Show I 1 had only one thought nellie had refused me I 1 bad no idea how or when the guests left for while that took place I 1 was walking up and down the library floor like an animal in a cage repeating over and over nel he has refused me suddenly her brother tom came in what the deuce are you doing here old boya he cried I 1 only looked at him you do not look well at all he said and no wonder it Is no child play to lead a cotillon as you did but what Is the matter with you and nellie why do you aska I 1 said as calm ly as I 1 could oh I 1 only noticed that you did not dance as often with her as with grace cirtis ci why I 1 never thought of that at all but I 1 am very tired better go to bed jack to morrow you will be all right no I 1 think I 1 will rather return to new york tonight to night nonsense tom said come along your room Is ready and you do not need to say good to any body I 1 will as teem to excuse you and with these words he took me by the arm and pushed up the stairs into my room looked around to see it anything was missing and start ed toward the door good night jack he said I 1 opened cay mouth ta say good night but instead of this I 1 stammered nellie has refused me he did not hear me however and closed the door I 1 sat down on the edge of my bed and started to think it was evident that I 1 could nat stay but how could I 1 get away there were no more trains for the city that night but there was a milk train at 3 and I 1 made up my mind to leave on this I 1 sat down and wrote a letter to tom explaining the reason of my sudden departure then I 1 put the letter in my pocket and sat down to wait at halt past 2 I 1 put on a business suit and started downstairs As I 1 knew that the hinges of the front door always squeaked I 1 decided to go out through the basement and found the door leading to the stairs locked but the key was in the lock I 1 started to turn it but was so nervous that I 1 dropped it and could not find it again in the darkness then I 1 suddenly remembered that the whole house was wred with burglar alarms which would set ott an immense gong in tom s room in case a door or a win dow was opened tarn never went to bed without setting the alarm so there was no other way of getting away than to sneak into his room and turn off the current A snoring noise assured me that he was asleep and I 1 went over to the keyboard which was dimly illuminated by a diminutive in candescent light there were a num her of switches all pointing upward with the exception of one confident thai this was the right one I 1 turned it and immediately the immense gong went off making enough noise to awaken the dead A cry rang out from the bed but it was not tom s voice but that ol 01 his aunt ass agathe benham an old maid whom he had given his large room while he had taken a small bed room on the floor above her cry robbed me of all sense and without stopping to think I 1 rushed in nellie has refused me to a closet fn the hall and pulled the door closed from my hiding place I 1 could hear the commotion all over the house I 1 beard nellie s voice asking what was the matter and her father calmly as buring her that it as probably noth mt but a burglar then I 1 heard aunt agathe say do not dare come into my room w ih that gun tom I 1 am more afraid of that than ol 01 a dozen burg larg I 1 heard him calling my name up stairs and then hurry down again well that Is strange I 1 heard mm say I 1 wonder what could have happened to jack Is be not in his his father asked no but I 1 bet he Is out looking tor the burglar be careful tom his father said do not shoot at jack and look out that he does not shoot you oh tom dear came nellies voice do not shoot anyway if it Is a large burglar ask him to please go away ask him first if he la jack do lou hear tom do not shoot until you are sure it Is not jack you stay right here with me nel lie I 1 heard aunt agathe say then a voice came from below say father the cellar door Is locked and the key Is gone A loud cry from nellie oh aunt agathe the burglar has murdered jack and locked him up in the cellar oh let me go to him I 1 love him I 1 was jealous of grace cur I 1 could hear commotion all over the house Us and refused him and now be Is dead and will never know at these words I 1 forgot everything and jumped out of the closet nellie had torn herself loose and had run away followed by her aunt so the room was empty As I 1 reached the hall I 1 saw only two of the servants their backs were turned toward me so I 1 hurried to my room threw my dress suit case on the floor took off my coat and vest and rushed down again this time the servants saw me and shouted down mr alden Is here he Is sate he has not been murdered A second later nellie was in my arms crying as it her heart would break none of us said a word where the deuce have you been cried tom I 1 have looked tor you everywhere I 1 was looking for the burglar I 1 replied how brave you are jack nellie cried and you did not even have a revolver but to this day it Is a mystery to the family what caused the alarm to go off not even mrs nellie alden knows meta dowling in chicago ameri can |