The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-03-16
CLOSE YOUR SHUTTERS.

f. was between ten and eleven O'Clock,
ON A wet and chilly evening IN Noyem-
her, that I sat alone by my comfortable
library fire. My sister and nieces had
gone to a party, and the servants had re-
/ tired. the kitchen, being a. is generally
the case ut the south, a building de-
tached from the house.
had been very busy settling some
household and other accounts, and count
inc money Just collected, to be next day
deposited in bank. Having now o N
Guided this business, ] put away my
books and papers, carefully locked the
money in a private drawer of my score
tary; then, producing n dccanter and
little brass kettle, was presently calmly
imbibing a steaming beverage of sugar,
lemon-iuice, water and one or two other
ingredients-a sovereign remedy against
cold. Not that | was as yet affected
with that complaint but | am a believer
in the adage that can ounce OF proven
tive is worth a pound OF cure
[ was Just falling into a state of luXu-
rious drowsiness, when n slight noise at
nv window aroused me. | listened, and
the sound was repeated. The library,
nav observe, was on the first parlor- floor
Of the house, and the window was about
oSght feet from the pavement.
Rising, | opened the window and saw
two figures standing on the portico OF
the adjoining house, which, by-the-bye,
had been for some time u%noccupied.
The dim light of the nearest street-lamp
showed one of these men mutfied in a
1891 - .,I.Iot r.,n, Ionnotl tLa lnnea
cloak of the ether ] caught a CLEAN OF
the belt and buttons of a policeman's
uniform.
81 want to speak to you," said the
latter, leaning forward and speaking in a
low voice. 81 am officer Perrin of the
Third district. Open the door, but do it
with as little noise as possible"
| obeyed, and found the two men
standing on the threshold. Officer Per
rim, as | CONFRONTED him, looked not at
me, but beyond me, over my shoulder,
into the farthest recesses of the hall, ss
though searching for some one. Then,
with a silent salute, he entered, followed
rather Reluctantly, it seemed-by the
other man, and both tiptoed noiselessly
across the hall into the library. But
first, to my surprise, the policeman, OF
my turning the key in the door, had
tried the bolt, and, removing the key
silently handed it to me.
In the library Perrin turned TO me.
".You are Mr.. Sanders, / presume
he said in the same low voice as before
whilst he carefully shook the rain-dropI
from his oil skin cap.
Eyes"
Have you, or has IN of the house
hold, admitted any person at the front
door within the last quartero Of an h0ur?'
"No; ! am alone in the house. NJ
one has entered but yourselves"
The two exchanged glances and signi
ficant mods.
"Then," resumed Perrin impressively
al have to inform you don't be startled
or make any exclamation--that there j
probably at this moment a burglar in TIL
house."
"A burg"
He checked me with r motion of hi
finger, and at the same time turned hi
ear IN a listening attitude towards tn
door of the dining room, adjoining.
What room is That ?"
/ told him. He turned on a full blaz
of gas, went to the door, drawing n pisto
as he did so, listened q moment or two
then, opening the door wide, gaze
around with keen, searching eyes.
els the fsrthest door locked? An,
those closets? ;"
| believe SO but he proceeded to in
vestigate for himself, still holding tn
cooked pistol in his hand, and said, rs h
nodded toward the plate on the close
shelves:
1T is here that they will natural
try. No doubt it is this that they Al
after, unless you have other valuables i
the house."
Nothing, except the ladies ~jewclry.
That is up stairs, | suppose? "
viii first search this floor thorough,
and then proceed above"
But" said | a little nervously "wh,
leads you to suppose that there are bar
lars in the house ?"
Il was coming up Foushce street iu
now-not on duty tonight, you see
when ! met this gentleman here Mt
eh?"
Goodman - James Goodman - BE
wins furniture factory" said the man
the great coat, speaking for the fir
time.
All! He stopped me, and said
had just seen something suspicious
man standing in the portico of the ne
house here, leaning over and STEALTH
looking in at a lighted window-tl
window, you see."
GOOD gracious " said |, rememb'
ing the money | had been counting.
THAT led me to watching him" "a
Goodman, taking up the narrative.
stepped into a dark doorway. and 81
him come down and go up the front ste
OF this house. He stood there a &C
siderable time, now and then steopi
down, as if doing something to the lot
Then the door opened and he went il
But the door was locked on the
side" l said:
The policeman shrugged his shoulde
"Not much of an obstacle to this ell
of citizens. When you examine Il
lock tomorrow you'll find somethi
wrong with it."
What's to be done ?" / inquired
ONE agitation.
Capture the fellow" returned Per
cody, as he examined the lock of his
v%olver, and carefully placed on a n
cap. "1fI can count on you two,
thing can be done at once"
"But I'm not used to this kind of !
ines you see" said Gcodmsa hes