The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-06-10
A STRANGE OLD WOMAN.

A STRANGE OLD WOMAN.
The Startling Scenes Which Took
Place One Night in a Quiet Household.
Correspondence Phil adelphia Telegraph.
Ihe quiet Greek village of Kadekem,
on the Aslatic shore of the Sea of Mar
mora, some four miles from here, was
the scene the other night of wild excite
ment and alarm. At dusk while the
family of Mr.. B., respectable English
resident, were about sitting down to a
comfortable supper, a knock, timidly
repeated after an instant was heard at
the door. The wind was bowling around
the angles Of the house, and as MIR. B.
opened the door gust of sleet and rain
took him in the face and almost pre-
vented him from perceiving his Nocturnal
visitor. 1t was a wretched woman bent
nearly double with age, and clothed
scantily with fifty rags, who in CULVER.
ing accents, begged food and shelter for
the night. After some hesitation the
spirit of the Good Samaritan prevailed
over the natural suspicious aroused by
such visit. Hot food and drink were
given to the wanderer, who complain
ing soon after of great fatigue, was led
into an empty room to the third floor
where sort of shake down was pro-
vided her. The family staid together
some time after chatting over the fire
about the incident, then separated for
the night.
A mysterious anxiety, however hung
over Mrs. B., Kept her awake, and
eliminated in determination to visit
the guest room and see how the guest
vas faring. Arrived at the door, which
as precautioD, had been locked, noise
lessly in hez bare feet, narrow ray of
light streaming from the key-hole
aroused suspicion, and all unwonted
noise of steps. Peeping in the first OBJ
ject that met her gaze was a bundle of
rags, sole relic of the pitiful bag that
they had rescued from the elements,
while in her place stood tall, brawny
Clrcassian in full dress, his leather belt
stuck full of pistols, while he tried on
his thumb the edge of q "cama," or long
curved dagger. His face was turned to-
ward Mrs. B., and she saw in his set
mouth and rascally face such murder
GUS purpose that she with difficulty
restrained scream Of fright. How
ever she crept down the stairs, trem b.
ling with excitement, aroused her slum-
herring lord and told him what she had
seen.
A short consultation followed, in
which the strange decision was arrived
at that the husband should run at once
to the nearest corps de garde for police
men, while the wife armed with her
husbands revolver, would stay behind
and bear the attack. A few minutes
after this B. had slipped on his clothes,
and closed the street door, that sound
found its echo upstairs. Mrs. B stood
with dressing gown thrown over her,
admirably cool, her right hand grasp.
ing a revolver. The steps came nearer,
and the rufhan, after trying the door of
the parlor in which the lady was stand
ing, burst it open, and rushed in. His
headlong course was stopped by four
shots in rapid succession, two of which
took effect in his arm and neck, and
rolled him on the ground almost at
Mrs. BIS feet. The house servant then
appeared, reused by the firing, and
Mrs. B., for whom the air was Just then
full of Circassian murderers, greeted him
with a flesh wound in the leg. Luckily
for the rest of the household, who came
pouring in, the inevitable reyulsion of
feeling came, and the courageous wo-
man tainted. Just then the husband,
with six zaptieths or policemen arrived
as usual too late to be of much use.
After disarming the fal len and insensi-
BILE burglar the guardians ofthe peace,
previous to transferring him to the
station, event through" his pockets.
Various suspicious and nefarious objects
were found among which was small
and innocent looking tin whistle. I'm
suspectingly one of the policeman rut
it to his lips and blew shrill blast.
This took place on the lawn outside the
house, whittier the bleedlag rough had
been carried. The sound had hardly
died away when from a clump of trees
appeared four more Circassions in arms,
dress and muscles the prototypes of the
prisoner, and rushed into the arms of
the policemen. These held them fast,
bound them, yea, and carried them in
to bondage with their still less fortunate
companion. Summary justice was
dealt to them.