The Placer herald., 1872-01-27

was unusually jolly, as my mother after
wards remarked-pleading slight indispo-
sition, TOOK his departure.
"And how do you like him ?" was asked
as the door closed upon his retreating form.
"Nercy! don't ask me. He's a real bore.
How he ever pleased you is more than can
conceive"
"Thcres no accounting for tastes" my
father answered; "but seldom have we met
"a more entertaining gentleman.
retired early, and soon fell into deep
sleep. How long it lasted know not, but
at some hour of the night suddenly awoke.
The lamp gave sufficient light to reveal the
principal objects in the room with tolcrable
bed stood Enthusiastically carved chest of
drawers, above which large mirror was
inclined. Imagine my horror, as | became
more broadly awake, to see reflected in this,
the figure of man crouching below The
foot-board of the bed! My strength all for
sock me. Drops of cold sweat stood upon
my forehead. My eyes nvoluntarily closed
and deadly fantness ensued. 1t was soon
gone, however, and | summoned sufficient
resolution to look about me. The glass still
revealed its fearful secret But 10 longer
crouching, the figure suddenly rises, and
see looking into my eyes with quiet earnest
ness, our late guest and familiar friend, Jolly
Mr.. Dill! His gaze was riveted upon me
for some minutes; finally, cautionng me to
make no alarm if valued life, with flushed
features, and his baleful eyes almost burning
III their sockets, he commenced advancing
towards NE.
What might have been the result, I can
not say. But just then steps were heard on
the lower floor, and soon a loud voice. Re
alizing then that discovery was inevitable il
he longer stayed, with horrible oath, and
shaking i'll my face a'package, which knew
to be money distracted from the safe, he
fled to the window and out upon the piazza
roof, down pillar, and thus escaped.
Another fainting fit seized me, and not
until the following day did | recover suili-
GENTLY to relate the terrible experience had
endured in my chamber
| 1t seems that the treacherous friend "Jolly
Mr. Dill, had entered the house at late
hour by means Of the library window which
he had secretly unfastened when pretending
to inspect the apartment the afternoon before
ostensibly to increase its security. My father
had not yet retired, it happened, and with
anxiety caused by remembrance Of the re-
cent robberies in the ncighborhood, he had
dtscendcd to the library and found the win
dow open, and the safe unlocked by means
of false key Mr.. Dill, having completed
his work, had given way to a guilty impulse,
and assembled to my room, meanwhile, to
accomplish his fcndish designs. Bat in this
he was thwarted, as already related.
1t is needless to dwell upon the rage Of
my father at having been so easily duped
or to relate the strenuous exertions TO capture
the villain of their success, the recovery of
the property stolen, and Of his subsequent
conviction and Imprisonment. 1t may be
added that the fellow was ascertaincd to be
an accomplished Philadelphia rascal, who
had committed several successful burslaries
in the vicinity of Greenou1h, while publicly
acting the part of gentleman, and that he
had purposely mgratiated himself in our
family to work out his wicked and we'll
planned designs.