I answered, " I think about it first, and give the matter due consideration. And now, I'll think you may take your feet out of the water, and begin to prepare for bed. I'll shake up the pillows for you."

As I went to do this, I saw that the bell-rope which always hung on the head of the beisteai was cut away -another proof that soma crime was intended-and I trembled as I tbonght of what an awful fate might have baen my poor aunt's had I not providentially discovered tha wicked plot in time.

But the danger was not over yet. How it would end I dared not let my mmd dwell on then. I could only lift my heart in silent, earnest prayer to Haaren for strength and guidance ia this great strait.

As well as I could calculate, had William reached the doctor's in safoly with my letter, out friends might arrive at any moment with the needful help, As Aunt Barbara and Desmond were talking I went to my room, which was at the other side of the corridor, and gently opened a few inches of the window, listening intently to catch the faintest sound of their approach in the distanca.

I bad no light with mi, and the night was very dark. Presently I was surpna d and startled to hear rustling in the shrubs uoderneitb, then a low whistle of a peculiar kind. It was as I thought, then— he robber concealed in the bedroom had one or more accomplices outside I

My room was at the back of the house, and, no doubt, whoever wag hiding in the hrch was waiting to be let in by bis fr.end who had already guned an entrance, and, hearing the window to cantiously openad, fancied it was his fellow-thief who was come to admit him for the purpose of plundering the house more effectually. Not daring to stir, fearing almost to breathe, I strained my eara to listen. Will help never come? What can delay them? The man, or men, outside nuy get impatient, and br.ak into the house and murder us all 1 and I shuddered as I thought of this terrible p-a-Bibility.

But hark I -oh, blessed sound. Far, very far off yet, I hear the roll of carriage wheels. Nearer and nearer they come ; they stop at the gate ; they are coming op the avenue. Then I hear a knock at tho hall door, one that I koow well. 11 Aunt Bab," I say, aa I go back to her room, trying my best to appear as natural as possible, " that is Dr Moore'a knock. H« must have seen the light in your roam on his way home from some patient and has called to know if you are ill. I'll go down to him, aod, as he is here, will bring him up to see you in a few minutes." "But really, Nellie, de^r, I " What she intended to say I did not wait to hear, but rushed, or rather flew, downstairs, three steps at a time, to open the door. To my surprise, the doctor was alone.

" Did you get my letter ? " I asked, anxiously. " I did, my child," he answered, seating me on the sofa next hinv "* ou are a brave girl, Nellie. But you are nearly worn out, my dear

Now leave everything to me. We— the boys and I— have it all arranged. It would never have done to come altogether, police and •11, making a row and fuss at this time of night. Why, the fright of it wonld kill your aunt on the spot, Ooming alone, she will only think "

11 That you were passing, and called in," I interrupted. " Yes I told her I wes sure that was it, as yoa saw a light in her room."

" Exactly ; nothing could be better. George and Walter have gone rouud the back way with the policemen. They are on the look out for anyone who may be hanging about outside."

44 Then they'll find them," I said. "I heard a signal whistle under my window just now."

44 Ah, indeed I I hope the rascals won't escapa. I'll go up to Lady Herbert now, Nellie. You must go down to the back door, and when you hear the boys and police, let them in as quietly as possible ; they know what to do. Then come op to your aunt's room, and leave the rest to me."

" Ob, but, Doctor Moore, how is that dreadful man to be got off the bedstead ? Poor Aunt Bab will die with terror if she knows he is there and sees the policemen .

" But she need not be told a word of it until all dagger is past my dear. You wonder how that's to ba done, I suppose. Well, just wait and see. Live and learn, Miss Nellie ; live and learn. I have an idea, a rather brilliant one too, I can tell you. There, not another word now. Come up when you have let those chaps in."

Puzzling over what he meant, I ran quickly down to open the door for George and Walter and tbe policemen, and was delighted to bear that they had discovered two men hiding in tbe shrubbery, whom the police had handcuffed and locked up in one of the outhouses.

I then went to Aunt Bab's room, and found her chatting pleasantly with the doctor.

11 By-the-way, Lady Herbert," he said, " did I not hear you say a few days ago that you were anxious to see the comet, but that you never were awake late, or rather early enough to ace it." As he said this, he stole a sly glance at me, as much as to say, " Do you see what I mean now ? "

"Oh yes," Aunt Bab Baid, quite interested all at once. " I should like to see it of all things. Is it visible now 1 "

41 It is, indeed, and particularly bright just at present. You will have a splendid view of it from the library window, so wrap up well

and go round there with Detmoad and Nellie. It is rea'ly worth seeing."

Tbe library was in the western wing, and a good distance from Aunt Barbara's room.

"Now, Nellie," he whispered to me, as soon as I got outside the corridor. " Send them all up without a moment's delay, then follow your aunt to the library. Shut, and lock the door, but put the key out underneath, so that I can get it and let you out, when we have eecured this midnight intruder. Let your auut imagine something has gone wrong with the handle of the door. Ring the be ), and as Boon as tne coast iB clear here, I'll come and release you."

I did exactly as he told me, and in less time than I expected, I heard the doctor's voice at the door. "Not a word of this to your aunt until to-morrow," he iaid to me as I passed out. "Go r'own to the boy's ; they are in the dining-room, and they'll tell you all about it."

I learned then that, as coon as they had all entered the room, two policemen quickly climbed to the top of the bedstead, the masalve carving on the posts of which afforded them firm foothold, and an easy means of ascent. This was accomplished so suddenly, that the wretched burglar was secured before be bad time to mike the ■lightest resistance, or use the revolver which was found on him.

On being searched, the missing articles of jewellery were found in his pocket, also a bottle of chloroform, and a sharp, two-edged dagger, with which, doubtless he would have murdered poor Aunt Bab had she tried to alarm any of the household.

Next day, when the doctor came to see my aunt, we told her all about it, softening matters as much as possible. Need I say that her gratitude, not only to me, but to the kind doctor and bis sons, was unbounded 1

As for Desmond, her astonishment on learning that 1 knew all the time that " a murdering thief was hid atop of the bedstead " was beyond description.

It never reached Aunt Barbara's ears, but it was a well-known fact, that for mouths afterwards she used to go upstairs while my aunt was at tea, and mount a step ladder— which she secretely kept in her own room for the purpose— to make quite sure that a robber was not concealed behind the cornice of the bedstead.

The three burglars who had been so cleverly captured were tried at the next assizes, and sentenced to receive the pnnUhmaat they so well deserved.