The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-30
A Lady's Wonderful Nerve.
DE QUINCY's STORY OF . THE AvEN-
GER SURPASSED.

Mrs. Isadore Middleton, very beautiful
woman, and Of the acknowledged leaders
OF fashion in Mobile, can certainly boast OF
the possession OF as much nerve and true moral
courage a. are often vouchsafed TO any OF her
sex.
On the evening Of September 10, she was IN
her boudoir putting away some articles OF
jewelry when she noticed that the peculiar
position Of library lamp. that was burning
{ upon a chair in the back OF the room, had
thrown upon the floor, almost directly AT her
/ feet, the shadow OF a man who was crouchlng
under broad-topped ornamental table IN the
centre OF the room. She also remarked that
the open hand OF the shadow had put two nm
gers, and remembered that several desperate
DurglarIes had recently been committed in the
naIghborhOOd, supposItIousiy by negro des-
perado who notorious having lost two
fingers OF his right hand.
Mr. Middleton was absent from the city, and
beside herself in the house, there was but a
single maid servant. Instead OF fainting with
fear, or shrekIng Tor help, the brave lady seated
herself at the very table underneath which the
miscTeant concealed, and rang for the ser
want.
Hand me writing materials, Bridget" said
she, with perfect caimness. I want You TO
take a note this instant TO Mr.. Forfar, the
jeweler, and have him send You back with my
diamond necklace and ear-drops which | LEFT
there Tor repairs several days ago. Bring
them with you, no matter II fulIy repaired or
not. They are by twenty fold the most valu-
able articles OF jeweiry that l possess, and |
do not wish To pass another night without
having them in my bureau drawer"
The note was once written and dispatched,
but instead OF being in the tenor that she had
signified ION purpose Tor the concealed robber
to overhear for she had no lewelry under re-
pair, il was hastv note to the jeweler, an
intimate friend, in which she succinctlv stat
ed her terrible position, and urged him to
hasten to her relief with the requisite police
assistance, Immediately receipt OF the mis-
siye.
The agonies which that refined and delicate
woman underwent when lett alone in the
house, with the consciousness OF the presence |
OF that desperate robber, perhaps assassin rs
wei, crouched under the very table upon
which she leaned, and perhaps touched by her |
very skirts, can only be LETT 10 the readers i'm
agination; but her iron nerve sustained her |
through the ordeal.
She yawned, hummcd an operate air, turn
over the leaves OF Il novel, and in other ways F!
lulled the lurker into a sense OF perfect secur-
ity and expectancy, aud waited with a
wildly beating heart, and her eyes fastened !
upon the hands OF her little ormolu clock with /
a greedy, ieverish gaze
At last, however came the prayer for relief /
There was a ring at the door bell, and she /
strolled carelessly into the hall and down /
stairs To open it. The ruse had been Il success |
She not only admitted Bridget, but also Mr. /
Forfar and three stalwart policemen. The lat |
ter passed stealthily up stairs and into the |
boudoir, where they suddenly bounced upon
the concealed burglar unexpectedly as to I
secure him with hardly struggle.
The prisoner proved to be negro criminal, |
named Chapman, but mostly known as Two I
Fingered jeff" who was in great request about /
that time for several robberes committed in /
the neighborhood a short time before, and he /
Is now serving twenty years sentence in the |
Alabama state prison.