Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-12-07
ri isfel lalleaus.
AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
& Thrilling Sketch.

The burg lars had been very active AND
bold in their operation IN our city, but as
the thermometer lad been marked above
the ninetes for several days, and l had
little Of value in my roonl | preferred to
risk that little and leave my window open,
although of easy access; rather tkah IN
dergo partial eulfocltion. Ii an uninyi-
ted guest alade his appearance, and | did
awake, l could foigu sleep and let him
take whatever he might find:
This class Of visitors, | reasoned with
myself, do not generally commit personal
violence, if they can accomplish tboft and
uiake good their escape without IT,
p These were my reflections every night
as L uudressed ana threw myself on my
bed, leaving my castle open to the enc
N.Y. [ had been asleep Que night about
an hour, when was awakened by the
falling Of small china ornament. Start
ling slightly and opening my eyes | Saw
the gas burning, aud All, broad shoul-
dered man Win his back toward ne, his
face looking over his shoulder to see
whether the noise had awakened noe. Our
eyes met, 80 that my plan to feigu steep
would have been useless. Ny ssif pos
session did not, however, foIsake Ge
VIA. followed illustrates The value Of
presence of mind.
Opposite the siao Of MY bed, and
about eight feet from it, was the door Of
my room. two or three feet from it were
the stairs leading to the lower hall
TIE burglar mist have used ladder il
ascending the roof. from which he enter
ed The window. 1t was some thirty fee.
from the ground. and isolated. Ny plan
was, not only to escape harm myself.
but to effect his capture. knew the
policeman beat, ants he would pass In a
short time.
Sitting bolt upright. then as | opened
my eyes and saw the burglar boxing
very unplcasantly at me, l said. rubbing
my eyes very drowsily-although to tell
the truth, never was more wide awake
in my life: Hollow, John, what are
you looking for? Can't you come into
my room without making such confound-
ed noise?
The fellow, taken somcw hat aback at
being addressed in this way, said ia
low but menac ing voice and pom ting a
revolver at me
''Shus g.. what do you take me for 2
Il took you for john lreplied. with
well assumed monchalaace. But
did not suppose he was after any thing
valuable ii m5 room, and BY the way. il
you are not the IN luckiest fellow in thc
world
'How's that?' growled the visitor.
well have very good watch; bu t
if you want to get it, you must pay a
visit to the watchmaker'S after you leave
here, for / had what | considered the
bad, but what low means the good for
tune, to break the spring yesterday, and
lie # il for repairs.
You're a precious cool ore, he said,
evidently astonisncd at my indiffer-
ence.
What's the use of my getting excited
or attempting to resist you? You are
armed, and you see am not. And il
you had no weapon, your fighting weight
must be a least thirteen stone, Will
mine is not more than nine and half
[ have no idea Of interfering with YOU.
Ii the room we're filled With diamonds,
would not lift my finger to save them
Take al: you can find; | am going td
sleep-so don't make any more noise.
Hold on ! said The fellow; Wher'
your keys
L suppose you want TO make as much
Of haul as you can 7 said, 50 look ia
my pants hanging on the bedp' st there,
aud you will find my pocket book with 9
few stamps in it..
1t was nearly lime for the policeman sc
psss, and paused to listen. must IN a
lfew moments pat my plan into execu-'