"Why, Dora, you don't mean to say that he has turned up again?" he
questioned quickly.

"No -- but -- but -- last night I heard a strange noise on our side
porch, as if somebody was trying the side window. I went to the
door and asked to know who was there. At once I heard somebody or
some animal leave the porch and climb over the side fence of the
garden. I am almost certain it was some person trying to get into
the house."

"Did you tell your mother?"

"No, she had one of her nervous headaches, and I thought it would
do no good. But I couldn't sleep all night, and I laid with a big
stick in one hand and papa's old revolver in the other. The
revolver wasn't loaded, but I thought I might scare somebody with
it."

"The revolver ought to be loaded, Dora. Do you know what caliber
it is?"

"No; you know I know little or nothing about firearms."

"Then I'll find out for you, and get some cartridges. If Josiah
Crabtree is around you ought to shoot him on the spot."

"Oh, I couldn't do that -- even though I do know how dreadfully he
treated you while you were in the heart of Africa."

"You must be very careful of your movements, especially after dark.