Francis Worcester Doughty

“ But with equal swiftness I sprang upon the counter, kneeling in a position to command the entrance to the cellar.
"The first man who tries to escape in that direction gets a bullet in his noddle!" I grimly told them, and they halted short in their stampede, and dumbly looked at each other. ”

“ Any doubt which the burglars may have had was put to flight by hearing the sigh of relief which unconsciously fell from Shadow's lips as he took the last upward step.
At once there was a rush up-stairs by the villainous crew.
So promptly did they accomplish the ascent of the stairs that Shadow had no time to cross the store floor to the hall.
As already described, the bull's-eye flashed its light on him, after which there was a grand rush at him, followed by a low groan and the thud of a falling body.
"Poor fellow!" I inwardly exclaimed. "Poor Mrs. Morris—how her son's death will grieve her." ”

“ To attempt to retreat now was equivalent to detection: to remain, he would be spotted the very minute a light was brought into the cellar. While it was dark, and he even suppressed his breath, he was safe, but for no greater length of time.
Shadow at last determined on making an attempt to reach the stairs and mount them, so as to give us the word. ”