The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-03
STRIKING A BURGLAR.
How a Bold Intruder Came to Fail Wit
n,,u Siclreninez Tlnd.

How a Bold Intruder Came to Fail With
Dull, sickening Thud.
Some men are forever speaking OF
their desire to have burglar visit their
apartments when the curtains of night
are closely drawn. They delight in
Boosting of the manner in which they
would enlarge the pores Of felonious
rambler hide if he came in on the quiet,
and how they would with almost super"
human efforts throttle the scamp until his
iugular vein stood out on his neck like a
row of potatoes in May and his flushed
tongue posed over under his left ear.
Now this is well enough in theory, and
sounds eloquent in daylight. But when
q fellow is aroused from sweet slumber
by the football of red-eyed "duffer'
soaking ':lucre," there are questions
which we'll up in his mind like this:
tAm his or is lie mine? Am I in his
room or is this mine? Is the air not
rather close in here for my lungs?''
was once given room on the
fourth floor OF strange hotel, and
knew little of the surroundings. There
was a haunted air about the room that
caused me to feel little uncomfortable.
took my lamp and carefully searched
for q burglar, though l was not over
anxious to find one, I really had no use
for one. Had | found real muscular
burglar don't think | could have utils
lied him. However, made a careful
search then blew out the light and
turned in. | still felt that was inhalng
the same atmosphere used by MALE
cious artist. Sleep soon mastered my
fears. | slept soundly until about two
o'clock in the morning, when | was
aroused by the slamming of window
blind. L suddenly jumped up and saw
to my horror a man in his shirt sleeves
crouching near my bedside. I had no
weapon Of any kind. thought, or
at least tried TO think, for an in-
slant, then addressed him politely thus:
Good morning, sir, can do anything
for you?" He did not move or reply.
His silence only increased my fears. l
saw now that my only chance would be
to jolt him with my fist square from the
shoulder with all the power in my trem-
bling frame. With one mighty bound /
sprang from my couch and struck the
silent intruder with all the force could
summon; my knucklcs fairly tingled
with pain, my hand dropped almost
powerless to my side. l knew l had
Knocked him insensible, heard him fall
with very dull thud ove.' by the wash
stand. With all my fear heroic feeling
crept over me. / only had one hand left
for sizing up my deed. carefully crept
across to the match safe, took match
with my left hand, lighted lamp aud
proceeded to inventory the fruits Of my
blow. My heart sank within me as
approached the remains and imagined
the appearance of his ghostly face and
death-glazed eyes. felt that what I
was about to behold would forever
haunt my dreams. My hand trembled
so could scarcely hold the lamp. I
reverently bent over the still form and
placed my hand upon his shirt front.
Well, all my feelings OF i.orror were re.
moved after that touch, and my only
thought was to 60 out and allow some
moist fluid to penetrate the pores OF the
seat of my intellect. My hard-earned
prize proved to be only chair with my
boiled shirt hung over the back, sur
mounted by derby hat.-Peck's Sun.