The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1871-10-18
AN UNWELCOME VISITOR
A THRILLING SKETCH.

several days, L had little OF value
in my room, preferred to risk that
little and leave my window open
although of easy access, rather than
undergo partial sutfocation. If any
uninvited guest made his appear.
ance, and l did not awake, he would
not disturb me; if | did awake, ]
could feign sleep and let him take
whatever he could ind.
"This class of visitors, " | reason
ed with myself, do not generally
commit personal violence, if they
can accomplish theft and make good
their escape with it,
These were my reflections every
night as I addressed and threw my
self on my bed, leaving my castle
open to the enemy. L bad been
asleep one night aboat an hour,
" hen I was awakened by the fall
ing of a china ornament. Starting
slightly, ana opening my eyes, |
saw the gas burning, and tall,
broad shouIdered man with his
back turned toward me, his face
looking over his shoulder TO see
whether the noise had awakened
me. Our eyes met, so that my plan
TO fcign sleep would have been use
less. Ny self-posses-ion did not,
however, forsake me. What fol-
lowed illustrates the value of pres
ence OF mind.
Opposite the side of ny bed, and
about eight feet from it, was the
door of my room, two or three fee:
from which were the stairs leading
to the lower hall The burglar
must have used ladder IN ascend
ing 10 the root, from which he en-
tered the window. 1t was some
thirty feet from the ground, and
isolated. Ny plan was, not only
to escape harm myself, bat To effect
his capture. ] knew the police
mans beat. and he would pass in q
short time.
Sitting bolt upright, then, as l
opened my EYES and saw the bur
glar looking very unp!easantly at
me, l said, rubbing my eyes drow-
siiy-although, to tell the truth, l
never was more wide awake in my
ife: Hello, John, what are you
looking for? Can't you come in
my room without making such
conionnded noise p
The feIlow,taken somew hat aback
1t being addressed this way, said.
u a low but menacing voice, and
a revolver at me:
"Shut upl what do you take me
or -
u took vou for John I replied,
With well assumed nonchalance.
"But / didn't suppose ne was af-
er anything valuable in my room,
except one thing, and-by the way,
( you are not the unluckiest fellow
n the world"
flows that?' growled my visi
or
"Well, have avery good watch:
,ut if you want to get it, you must
,ay q visit to the watchmaker's af-
er you leave here, for had what
considered the bad, but what now
Gems the good fortune, to break
he spring yesterday, and left it for
epairs.
You're a precious cool one!' he
aid evidently astonished at my
whats the use Of my getting
xcited or attempting to resist you?
lou are armed, and you see l am
lot. And if you had no weapon,
our fighting weight must be at |
east thirteen stones, while mine is F.
iot more than nine and half. l
ave no idea of interfering with /!
-ou. If the room were filled with |
would not lift my finger !
0 save them. Take all you can /
md am going to sleeP-so don't /.
make any more noise.
Hold on p said the fellow; /
where's your keys?'
Il suppose you want to make
3 much of haul as you car" l
aid $50 look in my pants hanging
yer The bedpost there, and you'll /
nd my pocket-book, with few
lamps in it,
1t was near y time Tor the police
lan TO pass, and I paused to listen,
must, in a few moments, put my
Ian into execution.
A glance quick as lightning show
me that the key of the door was
n the u'eide.
My listening expression did not
scape the sharp and practiced eye
my grim visitor. 1t was IL curl
Us scene no doubt. l sitting in
~ bed, in my night clothes, un-
rmed, and this stalwart Tuffian,
istol in hand, glaring half susPi-
ousIy at me, and almost in the
rouching attitude of tiger about
spring upon his prey. Buttherc
sat, coolly conversing with him,
10 necessity of the moment keep