Baby and the Kitten 183 



audible, followed the direction the last rays had taken. 

 And then a form, grim and muffled, stood above 

 the spot where Baby slept the sleep of innocence. 

 The light from the lantern was flashed once more, 

 just enough to reveal the dark face of the midnight 

 burglar in marked contrast to the sleeping child 

 beneath him. And, hardened as the man was, des- 

 perate as was his venture and dangerous as was his 

 position, he paused, looked at the little face and form, 

 and the set lines upon his countenance relaxed. But 

 it was only for an instant. A sense of his devilish 

 errand returned to him, and nerved him anew to 

 his deed of plunder. He moved away from the side 

 of the crib and was about to enter the next room, 

 when a sound such as that household had never 

 before heard awakened the echoes and even aroused 

 the neighborhood. It was a wail such as is seldom 

 heard even in thickly populated cities. It rose upon 

 the air, died away in a moan, and was renewed with 

 fresh energy. It was piercing, almost unearthly. It 

 checked the burglar, and made him a sphinx instead 

 of a brigand. Clytie had scented danger and given 

 the alarm. The unusual noise awakened Baby, and 



