Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-11-02

and / returned to bed, not to sleep, for
was thoroughly upset, but to wonder
how was ever to get through the ten
months that still remained of my hus-
bands absence.
Tired and unnerved met Miss Burke
at breakfast, and we spent our morning
in very silent fashion. wrote to my
husband whilst she walked restlessly
about the drawing-room, constantly ask
ing me how l was, an inquiry for which
l did not feel SO grateful as might have
done under other circumstances. Lunch
came, and afterward Miss Burke, who
was usually unwilling to go out, asked
me If l could spare her for the afternoon,
as she wanted to go and see a sick friend.
Certainly" said l, glad to get rid of
her. About four o'clock lay down on
the sofa in the inner drawing room, and
must have fallen asleep, for heard no
one come into the room, but l awoke
with the consciousness that some one
was leaning over me with their face in
close proximity to my own. l felt rather
than saw them; so close were they to
me that their lips seemed almost touch
ing my own, and as sPraDg up came
in violent collision with my-companion.
Miss Burkew exclaimed indignant
ly, but could say nothing more, for,
after all, the crime of leaning over me
was not of deadly nature, though coup
ling it as instantly did, with my pre-
vious suspicious, felt not only extreme
ly angry, but considerably alarmed.
=" was afraid you were i'll, dear Mrs.
Conyers. do hope Ihave not displeased
you" she proceeded in depreciating tone,
" ] did not mean TO offend you"
at is of no consequence" answered,
rising from the sofa; "but please do not
do so again. am nervous and easily
startled"
The circumstance was then tacitly dis
missed, and we got through the evening
pretty fairly. / rather looked forward
to a safe night, for knew Ellis bed was
in readiness for her. ] said good night
little earlier than usual to Miss Burke,
but did not inform her that had in
dicted an epistle to her friends, the Rev.
Mr.. White, to ask for further particulars
as to her antecedents.
heard her come up to her room, and
when her door closed a feeling of COM
passion came over me, for l fancied l
had not only unjustly suspected her, but
been very cold in my manner, which she
had evidently felt. Ellis came after l
was in bed, and in short time had
oral evidence that she was slumbering.
1t made me feel secure at all events,
though was certain l should dream of
all kinds of unearthly things if the snor-
ing went on all night. Nothing hap
pened to alarm us, and next morning, in
a subdued and anxious voice, Miss
Burke hoped l had not been disturbed,
and that Ellis had kept me from feeling
nervous this last remark very reproach-
fully.
About twelve o'clock, when we were
sitting in the drawing Ellis came
up and told me that gentleman wanted
to see me on business, but would not
give his name. Probably about some
subscription, l observed; perhaps l
had better see what he wants"
Without a suspicion of what awaited
me, l went downstairs, and on entering
the dining room encountered a short and
rather red.faced man, who, bowling pro-
foundly, asked if l was Mrs. Conyers.
On my replying in the affirmative, he
continues: "May l ask what establish
ment you have?"
must have looked astonished as he
explained:
a am detective police officer, madam,
and my business here will, am afraid,
be an unpleasant one"
"Indeedp l CALCULATED, Gin what
way?"
From information have received, /
believe you have person under your
roof who is wanted on very serious
charge, must ask your permission to
summon everyone in the house into this
room. have taken precautions to pre.
vent anyone leaving 1t, and, If you will
kindly acCede TO my request, shall get
over painful duty as quickly as possi-
ble"
If my lips had been capable of utter
ance the words they would have framed
would have been "Miss Burke" but ]
said nothing. / merely rung the bell,
which Ellis answered so promptly felt
certain she must have been behind the
door, ready to protect me in case OF
emergency.
Summon the servants, Ellis" said
and-ask Miss Burke to come down.
stairs" 1t was almost like dream to
me, seeing my four domestics walk in
and then-suspecting nothing-came
Miss Burke.
Got you at last, sir!" cried the de.
tective, making an agile dart toward my
companion.
mot without some trouble" coolly
responded his prisoner, whose courage
was apparently quite equal to the occa
sion. In my widest moments had
never dreamed of so desperate denoue-
ment, and the discovery perfectly par
full to realize that / had harbored {
wretch of man in woman's clothing
not only in my house, but in the capacity
of companion! In less time than l car
describe it in, the detective and his
prisoner had departed; it was quietly ant
quickly managed, and though detailed
account of it did appear in tho papers
my name was, happily for me, not al
lowed to transpire publicly.
The pseudo Miss Burke turned out Il
be notorious young man, or may sa.
lad, of the name of Browning, who, hav
ing embeZzled large sums, as well a
stolen a quantity of magnificent jewelry
had been unable, owing to the precau
tions taken to prevent his doing so, Il
leave London, or to dispose of his stolel
property. Through the agency of a fe
male friend he had adopted his disguise
and my unlucky advertisement had sug
gested to him the idea of insuring hi
own safety, should be credulous enougl
- '1te him, upon the recommendation
Whlcn, need hardly say, had emanateC
from his own pen. Not only had h,
thought of his personal security, bu
that of the stolen goods, which in tn,
shape of diamonds and bank notes wer,
found securely slowed away in the littlt
black box, which had thought con
tanned the worldly possessions of my
poverty stricken companion. He wa
tried, convicted and sentenced to pena
servitude for fourteen years.
My husbands return was hastened b,
the illness which the dreadful affai
caused me. Since then he and l have
never been separated. However, should
l ever be unavoidably left alone again
my past experience has decided me OF
one point-never to advertise or to trus