nd could dimly see her
friend spring from her couch and dart across the room like a ghostly
phantom.

"Lilly, if you scream," said Miss Stivergill, in a voice so low and
stern that it caused her blood to curdle, "I'll do something awful to
you.--Get up!"

The command was peremptory. Miss Lillycrop obeyed.

"Here, catch hold of the bell-handle--so. Your other hand--there--keep
the tongue fast in it, and don't ring till I give the word."

Miss Lillycrop was perfect in her docility.

A large tin tea-tray hung at the side of Miss Stivergill's bed. Beside
it was a round ball with a handle to it. Miss Lillycrop had wondered
what these were there for. She soon found out.

Miss Stivergill put the dressing-table a little to one side, and placed
a ewer of water on it.

At that moment the dining-room window was heard to open slowly but
distinctly.

Miss Stivergill threw up the bedroom window.

The marrow in Miss Lillycrop's spine froze.

Mr Bones started and looked up in surprise. He received a deluge of
water on his face, and at the same moment a ewer burst in atoms on the
gravel at his feet--for Miss Stivergill did nothing by halves. But
Bones was surprise-proof by that time; besides, the coveted treasure was
on the sideboard--almost within his grasp. He was too bold a villain to
be frightened by women, and he knew that sleeping country-folk are not
quickly roused to succour the inmates of a lonely cottage. Darting into
the room, he tumbled over chairs, tables, work-boxes, fire-irons, and
coal-scuttle.

"Ring!" said Miss Stivergill sharply. At the same moment she seized the
tea-tray in her left hand and belaboured it furiously with the
drumstick.

"Ring out at the window!" shouted Miss Stivergill.

Miss Lillycrop did so until her spinal marrow thawed.

The noise was worse than appalling. Little Pax, unable to express his
conflicting emotions in any other way, yelled with agonising delight.
Even the hardened spirit of Bones trembled with mingled feelings of
alarm and surprise. He found and grasped the coveted box, and leaped
out of the window with a bound. It is highly probable that he would
have got clear off but for the involuntary action of Miss Lillycrop. As
that lady's marrow waxed warm she dashed the great bell against the
window-sill with such fervour that it flew from her grasp and descended
full on the burglar's cranium, just as he leaped into the arms of the
policeman, and both fell heav