The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-03-22
CLOSE YOUR SHUTTERS.

ON u wet and chilly evening in Noycm-
her, that 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 as is generally
the case at the south, Il building de-
tachcd from the house.
| had been very busy settling some
household and other accounts, and count.
ing money Just collected, to be next day
deposited in bank. Having now con
rIudcd this business, put away my
hooks and papers, carefully locked the
money in q private drawer Of my seCrc-
taryi then, producing Il dccantcr and
little brass kettle, was presently calmly
lmbibing 4 stcaning beverage Of sugar,
lcmon-juicc, water and one or two other
ingrcditnts-a sovereign remedy against
cold. Not that ] was us yet affected
with chat complaint but | am a believer
in the adagc that can ounce OF proven.
tive is worth 4 pound OF cure"
WAS just falling into Il state Of luXu-
riOus drowsincss, when Il slight noise at
my window aroused me. listened, and
the sound was repeated. The library,
may observe, wa on the first parlor.loOr
Of the house, and the window was about
eight feet from the pavement.
Kissing, ! opened the window aud saw
two figures standing on the p%ortico OF
the adjoining house, which, by-thc-byc,
had been for some time unOccupicd.
The dim light Of the nearest strcct-lamr
showed one Of these men mulled in a
,,rnuI ,,ut HhilgI Ir,,A In,,,ntl, tIn 1,,yn
cloak Of the other ! caught Il CLEAN OF
the belt and buttons Of II polIccman's
uniform.
{" want TO speak to YOU" said the
latter, leaning forward aud speaking in Il
low voice. " am officer Perrin Of the
Third district. Open the door, but do it
with rs little noise rs possible"
| obcycd, 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 iarthcst rcccsscs of the hall, aS
though searching for some One. Then,
with n silent salute, he entered, followed
rather Reluctantly, it sccmcd--by the
other man, and both tiptOcd noiscIcssIy
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 il to me.
In the library Perrin turned 10 me.
"Nou are Mr., Sanders, | prcsumc,'
he said in the same low voice as before
whilst he carefully shook the min.drop,
from his oiI.skin cap.
eyes"
Have you, or has one OF the house
hold, admitted any person at the front.
door within the last GlIartcrof an hour?'
No; ] am alone in the house. No
ono has entered but yourselves"
The two exchanged gIanccS and signi.
tiCanL mods.
"Then," resumed Perrin imprcssivcly
" have to inform You don't be startled
or make amy cXcIamation--that there l.
probablya at this moment Il burglar in the
house."
"a burg "
Tie checked nc with a motion Of his
lInger, and ut the same time turned his
ear III n listening attitude towards the
door of the dining room, adjoining,
What Don is TINT ?"
| told him. lie turned ON Il full blaze
"t gas, went to the door, drawing II pistol
AS he did 80, listened u moment or two.
then, opening the door wide, gazed
around with keen, searching eyes.
Is the iarthcst door locked? And
those closets"
believe 80 but he proceeded to in.
vcstigato for himself, still holding the
cooked pistol in'his hand, and said, as he
nodded toward the plate ON the closet
shelves:
at is here that they will naturally
try. No doubt it is this that they arc
alt'r, unless you have other valuabics in
the house"
" Nothing, except the ladies' icwclrv.'
THAT Is ny stairs, | suppose? We
will first search this floor thoroughly.
and then proceed above" -
But" said Ialittlencrvously "what
leads yol to suppose that there arc burg,
lars in the house ?"
81 was coming up FOushce street ir,>t
now-not on duty tonight, YOU see
when met this gentleman here Mr.. =
eh ?"
Goodman - James Goodman Bel.
wins furniture factory" said the man in
the great coat, speaking for the first
time.
"Ah! He stopped me and said he
had just seen something s~Iispicious-a
man standing iE the portico of the next
house here, leaning over and stealthily
looking in ut a lighted window this
window, you see"
GOOD gracious" said |, remember
my the money | had been counting.
ihaC led mt to watching him" said
''ooiman' taking up the narrative, :"
stepped i"t" y dark doorway, and saw
him come down sni 20 uptbe iron, .to,,,
OF this house. lie stood there . can
siderable time, now and then .,o,,;na
down, As II doing something to the liz
Then the door opened and he wen, jn ;;
But the door was locked On tho in
side" / said:
The policeman shrugged his shoulders
"Not much Of an obstacle to this clas,
of citizens. When you examine tha,
lock tomorrow you'll find something
wrong with it,"
What's to be done ?" inquired in
some agitation.
Capture the fellow" returned Perrin
cody, as he examined the lock Of his re-.
%volycr, and carefully placed on Il new
zap. III | q count on you two, the
thing can be done at once"
"But I'm not used to this kind of bus,
iposs you gse." saIl Go0dman htsita,
tinsly,