o4 J. COLE.

have kept on hearing queer noises at the
back of the house; they seemed in Joe’s room
at first. Come and listen yourself on the
stairs.”’

It is strange, but true, that many persons,
horribly nervous at the thought of danger,
find all their presence of mind in full force
when actually called upon to face it. So it
is with me, and so it was on that night. I
stood on the landing, and listened, and in a
few moments heard muffled sounds down-stairs,
like persons moving about stealthily.

“There is certainly somebody down there,
Nelly,” I said to my sister, ‘and they are
down in the basement. If we could creep
down quietly and get into the drawing-room,
we might open the window and call the watch-
man or policeman; both are on duty until
seven.”

“But think,” said my sister, “of the fright
of the girls if they hear us, and find they are
left alone. The servants, too, will scream, and
rush about, as they always do. Let us go
down and make sure there are thieves, and

then see what is best to be done. The door