home in the morning, Tony had a good break-
fast waiting for me. After prayers she sat
down at the table with us, and it was like old
times in the country.

The third night I spent at the Cutters', I
awoke suddenly with the impression that I
had heard a door open and shut. Everything
was still, however, and I must have gone to
sleep again immediately.

The next thing I knew, I felt some one sit
down on the edge of the bed. I was only half
awake, but I decided that he might take the
Cutters' silver, whoever he was. Perhaps if I
did not move, he would find it and get out
without troubling me. I held my breath and
lay absolutely still. A hand closed softly on
my shoulder, and at the same moment I felt
something hairy and cologne-scented brushing
my face. If the room had suddenly been
flooded with electric light, I couldn't have
seen more clearly the detestable bearded
countenance that I knew was bending over
me. I caught a handful of whiskers and
pulled, shouting something. The hand that
held my shoulder was instantly at my throat.
The man became insane; he stood over me,
choking me with one fist and beating me in

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v?