Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-13
A VERY UNwELCOME VISITOR.


/ A VERY UNWELCOME VISITOR.
! The burglars had been very active and
bold in their operations in our city, but
as the thermometer had marked above
i the nineties for several days had little of
value in my room, and preferred to
risk that little and leave my window
open, although of easy access, rather
than undergo partial snffocation. If an
uninvited guest made his appearance,
and did not awake, he would not dis
turb me; if Il did awake, / could feign
sleep and let him take whatever he
might find. ts4fft a..,4e
!" This class of visitors | reasoned
with myself, do not generally commit
personal violence, if they can accom-
plish theft and make good their escape
without it, ~ %. ID, ~ t-.ts s.s,
These were my reflections every night
as ] undressed and threw myself on the
bed, leaving my castle open to the en-
emy. | had slept one night about
an hour, when was awakened by the
falling of small China ornament;
starting slightly and opening my eyes, |
saw the gas burning and tall, broad-
shouldered man with his back toward
me, his face looking over his shoulder
me. Oar eyes met, so that the plan of
feigning sleep would have been useless.
What followed illustrates the value OF
presence Of mind
Opposite the side OF my bed, and about
eight feet from it, was the door of my
room, two or three feet from which were
stairs leading to the lower hall The
burglur must have used ladder in as
cending the roof, from which he entered
the window 1t was some thirty feet
from the ground and isolated My plan
was not only to escape harm myself but
to capture him. knew the policeman s
beat, and he would pass it in a short
time.
Sitting bolt upright, then, as i opened
my eyes and saw the burglar looking
very unpleasantly at me, said, rubbing
my eyes drowsily-although, to tell the
truth, / was frightened nearly out of my
life, Halloa, John, what are you look
ing for? Can't you come into my room
without making such a confounded
notser II Il ffE
The fellow, taken somewhat aback at
being addressed in this way, said in
low but menacing voice, and pointing
revolver at me:
"Shut up Whatdo you take me for"
81 took you for Johnl" | replied,
with a well-assumed nonchalance. Bat
didn't suppose he was after anything g
valuable in my room except one thing,
and-by the way if you are not the luck
lest fellow in the world. j." !, lc nf ii
How's that2" growled my visitor.
"Well, have very good watch; but
if you want to get it you must pay
visit to the watchmakers after you leave
here, for ! had what considered the bad,
but what seems the good fortune to break
the handspring yesterday, and left it for
repairs. " tls3f i.idii -,
"You are a precious cool onel" said
he, evidently astonished at my indifier-
ence. srlitii - A-
whats the use of getting excited or
attempting TO resist your You are
armed, and you see i am not And if
you had no weapon, your fghting-weight
must be at least thirteen-stone, while
mine is not more than nine and half.
| have no idea of interfering with you.
If the room we're filled with diamonds l
would not lift my, finger to save them.
Take all you can find. am going TO
sleep; so don't make any more noise
"Bold on, said the fellow, " where are
your keysY
+" | supposeyou want to max as much
of a haul as you can, | said, $50 look
in my pants, hanging over the bed-post
there, and you'll find my pocket-book
with few stamps in it.
It was nearly time for the policeman to
pass, and / paused to listen. | must in
a few moments put my plan into execu-
ton.
A glance quick as lightning showed
me that the key of the door was on the
outside.
My.hstening expression did not escape
the practiced eye Of my grim visitor. 1t
was a curious scene, no doubt. |, sitting
in my bed in my night clothes, unarmed,
and this stalwart ruilian, pistol in hand,
glaring halfsuspiciously, half-ferocieusly
at me, and almost in the crouching atti-
tude Of a tiger about to spring upon his
prey But there sat, very coolly con-
versing with him, the necessity Of the
moment keeping my wits too wide awake
TO allow my fears 20 get the upper hand
for an instant. BONA HuChI
What are you listening -to2' asked
the burglar y 1NtiaNiie
II thought | heard a cry Of fire.
In that instant, aud in the dead still
ness Of the night, heard the tramp of
the policeman. 1t was some distance
off. Fstrfff #T H..
you will find, Isaid, some clothes
OF mine in the press; they will, however,
be too small for you. Good night; the
keys are in the middle drawer"
He then turned 10 the drawer indi-
Gated, and as be did so, with one tre-
mendous bound / cleared the space be-
tween my bed and the door, slammed |
the door and locked il upon him. Or
livious of my dish0baie, ! sprang to the
steps. had two flights to descend aud |
the door 70 open before ] could reach |
the yard but it was hardly possible for
him to descend the ladder more quickly |
Bounding rather than running down |
stairs, hung back the bolt and dashed |
into the yard he was half way down
the ladder. Shouting "pohcel' lustily, |
! seized the ladder at the bottom. and |
using all my power, brought it and the
burglar to the bottom with crash. The
pistol be held ia his hand dropped from
his grasp. made dash for il, and he,
springing 70 his feet Ike a cat, made
rush at me, and as ] stopped seized me
BY the nape Of the neck. turned the
pistol upward aud pulled the trigger. Il
merely snapped; there were no more
charges in H. With terrible oath, The
bafied villain vrehohed the pistol from I
ny grasp and raised il aloit 10 deal me