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〃No；〃 said I； 〃my wife is there。〃
〃That's the very reason you should not go；〃 he said。 〃She is safe
enough yet； and they would fire only at a man。 It would be a bad
job for her if you were killed。 I'll go down。〃
So he went down； slowly and cautiously； his pistol in one hand； and
his life in the other； as it were。
When he reached the bottom of the steps I changed my mind。 I could
not remain above while the burglar and Euphemia were below； so I
followed。
The boarder was standing in the middle of the dining…room； into
which the stairs led。 I could not see him； but I put my hand
against him as I was feeling my way across the floor。
I whispered to him：
〃Shall we put our backs together and revolve and fire？〃
〃No；〃 he whispered back； 〃not now； he may be on a shelf by this
time； or under a table。 Let's look him up。〃
I confess that I was not very anxious to look him up； but I
followed the boarder； as he slowly made his way toward the kitchen
door。 As we opened the door we instinctively stopped。
The window was open； and by the light of the moon that shone in； we
saw the rascal standing on a chair； leaning out of the window；
evidently just ready to escape。 Fortunately； we were unheard。
〃Let's pull him in；〃 whispered the boarder。
〃No；〃 I whispered in reply。 〃We don't want him in。 Let's hoist
him out。〃
〃All right；〃 returned the boarder。
We laid our pistols on the floor； and softly approached the window。
Being barefooted； out steps were noiseless。
〃Hoist when I count three；〃 breathed the boarder into my ear。
We reached the chair。 Each of us took hold of two of its legs。
〃Onetwothree！〃 said the boarder； and together we gave a
tremendous lift and shot the wretch out of the window。
The tide was high； and there was a good deal of water around the
boat。 We heard a rousing splash outside。
Now there was no need of silence。
〃Shall we run on deck and shoot him as he swims？〃 I cried。
〃No；〃 said the boarder； 〃we'll get the boat…hook； and jab him if he
tries to climb up。〃
We rushed on deck。 I seized the boat…hook and looked over the
side。 But I saw no one。
〃He's gone to the bottom！〃 I exclaimed。
〃He didn't go very far then；〃 said the boarder； 〃for it's not more
than two feet deep there。〃
Just then our attention was attracted by a voice from the shore。
〃Will you please let down the gang…plank？〃 We looked ashore； and
there stood Pomona； dripping from every pore。
We spoke no words； but lowered the gangplank。
She came aboard。
〃Good night！〃 said the boarder； and he went to bed。
〃Pomona！〃 said I； 〃what have you been doing？〃
〃I was a lookin' at the moon； sir； when pop！ the chair bounced； and
out I went。〃
〃You shouldn't do that；〃 I said； sternly。
〃Some day you'll be drowned。 Take off your wet things and go to
bed。〃
〃Yes； sma'amsir； I mean；〃 said she； as she went down…stairs。
When I reached my room I lighted the lamp； and found Euphemia still
under the bed。
〃Is it all right？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 I answered。 〃There was no burglar。 Pomona fell out of the
window。〃
〃Did you get her a plaster？〃 asked Euphemia； drowsily。
〃No； she did not need one。 She's all right now。 Were you worried
about me； dear？〃
〃No； I trusted in you entirely； and I think I dozed a little under
the bed。〃
In one minute she was asleep。
The boarder and I did not make this matter a subject of
conversation afterward； but Euphemia gave the girl a lecture on her
careless ways； and made her take several Dover's powders the next
day。
An important fact in domestic economy was discovered about this
time by Euphemia and myself。 Perhaps we were not the first to
discover it； but we certainly did find it out；and this fact was；
that housekeeping costs money。 At the end of every week we counted
up our expendituresit was no trouble at all to count up our
receiptsand every week the result was more unsatisfactory。
〃If we could only get rid of the disagreeable balance that has to
be taken along all the time； and which gets bigger and bigger like
a snow…ball； I think we would find the accounts more satisfactory；〃
said Euphemia。
This was on a Saturday night。 We always got our pencils and paper
and money at the end of the week。
〃Yes；〃 said I； with an attempt to appear facetious and unconcerned；
〃but it would be all well enough if we could take that snow…ball to
the fire and melt it down。〃
〃But there never is any fire where there are snow…balls；〃 said
Euphemia。
〃No；〃 said I； 〃and that's just the trouble。〃
It was on the following Thursday； when I came home in the evening；
that Euphemia met me with a glowing face。 It rather surprised me
to see her look so happy； for she had been very quiet and
preoccupied for the first part of the week。 So much so； indeed；
that I had thought of ordering smaller roasts for a week or two；
and taking her to a Thomas Concert with the money saved。 But this
evening she looked as if she did not need Thomas's orchestra。
〃What makes you so bright； my dear？〃 said I； when I had greeted
her。 〃Has anything jolly happened？〃
〃No；〃 said she； 〃nothing yet； but I am going to make a fire to melt
snow…balls。〃
Of course I was very anxious to know how she was going to do it；
but she would not tell me。 It was a plan that she intended to keep
to herself until she saw how it worked。 I did not press her；
because she had so few secrets； and I did not hear anything about
this plan until it had been carried out。
Her scheme was as follows： After thinking over our financial
condition and puzzling her brain to find out some way of bettering
it； she had come to the conclusion that she would make some money
by her own exertions； to help defray our household expenses。 She
never had made any money； but that was no reason why she should not
begin。 It was too bad that I should have to toil and toil and not
make nearly enough money after all。 So she would go to work and
earn something with her own hands。
She had heard of an establishment in the city； where ladies of
limited means； or transiently impecunious； could； in a very quiet
and private way； get sewing to do。 They could thus provide for
their needs without any one but the officers of the institution
knowing anything about it。
So Euphemia went to this place； and she got some work。 It was not
a very large bundle； but it was larger than she had been accustomed
to carry； and； what was perfectly dreadful； it was wrapped up in a
newspaper！ When Euphemia told me the story； she said that this was
too much for her courage。 She could not go on the cars； and
perhaps meet people belonging to our church； with a newspaper
bundle under her arm。
But her genius for expedients saved her from this humiliation。 She
had to purchase some sewing…cotton； and some other little things；
and when she had bought them； she handed her bundle to the woman
behind the counter； and asked her if she would not be so good as to
have that wrapped up with the other things。 It was a good deal to
ask； she knew； and the woman smiled； for the articles she had
bought would not make a package as large as her hand。 However； her
request was com