The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-04-13
Select Story.
CLOSE YOUR SHUTTERS.
lFrom the New YORK Clipper.

1t was between ten and eleven o'clocl
on wet and chilly evening in Noven
Der shat sat alone by my comfortabl
library fire. My sister and nieces ha
gone to party, and the servants ha
retired, the kitchen being, as is genera
ly the case at the South, Il building dc
tached from the house.
/ had been very busy settling som
household and other accounts and count
ing money just collected, to be mex; da
deposited in the bank. Having nol
concluded this business l put away m
books and papers, carefully locked tn
money in a private drawer of my secre
tary; then producing a decanter and
little brass kettle, presently calmly i'm
biding a steaming beverage of sugar
lemonjuice; water and one or two othe
ingredients a sovereign remedy agains
cold. Not that | was as yet afflicted
with that complaint; but am believe
in the adage that AN ounce OF proven
tive is worth a pound of cure"
was just falling into state of luxu
rious drowsiness, when a slight noise q
my window aroused me. | listened,an
the sound was repeated. The library,
may observe, was on the first parlor flool
of the house, and the window was abou
eight feet from the pavement.
Rising, | opened the window and saw
two figures standing on the portico o
the adjoining house, which, by-:he-by
had BEEN for some time moccupied
The dim light Of the nearest street lamr
showed one of these men TO be muffied
in great coat, while from beneath the
loose cloak of the other caught glcan
of the belt and buttons of a policeman:
uniform.
Il want TO speak 10 you" said the lat
Ter, leaning forward and speaking in &
low voice. Il am officer Perrin, Of the
third district. Open the door, but do i
with as little noise as possible
L obeyed and found the two mer
standing on the threshold. Officer Per
rim, as / confronted him, looked not a
me but beyond me, over my shoulder
into the farthest recesses of the hall, a.
though searching for some one. Then
with silent salute entered, followed
rather reluctantly, it seemed-by tht
other man, and both tiptoed noislessly
across the hall into the library. But frs
to my surprise, the policeman, On m!
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. Saunders, I presume, ht
said in the same low voice as refore
while he carefully hook the rain drops
from his oil skin cap.
"Yes."
"Have you. or has one Of the house
hold, admitted any person at the from
door within the last quarter of an hour?'
"No; / am alone in the house. NJ
one has entered but yourselves"
The two exchanged glances and sig
nifcan mods
Then" resumed Perrin. impressive
ly. "I have 20 inform you-don't be star
tied or make any exclamation-tha
there is probably at this moment bur
glar in the house
"A burg
He checked me with motion of hi.
finger, and at the same time turned hi'
ear in listening attitude towards the
door of the dining room adjoining.
What room is that?"
told him. He turned on full blazt
of gas, went to the door, drawing a pis
tol as he did so, listened a moment ol
two, then, opening the door wide, gazed
around with keen, searching eyes.
SIS the farthest door locked? And
those c'osets?"
/ believe so; but he proceeded 10 in
vestigate for himself. still holding tht
cooked pistol in his hand, and said. ASH
nodded towards the plate ON the c'oset
shelves
1T is here that they will naturally try
No doubt it is this that they are after
unless you have other valilables in iht
house.
Nothing except the ladies' jewlery.
That is upstairs, suppose? We vii
first search this floor thoroughly. anC
then proceed above.
But said / little nervously. ~wha
leads you to suppose that there are burg
lars in the house,
Il was coming up Foushee street JUS
ncw-not on duty 20 night, you see
when | met this gentleman here Mr.
ei?-
Goodman james Goodman - Bel
wins furniture factory" said the man il
the great coat, speaking for the frs
time.
"Ah, He stopped me, and said he ha'
Just seen something suspicious mai
standing in the portico of the next hous'
here. leaning over and stealthily looking
in at a lighted window-this windo"
you see.
Good gracious" said ], remembering
the money had been counting.
That led me to watching him.
said Goodman. taking up the narrative
Il stepped into dark doorway and sa"
him como down and go up the from