Connecticut western news., 1882-05-31
LOOK UNDER THE BED.
Times When it 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 natu- ral thing in the world for her to first explore that historic territory and satisfy herself that no concealed burglar is lis tening. It Is also well.authenticated fact that pious woman in the suburbs of London did discover the legs of bold, bad housebreaker sticking out just as she began her petition. She did not shrink, but went on with prayer for that particular sinner that would have melted the heart of & Newgate thief. I 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 con- pels 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 8 villain ous-looking man, with 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 a scarf she had laid near, made it into running moose, and wait ed. The next morning when her ser- wants 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 dman she had strangled him, but was herself 8 raving maniac, from whom reason had forever gone.
 Some time ago & prominent judge in Birmingham, N. H., was found mur- dered in his own house, and no clue to the murderer. It was immediately after an adverse decision he had made in a case of great importance, and the mur- der was supposed to have been insti- gated by 8 desire for revenge; but as all the parties were respectable people, it was impossible to fasten the guilt on any one. The judge was 8 widower and lived alone, with the exception of g 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 be. fore her mirror taking off her jewels. As she did so she held her white and rounded arm above her head, and con. scious of it's beauty, said aloud, "What 8 beautiful arm P little thinking the idle remark of such consequence as il proved to be in the tragedy that fol. lowed. The girl both saw and heard her fathers murderer, but as he was masked failed to distinguish his features, but always declared she would 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 she was conscious of the curious regard of @ stranger who stood near. Looking at her with sin. gular intensity, he made this remark
 "Oh, the beautiful arm ]" She knew the voice in an instant, and, throwing herself boldly on the man, denounced him as her fathers murderer. He wal arrested, tried, and convicted, and tolt how he had lain hidden under the bee and heard the idle remark of the young girl which she herself had been scarcely conscious of. He had recognized hel on meeting her, and involuntarily be- trayed himself, as he had been stranger and an unsuspected party.