Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-01-02
WHAT 1 saw IN 4 INFERIOR.

proved q very uneventful- one. The
exception was, however, a decided ad
venture, of very unpleasant cliarac-
ter, which might have proved terri
bic experience. Fortunately, I came
out Of it unharmed, though shall not
soon forget the episode. BROOKLYN
residents had been, during the warm
months, greatly alarmed by the unwel-
come visits Of burglars, and nearly
every day the newspapers recorded
fresh instances of the daring and adroit
operations of this class of thieves. Our
neighborhood had, however, SO fur
escaped the attentions of these depre-
datory gangs, and my wife was so very
careful about her door and window
fastenings, that we believed our little
home to be quite safe. To please
motherl had purchased q revolver,
which was put in safe place in our
bedroom. though il was never used,
and was out of my reach when most
needed
l have for years devoted an hour or
two, after the family retire, to perusing
favaEifa author. and on the night ia
question was so occupied. Costly
scatedfn huge arm chair, near the
open sliding doors between the two
parlors, was making rapid progress
in my reading. The house was
wrapped in silence, and though the
many noises Of the NIGHT were re-
markabIy distinct. vet they aid not
disturb me. The ,yiudow cnrfains
moved ftlly as the night breezes camc
in at the open windows Mt INV back
the mice gambolrd rnerrily behind the
wainscoting. and the clock on the NAM
tel-piece licked loudly as if complain
ing ut being compelled to work while
everything else rested. The footsteps
of passcrs-by in the street echoed
strangely in the room. and I could now
and then hear the faint cry of an in
fant in the adjoining house.
Save for these noises. all else was
silent about me, and / enioyed nv
book as only one can do under such
circumstances. AS The night air
played coolly on niy check / expe-
rienced q sense of calmncss and sccuri-
ty. which made the intcrruption so soon
to occur to appeal only the more
startling.
Having read for some time / ea,ne
aflcucth ia stritino nassage wi,ich
Cd me- 10 lav tho voI1n,a Inv kn.o
10 think II over AsJ d;d 81 nv ava
caught the reflection in ihc larec mfr
ror stand;nu hotwean Tho w;n5ows NJ
the front narIor. In the samn mirror
I conld discern tho m;rrar at INV hact
and i'm il INV armchair and fionre were
dimly visible. II seemed odd to thus
Wow r,,,sotf !, t,,n a;aarost as,,aat.
and fcil into rever;e an The ,,vo mic.
lures Tins nresented
/ have Forgotten 10 saw that the side
door of tho real narlor ,vas w;da ,,no,
and the pns l;yht In tbc nassaoe hrrn !,
inc br;oStiy Tbere yvas aIso az nv
back. and on a line with The hall =
small room the door If which was
wide omen Indeed n was scldom
shnt. havino been badIv hung and
was constantly Swinging anan when
not closely latched. could see the
edge Of this white door IL tLe mir.
ror before mo, and Il formed ,lis-
tinct feature in thar reelected picture.
Sitiino tins. WAS pnexnectediv star.
tied by The snldcn onnearnnce ar An.
otl.er iaes. ,ss,e.;..er intanIlr. ovnr n,..
shoulder, while In the inner mirror /
could discern his back :ls lie stood be-
hind the bath room door. Though By
no means timid man, this apparition
sent a strange and painful thrill thro'
my body. and 1 felt very uncomforta-
BILE indeed. The face of the intruder
was sinister one, and he was appa-
rcntly watching ME in no pleasant
mood.
He was burglar or a sneak thief
there could be no question of that,
AS sat there looking at my visitor for
a few seconds, | remembered that nv
wife had been sorely troubled about
finding one of the basement windows
open, though had paid very little at
tention to the matter at the time. The
fellow was evidently responsible Tor
that window. Even now can recall
the appearance of the scene before me,
so yividly is it impressed on nv
had been partially drawn from the
receptacle. thus throwing part of the
front room into shadow. A ray OF
light. however, illuminated the center
of the room. The gilt binding on
some books shone brightly. and one or
two pictures on the wall were clearly
revealed. But as l saw all of these
the face of that strange man continued
to peer at me, and the situation became
quite dramatic in its intensity.
was apparently helpless being
alone and unarmed. Yet my courage
soon rose equal to the occasion, and |
at once sprang to my feet and faced the
burglar.
"Don't you stir or utter aword OF
III blow your brains out
As he uttered these startling words,
the rufiinn leveled revolver at my
head, and his face-a most villinous
one naturally-deepencd in its lines
until his features became fierce iu
their murderons hate.
who are you? What do you want
and how came you here n exclaimed
despite his caution.
Never yon mind Was the gruf
response. You've spOilt my game
but I'm game to settle you il You hin.
der me leaving tho house. I've got the
shooting iron and mean to use It too
- YOU ooh = keep qniet, anu snow me
snc way ou' ~.
All THIS uI0C Tic vlli3In kepl ills