“Don’t interfere,” said Mrs. Chatterton.  “I’m a splendid markswoman.”

“You needn’t shoot,” said the man sullenly.  “I won’t stir.”

“No, I don’t think you will,” said the gray-haired woman, her eyes alight, and hand firm as a rock.  “Well, here are the men.”

Jasper had seized a table-spread, and as Michael and the undergardeners advanced, he went back of the robber, and cleverly threw it over his head.  It was easy to secure and bind him then.  Polly rushed over to Dick.

“Turn the creature over and let us see how he looks,” said Mr. King, hurrying in as the last knot of the rope was made fast.  The old slouched hat had fallen off in the struggle, and the man’s features came plainly to view.  “He’s no beauty, and that’s a fact.”

“I’ve seen that fellow round here for many a day,” said Michael, giving the recumbent legs a small kick.  “Oncet he axed me ef we wanted ony wourk done.  I mind yees, yer see,” with another attention from his gardening boot.

“I want to tie one rope,” cried a voice.  Dick opened his eyes, rubbed them, and felt of his head.  “I’m all right, Polly.  I saw stars, but I’ve got over it, I guess.  Let me give him the last knot.”  He staggered blindly to his feet.

“I’ll tie for you,” said Jasper, “trust me, Dick’s all right, only stunned,” he telegraphed to the rapidly increasing group.

“Tell his mother so, do, somebody,” said old Mr. King.

“Well, Cousin Eunice, you’ve covered yourself with glory,” he turned on her warmly.  She had thrown aside the pistol, and now sank into a chair.

“Never mind,” she waved it off carelessly, “I’ll imagine the compliments.  Just now I want a glass of wine.  Call Hortense, will you?”

The man on the floor tried to raise his head.  But he couldn’t, so was obliged to content himself with an ugly grin.

“That bird has flown,” he said.  “I’ll peep.  She put me up to it; we was goin’ shares on the old lady’s stuff.”

With that Mrs. Chatterton’s spirit returned.  She sprang from her chair, and rushed around from bureau to closet to see the extent of her maid’s dishonesty.  But beyond a few minor deficiencies of her wardrobe, there was no robbery to speak of.  Evidently Hortense had considered it unwise to be burdened with much impedimenta.  So the robber was hauled off to justice, and Phronsie, coming wonderingly up the stairs, came softly in upon them, in time to see Dick rush up to Mrs. Chatterton with a “You’re a brick!” before them all.

After that, there was no more hope of keeping things quiet in the house for Phronsie’s sake.  Meanwhile the bird, who had played no mean part in the engagement, now asserted himself, and blindly rushed into capture.

“Isn’t he lovely!” cried Phronsie, tearing her gaze off from the wonderful wings, as the swallow fluttered under the mosquito netting speedily brought in.

“Yes, his wings are,” said Polly.  “Oh, Dick! do tell over again how it all happened.”