The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-08-21
A NIGHT OF BLUNDERS
How, Mr.. Cradliff's Burglar Was
Finally Captured.

AT eleven o CLOCK, one summer
night, Mrs. Cradliff nudged her sleep
ing consort, and as he turned on his
pillow, whispered softly: '.Are You
awake, Moses?" Mr.. Moses Cradliff
having acknowledged that he was wide
awake, she continued:
Ibid We lock up the granary?"
NO." he replied. Il supposed Cy-
rus did; he always tends to that"
but he went off SO early 1 don't be-
lieve he thought word. about it. I'll
get up and see if he has left the key on
the SINK shelf"
She CROPPED her way to the kitchen
In the dark, and passed her hand over
the shelf. but found no key. As it was
left in the granary lock during the
day, and returned to the shelf after the
door had been duly fastened at night,
she felt sure that her sons customary
duty had been neglected.
Then ! suppose ! must get up and
tend to it" grumbled Moses Cradliff.
How could he be so careless?" But
she reminded him that Cyrus had gone
to watch at the bedside of sick friend,
and that it was unjust to blame him
under the circumstances.
As q good many mysterious thefts
and burglaries had of late been COM
mitted in the neighborhood, and as
the barn was an old one, which could
be easily entered, the locking of the
granary, which served as store-room
for produce and other portable proper
tv. was considered important So Mr..
Moses Cradliff got up, poked his bare
feet into pair Of old shoes, and pro-
ceeded. half-dressed. to the barn.
It was starlit night, and approach
ing the barn door. he was surprised to
find it open about far enough to admit
man. As he was sure that it had
been closed in the evening. a curdling
thrill of suspicion and alarm crept
through his flesh. and made him wish
he had some weapon in his hand He
thought of the wooden bar which
served rs . fastening to the door, but
just rs he was reaching to get possess
sion of it. he heard q noise in the di-
rection of the granary.
He thereupon dropped down upon
his hands and knees. and putting in his
head, so low that it would not be re-
vealed against the starlight to the
burglar within,-for he felt sure there
was = burglar-he listened intently.
For moment all was still; then came
the creaking of . door-hinge. He
knew the sound. 1t was made by the
granary door. as it swung slowly to-
gether of its own accord. after it had
been opened.
Mr.. Moses Cradliff was possessed Of
5 fair amount of courage; and though
he naturally shrank from an encounter
With man who might have deadly
weapon. he determined to risk m. At
tempt to capture him. or ut least to
protect his property.
He crAwled into the barn. and reach.
ing up, found little difaculty IN armino
himself with the bar. He then 9ljded
almost noiselessly, in TIA dAxk. toward
the granary. ready 1t any mOment 70
thwack the burglar should ho sttempt
20 rush past him.
He met with no adventure until ha
put ont his hand and felt the door
which was open = few inches. Then
he heard man breath not much more
than half yard away. The man w.s
y the granary. standing close beside
TIE bins; Hr. Cradliif WAS outside with
hts hand on the door. each aware Of
To Other. and both alike frightened.
but resolved to gain what advantage
Ms possible in the encounter That
ooemed unavoidable.
With one hand Cradlif Rr,sued b;a
club. While be slipped the other Along