The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-12-31


asked Mrs. HILL +" What could you do
about it? For my part should LET them
rummage the house without stirring a
finger; it's much the best way
"Well, I'd like burglar-alarm, -
staggered Sam. 81 just want good
chance at the fellow with my pistol. 1
tell you they'd sing small then!''
Pepper barked furiously at SANS ex-
cited voice, and Annie laughed.
Between Pepper and Sam, we are
safe enough, Aunty; don't, for goodness
sake, put in a burglar-alarm.'
Hardly were the words out of her lips
before the girl came in and said a gen.
tleman wished to see Mrs. Lyle in the
parlor.
He did seem to be gentleman; he
was well dressed and rather cookbook
ing, with an air of profound self-posses-
sion.
"Mrs. Lyle, believer he inquired,
in a persuasive tone.
"That is my name," she answered,
little wondering If she had seen him be-
fore.
"My name is Hart. Mr.. Hart of the
Electric Warning Apparatus Company.
l have been putting in several alarms
into Mr.. Blanks house, Mr.. Damp's
family mansion, Mr.. Augustus Dekin's
premises, and others, in view of the re-
cent terrifying occurrences in your vii
lage. l was advised to give you an OPP
portunity to secure your life and prop
erty in the same manner, and called this
morning in order to explain this truly
valuable invention, which,
Thanks, very muchi, said the
widow, mildly yet firmly, g but / can
not 60 to such an expense at present.
The agent waved his large white
hand, as If to clear cobweb away, and
went on.
(which, as 1 was saying, has been
the means of rescuing hundreds from
dreadful death, and averting the loss of
immensely valuable possessions. / have
put it into the Hon. James Pratt's man.
sion at Roseville, where, on the same
night that his neighbor Mrs. Grey Della
van was found brutally murdered in her
bed, and her diamond set and opal
chain, besides several other Jewels,
stolen, Mr.. Pratt's alarm gave warning
in time to arouse him and his butler,
who rang the alarm-bell in the cupola,
and the villains fed at once. also put
up this life-preserver in the splendid
house of Mrs. De Vries, who was, as
you may remember, stifled with chloro-
form in her chamber while her safe was
broken open, and fifty thousand United
States bonds, with the De Vries pearls,
family jewels valued at twenty-five
thousand dollars, basely distracted.
The very next day l put up the alarm,
and she has never been troubled with
burglars since"
Here he stopped for breath, and Mrs.
Lyle seized the opportunity.
But have neither bonds nor Jew
els, and do not need such protection. :"
The agent smiled superior.
Pardon me, burglars do not always
know what is inside house. Yours is
of elegant appearance; it is known, of
course, in the village that there is no
man in your house, and you have GER
tainly some silver
Here his keen eye perceived GER
tain change in the sweet sensitive face.
Silver is eagerly coveted by robbers
on account of its easy removal from
identification. Nothing tempts them
more. Think how you would feel if the
hand of a rough man clasped your
throat in the dead of the night and de-
manded your keys! Would you not
in that case regret most deeply the
false economy that left you to his
mercya"
Mrs. Lyle grew pale; she repressed a
little scream, as at that moment the
door opened. 1t was only the doctor on
his daily visit to Miss Lyle, but the
agent did not know that; he thought it
was a guest, so he took up his hat.
win call again tomorrow, madam.
trust you win consider the subject in
the mean time, and
"Oh, don't trouble yourself, sir;
shall not take it, l do assure you,' said
the widow, treasured by the DOCTORS
presence.
"No trouble, no trouble at all, mad
am. Ishall certainly call. Good-day. !"
The doctor laughed, but Mrs. Lyte
was angry She related her experience
of the morning at dinner, and Annie
was more vehement than ever.
"Dont be bullied into it, aunty.
wouldn't have that thing put up Il he
give it to you. They are real nui-
sances."
pepper is quite as good a burglar
alarm as we need, +" said Mrs. Hill.
!" You bet Pepper and I'll take care of
you, nanny, without his old wires and
bells!" said Sam, with all boys conf
dence.
But next day the agent came, and as
Mrs. Lyle had taken no precautions
against admitting him, he obtained i'm
mediate audience. To-day his tales of
horror far surpassed those Of yesterday.
He related how widow lady of about
her own age had been choked to death
by desperate burglar, her old mother
gagged, her boy locked into his cham
Der, where he slept quietly till morning,
and then had TO break open his door
and descend to the dreadful scenes be-