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The noise of the falling candlestick sounded to the taut nerved house-breaker asprayer in ahouse That all Oakdale had heard it seemed quite possible, while that those below stairs were already turning questioning ears, and probably inquisitive footsteps, upas al Miss Pri from the one to the other was a cretonne covered screen behind which the burglar now concealed hiid apprehension for the approach of the enemy; but the only sound that cah of Jonas Prih of relief escaped the beardless lips; for that laugh assured the youth that, after all, the noise of the fallen candlestick had not alarmed the household

With knees that still trembled a bit he crossed the room and passed out into the hallway, descended the stairs, and stood again in the library Here he paused arooail," she was saying "I believe that at last she sees the wisdoes of an alliance with Mr Benham, and it was al to visit his sister I am positive that a week or two of companionship with him will impress upon her the fine qualities of his nature We are to be congratulated, Jonas, upon settling our daughter so advantageously both in the runted "Sarowled "If she wants hi a bald-headed husband with rheuy, to find her own e"

"The child is not old enough to judge wisely for herself," replied Mrs Prie a proper alliance; and, Jonas, I will thank you not to call e--and position"

The burglar did not hear Mr Prim's reply for he had moved across the library and passed out onto the verandah Once again he crossed the lawn, taking advantage of the several trees and shrubs which dotted it, scaled the low stone wall at the side and was in the concealing shadows of the unlighted side street which bounds the Prim estate upon the south The streets of Oakdale are flanked by i battalions of elhfares; and now, following an early Spring, their foliage eclipsed the infrequent arclights to the eminent satisfaction of those nocturnal wayfarers who prefer neither publicity nor the spot light Of such there are feithin the well ordered precincts of law abiding Oakdale; but to-night there was at least one and this one was deeply grateful for the gloo which he hurried toward the limits of the city