.

She could not speak for a moment, but laid her face on the pillow beside
his and put her arm round his neck.

The touch roused him and he asked, "Who is it? you, Lulu?"

"Yes, papa," she panted; "I--I've locked some burglars into the strong
room and--"

"_You? you_ have locked them in there?" he exclaimed in astonishment
starting up and drawing her into his arms. "Surely, my child, you have
been dreaming."

"No, papa, not a bit; I've locked them in there and here's the key,"
putting it into his hand. "I slammed the door to on them. I shot the
bolt too, and I don't think they can get out. But what will we do? Papa,
can you get somebody to help you take them to jail?"

"Yes; I shall telephone at once to the sheriff at Union."

"Who is it? What's the matter?" asked Violet waking.

"I can not wait at this moment to explain matters my love," the captain
said hastily picking up Lulu and putting her in the place in the bed
which he had just vacated. "I must act, leaving Lulu to tell you her
story."

With the last word he hurried from the room and the next moment they
heard the telephone bell.

CHAPTER XV.

"What is it, Lu?" Violet asked in trepidation. "Oh what is the meaning
of those sounds coming from below? Are burglars trying to break in?"

"No, Mamma Vi," returned Lulu with a little nervous laugh, "they are
trying to break out."

"Break out? what can you mean, child?"

"They are locked into the strong room, Mamma Vi, and papa is calling for
help to take them to jail. Hark! don't you hear him?"

They sat up in the bed, listening intently.

"Hello!" the captain called: then in another moment, "Capt. Raymond of
Woodburn, wants the sheriff," they heard him say. "Ah are you there Mr.
Wright? Burglars in the house. Burglars here. We have them fast, locked
into the room with the safe they were trying to break open. Send a
constable and several men to help him, as promptly as you can."

The reply was of course inaudible to the listeners in the bedroom, but
the next moment the captain spoke again.

"Yes, I can hold them till you can get here; unless some outside
accomplice should come to their aid."

He seemed to listen to a response, then a tinkle of his bell told that
the conversation was at an end.

He turned at once to a private telephone connecting the dwelling house
with the outside cabins in which his men-servants lodged, and called them
to come to his assistance.

Then back he went to