The Portland daily press., 1882-05-13
Under the Bed.
Times When it has Concealed the Oft
Looked ior Burglar.
[(Detroit Post.]

((Detrolt Post.J
The man under the bed does not always
prove myth Perhaps it is an actual fact that
women who pray look for him more regularly
than others of less spiritual turn of mind;
when the good woman kneels at the bedside to
offer her devotions it is the most natural thing
in the world for her to first explore that historic
territory and satisfy herself that no concealed
burglar is listening. 1t is also well-authen-
ticated fact that pious woman in the suburbs
of London did discover the legs of q bold, bad
housebreaker sticking out just as she began her
petition. She did not shrink, but went on with
a prayer for that particular sinner that would
have melted the heart of Newgate thief.
wish that it might be added that he was con-
verified on the spot, came out and was pardoned
and afterward married tho petitioner. But
truth compels me to add that the good woman
was interrupted in the most solemn part OF her
prayer by peal OF laughter from the graceless
younger brother, who had enacted the part OF
burglar.
More tragic was the story of the lady who,
travelling alone, stopped at an inn and men,
toned the fact that she had been followed and
watched by villainous looking man, with a
shock of red hair, who she feared, had designs
upon the valuables she carried with her. AS
nothing was seen of him at the inn she retired
for the night, carefully locked the door, and
was soon in bed, leaving light burning in
front of the mirror. No sooner was her head on
the pillow than she had distinct view of the
man with the red hair crouching under the
bed. She made no sound, but reached softly
for scarf she had laid rear, made it into
running moose and waited. The next morning
when her servants broke open the door they
found the lady sitting up in bed, grasping with
both hands the moose in which she held the
fearful W eight of the dead man; she had
strangled him, but was herself araving mani
&C, from whom reason had forever gone.
Some time ago prominent judge in Birming-
ham, N. H., was found murdered in his own
house and no clew to the murderer. 1t was
Immediately after an adverse decision he had
made in case of great Importance, and the
murder was supposed to have been instigated
by desire for revenge, but as all the parties
were respectable people it was impossible to
fasten the guilt on any one. The Judge was
widower and lived alone, with the exception
of young daughter and the servants. This
daughter was beautiful, and on the evening in
question had returned home from ball at q
late hour, and gone directly to her own room,
where she stood before her mirror taking off
her Jewels. AS she did SO she held her white
and rounded arm above her head, and, con-
scious Of its beauty, said aloud: "What beau
tiful arm!" little thinking the idle remark OF
such consequence as it proved to be in the
tragedy that followed. The girl both saw and
heard her fathers murderer, but as he was
masked failed to distinguish his features, but
always declared she should know his voice if
ever she heard it. Several years passed, and
in another city she was standing in crowd
observing some passing sight. when sne was
conscious of the curious regard of stranger
who stood near Looking at her with singu-
lar intensity, he made this remark: "Oh, the
beautiful arm!'' She knew the voice in an in
slant, and throwing herself boldly on the man,
denounced him as her fathers murderer. he
was arrested, tried and convicted, and told how
he had lain hidden under the bed and heard
the idle remark of the young girl which she
herself had been scarcely conscious OF. He
had recognized her on meeting her, and invol-
UNFAIRLY betrayed himself, as he had been q
stranger and an unsupported party.