The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-30
Two o'clock. The policeman passed

without giving single glance at the
house. spent my time in looking from
the street to the door, expecting every
moment to behold the burly form of a
gaunt masked burglar creeping viciously
up behind my chair.
Three o'clock. The silence on every
side was so profound that could
hear the rapid pulsations of my own
heart.
Four o'clock. Still waited, and still
no change. At five the lamplighter ran
through the street, putting out the gas;
and the market carts came along from
all quarters. 1t wanted but few min
utes of six, when saw the figure of a
man pass cautiously out of the kitchen
up into the street. I gave great sigh
Of relief. The night of terror was passed.
1 placed the rusty sword in a corner of
the room, and threw myself upon the
bed. Despite the din of the street, I
managed to sleep soundly for two hours.
When awoke the sun was already high.
After breakfast l sent Betty for paper.
During her absence / gathered up all
the silver spoons and forks, and placed
them in carpet-bag which / had pre-
pared for that purpose. left the house
in state of the widest excitement, not
daring to accuse the cook, lest she should
escape with all the furniture and Goals
during my absence. ran to the tele-
graph office, and sent dispatch to Mar
gate. In the street was accosted
with:
"Halb, Benson! Carpet-bag all
packed. Going to meet Mrs. B.f"
replied that l was going to meet
Mrs. B., but where l did not see fit to
explain. The bag remained under my
desk all day, and it was in my hand l
encountered my wife at the station.
She breathlessly asked what had gone
amiss, and l related my fearful ordeal of
the past night. She iully entered into
the peril of the situation; called a cab,
and we were driven home. Betty an
syered the door, with glaring eyes at
seeing her mistress.
We went down to the kitchen. There
sat the man. l knew him in second,
and turned toward my wife.
d Who is this" roared, seizing Betty
by the wrist. *
Who is what?' stammered the
girl.
.sThis man-this assassin-who en-
tered this house by stealth, with
the idea of plundering me while l
slept9"
ii Plunder?" echoed the afrighted
girl. "Why, bless you, master, this is
Billy, my brother!"
turned pale, and glanced toward my
wife.
Your whatF yelled, purple with
rage.
"ne's my own brother. 1 haven't
seen him for five years. He arrived
from Kilkenny three days ago, and
stopped here while he was looking for
situation"
"Where did you sleepw inquired
Mrs. Benson, turning to the man.
Betty said she'd smuggle me up
stairs into one of the attics, after the
master was asleep, and never said
word to any one about it. But itseems
the gentleman didn't go to bed at all
last night; so Betty and ms sat up
till this morning, talking OF the old
1 was too bewil9ered to offer a
reply.
'Shure, l am no thief" the man
went on. "You might have heard us
talk if you had listened. l didn't try to
hide-did IW
1t was indeed true. Billy was no
assassin-the him that they had killed
was their pig, and they couldn't AFFORD
to wait until he was fat-but as honest
a working man as l ever hope to find.
We said nothing to Betty, and took
the spoons and forks out of the carpet
bag, throwing them upon the table with
out saying word.
1 need not speak of my wife's compli-
ments; but she insisted on going back
to Margate. She certainly did make a
few unpleasant remarks, and went SO far
as to call me "a, but 1 assured her
she was mistaken. l am brave man.
The old sword still stands in the cor
ner behind the chair. don't think l
shall ever have courage to take it up to
my sons room again; but, for all that, L
am, if not physically, certainly morally,
a brave man.