The hour was late, and the old lady thought of burglars at once. But what could they possibly want in her house? All the money for the past year's earnings, save what was needed for necessary expenses, was snugly in the bank.
Slowly and cautiously the sash slid upward.
Mrs. Bordine came to her feet, and stood chilled with an awful fear in the centre of the room.
Crash!
A heavy body fell to the floor directly under the window-sill.
Then the curtain was parted, and a man's face peered into the room, with eyes so devilish in their glitter as to make the woman's flesh creep. "Keep it. August sent it. He won't be home to-night," said a deep, gutteral voice.
Then the face disappeared.
The window-sash fell with a loud crash, followed by the most solemn silence.
For fully five minutes Mrs. Bordine stood petrified, without articulation.
What had happened?