Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-04-20

CLOSE YOUR SHUTTERS.

1t was between 10 and II o'clock, on
wet and chilly evening in November
that | sat alone by my comfortable
library fire. My sister and nieccs had
gone to party, and the servants had
retired, the kitchen being, as is gener-
ally the case at the South, building
detached 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-
cludcd this business, put away my
books and papers, carefully locked the
money in private drawer of my secrc-
tary then. producing decanter and a
little brass kettle, was presently calmly
imbibing steaming beverage, of sugar,
lemon juice, water, and one or two other
Ingredients sovereign remedy against
cold. Not that | was yet affected with
that complaint, but | am believer in
he adage that can ounce of prevention
worth pound Of cure"
was just falling into a state Of luxu-
fous drowsiness when a slight noise al
my window aroused me ] listened, and
the sound was repeated The library,
may observe, was on the first parlor floor
Of the house, and the window was about
eight feet from the pavement.
Rising, | opened the window and saw
two figures standing on the portico Of
the adjoining house, which, by the by,
had been unoccupicd The dim light of
the nearest street lamb showed one of
these men muflled in a great coat, whilst
from beneath the loose coat of the other,
| caught CLEAN of the belt and buttons
of a policeman's uniform.
II want to speak to you" said the
latter, leaning forward and 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
Perrin, as confronted him, looked not
at mo, but beyond me, over my shoulder,
into the farthest recesses of the hall, as
though searching for some one. Then
with a silent salute he entered. followed
rather reluctantly it seemed--by the
other man, and both tiptoed noiseessIy
across the hall into the library. But
first, to my surprise. the policeman, on
my turning the key in the door, had
tried tie bolt. and silently removing the
key, silently handed it to me-
In the library Perrin turned to me-
"You are Mr.. Saunders, | prcsume,"
he said, in the same low voice as before,
whilst he carefully shook the rain drops
from his oil skin cap.
"Yes."
"IIave you. or has one of the house.
hold, admitted any person at the front
door within the last quarter of an hour p
"No; | am alone in the house. No
one has entered but yourself"
The two exchanged glauces and signi-
fcant mods.
Chen" resumed Perrin, impress
sively, II have to inform you-don't be
startled or make any exclamation-that
there is probably at this moment bur-
glar in the house"
"A burg
He checked me with motion Of his
finger, and at the same time turned his
ear in listening attitude towards the
door Of the dining room adjoining.
"Wllat room it that p
! told him lie turned on q full
blaze of gas, went to the door, draw
ing pistol as he did 50, listened
a moment or two. then opening the door
wide, gazed around with keen, searching
eyes.
as the farthcst door locked ? And
those closets?'
| believe so; but he proceeded to
investigate for himself, still holding tho
cooked pistol in his hand, and said as
he nodded toward the plate on the closet
shelves
1T is here that they will naturally
try. No doubt it is this that they are
after, unless you have other valuables
in the house"
Nothing, except the ladies' jewelry."
THAT is up stairs, suppose? We
will first seach this floor thoroughly, and
then proceed above"
But" said l. little nervously
what leads You TO suppose there are
burglars in the house p