The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-05-09

tacks while moving the washstand against
the door. She is an extremely methodi-
cal woman, and as it was always her hab
it to look under the bed for burglar
lust after having removed the washstand,
she made the usual inspection at the
usual time. To her great horror she dis
covered man under the bed. He was
lying on his back, with his head toward
one side Of the bedstead and his feet to-
ward the other, and evidently was not
aware that he had been discove, ed. The
situation was most alarming one ana
had not Miss Wilkinson been sustained
by the recollection that she had read
The Times for many years, she would
| probably have tainted on the spot.
| Being reader Of the Times, she was
one of the. many single ladies who had
read of the brave woman who captured
midnight burglar. She had always de
clared that in like circumstances she
would initiate the brave womans act,
and it, of course, occurred to her that
here was the opportunity for carrying
her resolution into effect. Accordingly,
she made tremendous effort at self
control, and devised her plan of opera
tions She resolved to lie down across
the bed to seize the burglars head in her
hands, and to beat his head on the floor
until the other boarders should come to
her aid.
| Hastily throwing waterproof about
her narrow form, she proceeded to exc
cute her plan. In spite of her courage,
she was by no means perfectly cool, and
moreover she had little acquaintance
with men, and could not be expected to
remember at which extremity man usu-
ally wears his head. 1t thus came to
pass that when she reached over the side
of the bedstead to seize the burglar s
head she was astonished to find his feet
presented toward her. 1t was, however,
too late to change her position, and she
boldly seized the burglarious boots and
shouted for help.
The burglar was much surprised at this
novel method of attack, and demanded,
in low and indignant voice, what on
earth she was tryin for to do. Receiv-
ing no answer, he Strengthened himself
so that his head and arms emerged on
the other side of the bed. Here Miss
Wilkinson's boots, dangling in the air
over his head, met his gaze, and he
promptly seized them with a frmness
that greatly astonished that lady.
1t was very clear to Miss Wilkinson 5
mind that she had captured the burglar,
but it was equally clear to that respeeeta'
BILE person that he had captured Miss
Wilkinson. Accordingly, when she sum-
moned him to surrender, and announced
that she would never let go her hold on
his boots while life remained he calmly
replied by pointing out that he intended
to hang on to her boots, and that-as he
profanely expressed it-"honors was about
even" 1t was at this period of the affair
that the courageous lady began to have
doubts as to who was captured, and she
thereupon redoubled her cries for help
and tried her utmost to shake OFT the
burglars iron grasp.
The burglar was a person OF much
presence Of mind and determination
He called Miss Wilkinson's attention to
the fact that he could hold on to her
boots as long as she could on to his, and
that in case she confined her outcries he
) should proceed to reverse their respect
i've positions by dragging her under the
bed and permitting himself to be stimuli
taneously dragged upon it. In all prob
ability he would have put his threat into
successful execution had not the lady s
screams finally attracted the attention o.
the other boarders, who with much diff
fculty broke into the room just as Miss
Wilkinsons boots were beginning to van
, ish under the bed, while the burglars
boots, to which the lady clung with un
faltering determination, were rising tt
the level of the counterpane 1t tool
some time for Miss Wilkinson to thor
oughly explain the affair, and when hel
explanation had finally been grasped BY
the other boarders, they unanimously
agreed that she had been captured by the
burglar, and that the capture of the lat
ter was exclusively their own work.
This affecting incident shows that
mistake in a mere matter of detail ma.
: spoil the best laid scheme. Had Mis-
Wilkinson seized the burglars head sh
J would have rivaled the exploit of he
! heroic exemplar AS it was, the mistake
of seizing his boots ruined her plan, ant
resulted in her own capture. Neverthe
less, she meant we'll, and deserves du
credit therefor.