In the Storeroom
Carrying an oil lamp, Mary Mason entered the storeroom, and with only a casual glance about went directly to the window. As she passed the packing box, Nancy held her breath, fearful lest she be discovered.
“I don’t remember leaving a window open,” the girl muttered to herself. “Why, the floor is sopping wet.”
Hearing the words, Nancy was assailed with a new fear. Undoubtedly, in moving about the storeroom her clothes had dripped water, leaving a trail wherever she had gone. If Mary were at all observing she would realize that an intruder had entered the house!
Evidently, the girl was too intent upon closing the window to notice the floor particularly, for Nancy heard her working with the fastening. Before she could accomplish her task a sudden flash of lightning caused her to give a little scream of terror. Recoiling, she dropped the window down so quickly that the glass rattled.
“Say, don’t make so much noise,” an impatient voice called from the next room. “Do you want to have the police down on us?”
“I suppose you want me to be struck by lightning!” Mary retorted crossly.
“Let that window go,” Tom Tozzle ordered. “We’ve got to get away from here.”
“I’m coming,” the girl responded sullenly.