Did you make any noise coming down the stairs?"
"No. I was in my bare feet, and I tried to be quiet because if there
was any one in the house, I did not want him coming at me in the dark.
I ran back up-stairs, and we looked in father's room. I thought father
had forgotten to take his watch with him, but it wasn't there.--Do you
really think it was Sunday he forgot it, Fairy?"
"No," said Fairy, "it was there this afternoon. The burglar's got it
in the dungeon with him, of course.--I just said it was Sunday to keep
from scaring the twins."
In a few minutes, they heard footsteps around the house and knew the
officers had arrived. Mr. Allan let them into the house, four of them,
and led them out to the hall. There could be no doubt whatever that
the burglar was in the dungeon. He had been busy with his knife, and
the lock was nearly removed. If the officers had been two minutes
later, the dungeon would have been empty. The girls were sent
up-stairs at once, with the Allan boy as guard,--as guard, without
regard for the fact that he was probably more frightened than any one
of them.
The chief officer rapped briskly on the dungeon door. Then he clicked
his revolver.
"There are enough of us to overpower three of you," he said curtly.
"And we have men outside the house, too. If you make any disturbance,
we shall all fire the instant the door is opened. If you put your
firearms on the floor, and hold both hands over your head, you'll be
well treated.
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