his bedroom to reassure Violet and send Lulu to
Grace, who had waked and was calling in affright to know what was the
matter.

"Do not be alarmed, my dear," he said, as he hastily threw on his
clothes: "I really think there is no cause for apprehension, but I must
hurry down to admit the servants (whether the burglars have left a door
open or not, I do not know), see in what condition things are in the
lower rooms, and keep guard over my prisoners till the sheriff or
constable and his men arrive."

"What can I do?" asked Violet.

"Stay here out of harm's way, and ready to soothe and quiet the children
should they wake in affright," he answered as he again hastened away.

Violet sprang from the bed and went with swift, noiseless steps into the
nursery. All was quiet there, children and nurse soundly sleeping. She
retraced her steps and went on into Grace's room, where the two little
girls were lying together in the bed, locked in each other's arms.
Grace trembling with fear, Lulu bravely struggling with her own
excitement and trying to calm and soothe her little sister.

"O Mamma Vi, I'm so glad you've come!" she exclaimed, as Violet drew
near, then seated herself on the side of the bed, and bent down to kiss
first the one and then the other, "for Gracie is so frightened."

"I'm so afraid those wicked men will hurt papa," sobbed Grace.

"God will take care of him, dear child," Violet said, repeating her
caress. "Beside your papa just told me he thought there was no cause for
apprehension.

"But, Lulu, I have not heard yet how the burglars came to be locked into
the strong room. Tell me about it."

"Something waked me, Mamma Vi, and I heard them, and by listening a
little I made sure where they were. At first I thought I'd run and call
papa; but then I thought there are two of them if not more and papa is
only one, so he would hardly have a chance in trying to fight them; but
if I should slip quietly down and slam the door to and lock them in, it
would save risking papa's life; and if they should catch me and kill me
it wouldn't be half so bad as if they hurt papa.

"So I asked God to help me and take care of me. Then I ran down the
back stairs to the library.

"The door into the back hall was far enough open to let me slip in
without touching it, so that I did so without making any noise to
attract their attention; then seeing by the light coming from the crack
at the back of the strong room door, that they