Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-19
Tates aud Sketehes.
AUNT P0LLYS ADVENTURE WITH THE
BURGLAR.

You are a robber, thief, then!" !
said spitefully
Either, at Your service, madame" ris-
ing and making bow for all the world
like adahcing-,naster. Now. the money
if you please"
lie wasn't joking now. There was .
determined look in his eyes and about his
mouth.
"He that giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord" he said. speaking just like .
preacher.
And he that steals from the poor, what
of him ?'
My Bible does not dispose of his case
especially, madame.
"And you came here to rob mo-me. 4
poor womanPn
| 81 came To borrow of you, for AN uncer-
tain length of time"
IL saw it was useless to waste words
with him; besides, didn't altogether like
The look in his eyes. l closed my lips
tightly, resolving that l would not speak
again.
IF you've no objection, ma'am, I'll
look around bit, he said, taking up the
lamp rs he spoke. IF hear any noise
| from you, my dear. Or if see in any way
| that You are becoming nervous, shall be
obliged to quiet you by the use Of"
lie held up IA small vial.
"Chlorotorm y gasped.
"At your service, madame.n
1T would be the death OF me,n /
moaned
Il should be sorry to bring such loss
to the world, but, believe me, all that
rests in your own hands. This door leads
into the closet where the trunk is, l be.
lieve," he said, making straight ior the
closet where my forty dollars were put
| away Tor safe keeping.
didn't say a word. To tell the truth,
the chloroiorm had scared me nearly out
OF my wits. He turned the KEY in the
door q had always kept it locked,) and
the trunk was at the further end of it.
Let me say here that this closet or store
room was in the L part of the house, full
ly foot lower than my room. Mr.. Bur-
glar was not acquainted with this fact.
Glancing toward me with his sharp eyes,
to see if was quiet, he took q step for
ward and went sprawling on all fours.
don't know to this day how he managed
to save the lamp as he did, but it was not
broken in the fall, and burned as brightly
as ever.
My wits came to me here. Isprang As
lightly as a cat out of bed, and before he
could get upon his feet had the door of
the closet locked upon him. He grew
lamh-like in II minute.
You've done it now haven't you, my
charming creature? l swear I'm In love
with you from this hour to the end of
| time. You've got me tight and fast.
" hat Is the use OF money now? I'll take
the eighty cents and yon may have the
forty dollars, it you will let ME out"
mo, Sir: | am going to call the neigh.
bors," said, resolutely
Going with that nigbt-cap on? You'll
make Your fortune. But don't hurry, that's
II dear. Let's have friendly talk. Say,
Ill give you hundred dollars if you'll let
me out"
Eyes, and leave you free to scare some
other woman nearly to death.-no, sirl"
well, then, I'll give you two hundred"
NO. sir"
"Name your price. then, dear girl. I
suppose every woman has her price-they
say every man has"
"No; it wouldn't be right" said,
hestatingly.
heard II chuckle.
First step ptoward it; she begins to talk
of what is right"
thought Of my poor girl out to work
by the week, and SO anxious to get an edu-
cation, and I'm sure it isn't to be wonder.
ed at if l did begin to think of setting .
price. But said not word.
''Look here! I'll give you 1--we hundred
and you may count it as push it through
piece by piece, if you'll only let me out
of this cursed hole, I'm slnothering"
Try some choroform," l whispered
through the keyhole.
Curse the chloroform VIII you let me
out?'
had a light by this time, and had slip
ped into u calico wrapper and slippers.
''lt ! got the money, how could l let
him out OF the closet ?" | wondered. II
shouldn't dare to meet him; he'd rob me
again, and perhaps murder me-" But /
said I'm take the gold resolving that
would try to get out of it somehow, Just
for the sake OF poor Rebecca, who SO much
wanted to go to school.
Your heart is in the right place." he
said, and the next moment II big round
gold piece came through the wide crack
under the door.
couldn't withhold an exclamation of
delight.
Its all right enough now, isn't it ?" he
sneered. There's nothing like gliding
over our sins II little. Bah! all the worlds
alike Here goes another. and another
Count fast, my pious damsel. dare say
there's no confessional in your church."
''ls there i'll yours ?''
'Well, il there was, gold gets into that
sometimes, they say. Hold fast there;
you've got the last clinker, now set me
free"
"Wait a minute
"But won't wait. swear won't"
Can you help yourself?'
"Well, no not much but I'm smother.
ing in here. Can't you take pity on .
poor fellow ?"
.Sit down fiat on the floor" said.
heard him plump down as obedient as
school boy.
..What next ?"
| turned to the kitchen door to see If the
lock was all right. Then l turned the
key with sharp click, which sounded to
mt lick the report OF a pistol.