Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-08-01

heard footsteps on the gravel walk outside.
ro.c. opened my door and listened. was
no, mistaken. Tor son heard the peculiar
crunching sound Of o center.bi: boring ut
one Of tho lower doors. A burglar was at
work. and knew very we'll that my own
effects were the object OF bis labors.
Ny FIRST consideration was as to my means
OF defense, and tho time which would DO
allowed the for completing them. lremcm.
Der with como degree OF comfort that there
were three heavy iastenlngs upon the outer
door. and although I knew too well that
each mus, yield in its turn to the irresistl-
bio implemen, OF the houseb-caker, cal.
culatcd that some minutes must elapse be-
fore he could succeed in gaining an entrance.
Suddenly the crunehlng sound ceased. aud
for few seconds there was dead silence.
during whicl, my vivid Imagination repro.
.cn,ed 20 inc Us distinctly as IL I had been
an actual spectator, the brawny arm OF the
burglar s,ealtbily introduced. and the boil,
in the process Of being cautiously with.
drawn. For moment, | thought Of imi.
taiing q clever aud successful eIpedieni said
TO have been rc.oriei to by person STINT
larly attacked. who quietly awaited the
introduction Of the househreaker's hand
through his kitchen window.shut,er, and
being provided with powerful cord. in
which he had prepared running moose,
clipped 1t dsXtcrously over tho hand. tight
encd ii rapidly a, tho wrist, and fastened u
securely at the other end 20 tho leg Of the
heavy kitcaen table, leaving his visitor out.
side TO cnpy the dawn ani early morning
air. while he quietly returned to bed to finish
securely hi- nights rcpo.e. Bat u few mo-
ncnts' reflection convinced me that my bcs,
means Of resistance were rather passive than
active. and that might more safely rely on
them. Ia the frs, place, quickly a'cer.
iained ,ha, my room had two powerful bolts
beside. heavy lock. had eontented my.
,eli on going to bel with turning the key
in the lock, bu, now endcayored 10 shoot
the upper and lower bolts. these found
very much rus,ed, bu, with the aid Of n li,.
tie Macassar oil soon oyereamc their re.
,i,,ance. While was thu. employed the
work of the ceh,er.bt was again resumed,
and every mo,emen, Of the hou'ebreaker
was again before me.
I now looked around me Cor some weapon
tia, might serve me in case Of need, and
found iJlerably heavy poscr. which eat.
i.Ged me tha, had something besides bolts
TO rely on. NJ PREPARATION. for attack and
defense being now completed, coolly await
ed the next step Of the houseLrcaker. feel.
Ing something like q tortoise in hi. she'll.
or like Robinson Crusoc in hi. lonely cIa-
del. 4 slight lowering Of the flame oi the
candle from curren, " air which rushed
up the staircase aud beneath my door, showed
me that the burglar had effected his en-.
trance in another moment his footsteps
was on the broad ,taircasc. lie stepped
with the caution OF one proceeding on tip
toe, with the lea., possible morse. but hav'
Ing aseendci ,hr,c or four step, there WAS
an applren, halt. knew perfectly well
what be was dong. and the measured ereas
or the staircase thencclorwari alone gave
notice Of his approach with shocle-s feet.
In spite Of Preparations. Il Is impossible to
deoy tha, my hear, bca, violently. re-
lied. however, upon ,hIs. namely. tha, the
burglar being arparen,ly alone. he would
hesitate 10 attack u man whom he found
awake and yigiani, and for Gueht he knew
mrgL, bc prepared with firearms. or prove
more than match for himself in poin, OF
personal strength or courage; only upon
the -uppo'rion OF finding the asleep and un.
prepared could be have hoped to succeed in
lis attack.
The foois,ep. now drew nearer, and could
DO marked advancing along the passage.
They came at last to hal, by the door.
and despite Of my internal assurance tia,
immediate personal attack upon me was
impossible, found myself irrcsistlbly grasp.
ing my poker in unison with the grasp which
the burglar cautiously made upon the han.
dls of my door. Finding, as he probably
had anticipated, tha, my door was locked I,
no los. no time in commencing his opera.
tions with u view of introducing himself
into nv apartment. The peculiar noise OF
tho centre.bit recommended, and tho bur.
slar no dou5, thought al! was going on
prospcrously for the execution OF his ne
Iarious PROJECT. !, however. lelt tba, !
could stand ,hi. no lDngcr. and thought
il high time TO le, him know that was
awake aud on my guard. Rising from my
seat, and stepping heavily across the floor,
I shouted in gruf voice. +" llalloa, you
seoundre DO you wish me to shoot you
through the head? BE OF; for by Heaven !!
IL that hand Of yours makes It's appearance
inside my door, you shall carry away a
bloody stump" The immediate withdraw
al Of the cen,er-bit, and the hurried re-
,rea, Of my enemy, satisfied me Of the sue.
cess OF my threat; and having heard the
house door closed, and the footsteps re'
treating through the garden. be,oOk my.
self to bed and slept soundy during the few
hours s,ill LET, me.
The bos,ler came TO rouse me in the morn.
ing, bringing a fly for my conveyance to
the inn. When he found the entrance door
unbolted. and the pahpels cut through in