The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-04-27
UNDER THE BED.
Times When 1t Has Concealed the Oft
Looked-Eor BMrQLdr.

Times When 1t Has Concealed the Oft
Looked-For Burglar.
The man under the bed does not al
ways 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 a well-euthenticated fact that
pious woman in the suburbs of London
did discover the legs of bold, bad
house breaker sticking out just as began
her petition. She did not shrek, but
went ON with prayer for that particu-
lar sinner that would have melted the
heart of Newgate thief. ] wish that it
might be added that he was converted
on the spot, came out and was pardoned,
and afterward married the 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 mentioned the fact that she had
been followed and watched by villain
ous-looking man with shock of red
hair, who she feared had designs upon
the yaluables 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
a light burning in front of mirror. No
sooner was herhead on the pillow than she
had a 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 near, 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
weight of the dead man she had
strangled him, but was herself a raving
maniac from whom reason had forever
gone.
Some time ago prominent Judge in
Birmingham, N. H., was found muir
dered in his own house, and no clew to
the murderer. 1t was Immediately after
an adverse decision he had made in a
case of great Importance, and the muir
der was supposed to have been instigat-
ed 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 a
young daughter and the servants. This
daughter was beautiful, and on the even
ing in question had returned home from
ball at 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
beautiful arm |" little thinking the
remark of such consequence asit proved
to be in the tragedy that followed. The
girl botk saw and heard her fathers
murderer, but as he was masked failed
to distinguish his features, but always
declared she should know his voice il
she ever heard it. Several years passed,
and in another city she was standing il
crowd observing some passing sight
when she was conscious of the curious
regard of a stranger who stood near
Looking at her with singular intensity
he made this remark "Oh, the beauti
full arm !" She knew the voice in al
instant, and throwing herself bodily OF
the man denounced him as her father
murderer. He was arrested, tried ant
convicted, and told how he had lain hid
den under the bed and heard the idl
remark of the young girl which she her
self had been scarcely conscious of. HI
had recognized her on meeting her, ant
involuntarily betrayed himself, as h
, had been stranger and an unsuspecte'
, party.-Detroi Post.