Part 7 (1/2)

”Oh, thank you! but there are no hiding places about our shack Either you are in it or out of it, and in one way or the other one is bound to be in evidence,” said Miss Robbins, s frankly

”What did your visitor look like?” inquired Cora

”He was tall and dark and very stooped,” replied Mrs Robbins

”Besides this, I noticed he wore boots with his trousers outside, as a farmer or clammer wears them”

”Oh!” said Cora simply But she did not add that this description tallied soe She particularly saw the boots, but irls will be tiht,” Cora ree

”Yes, this has been what you reed Walter, ”and I do declare I think Miss Robbins is--well--nice, to put it mildly”

”Wallie,” said Jack ”I will have an awful ti, boy, very young, and she is already a doctor, so maybe there is hope--she may be able to cure you”

CHAPTER VI

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

”Hush!+”

”I heard it!”

”Call Nettie!”

”I would have to go out in the hall--the noise was sohtened--I shall die!”

”No, you won't Please be quiet! I have the little revolver!”

Cora crept out of bed and left Belle tre there She only advanced a few steps when the sounds in the hall again startled her

The stairs certainly creaked There was no cat, no dog So on those steps

Cora realized that discretion was the better part of valor It would be foolhardy to run out in the hall, even with the cocked revolver in her hand If she could only touch the button of the electric hall light! She stepped out cautiously So seemed very near, yet, at thatof some one near

She reached her arm out of the door, touched the button, and, in an instant, had flooded the hall with light

As she did so she saw a man turn and run down the three steps near the , part way up the stairs

The as open! Cora was too frightened to move for a moment, then she raised her revolver, and the next instant the sound of a shot rang through the house

The man dropped out of the