Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-11-09
awakened and did not readily go to

1
what to my surprise, the gas was not
| burning On the landing; the girls had
probably forgotten to light it before go
| ing to bed CROPPED my way carefully
along, and at last reached the door of
my room. | entered; it was, like the
| hall, pitch dark. | tried to find the
table on which there should be a lamp
and my hand cane in contact with some
thing e.se. | drew a match from my
pocket and struck it. AS l held 1t
it screened in my hand I saw that the
room was a strange one. Suddenly all
was dark; it was not that the match had
| gone out, but the brain was Swallowed
1 knew nothing more.
SHE TELLS IT.
I was always rated courageous. L
seemed to lack that instructive fear viii
causes some to shrink from darkness and
| loneliness. My brothers and sisters Of
ten declared that would never be fright
ened; not even, added May, with
shudder if burglar were to present him
self before me and demand my vaiuables.
These would not tempt any well-regu-
| lated burglar, being small and of little
intrinsic value; but l should not like to
lose them. and had always determined
| to defend my property stOutly # threat
ened, providing, Of course, that l had
sufficient warning of the robbers lnten
| tions to enable me act.
| awOke one morning at that prOVerblal
darkest hour Just before the dawn. L
! had no idea what time It was, as the
whole house was wrapped IN silence and
| darkness; it is from after events that l
am able to say that it was nearly morn
ing had started suddenly from sleep,
but at first | could not tell what had
aroused me. AS lay listening for some
sound to follow that which had re allied
me from the land of dreams, my thoughts
turned instinctively to our next door
neighbors, who had been domiciled in
the row for about week.
Nobody knew them, although several
of the older residents had spoken of call
ing upon .them-perhaps; for we liked
the looks of the ladies and they seemed
inclined to be friendly. The men, how
ever, seemed to be home all day and
away all night. They were not work
in9men-One could see that by their
hands, their clothing, their bearing; and
we were afraid they were not just what
they should be. We recalled certain
grewsOme stories of counterfeiters, bur
glars and other criminals who settle in
respectable neighborhoods, and only ex-
cited suspicion by the unreasonable hours
which they kept
Was that step on the stairs? I lis
tened more i9tently, my wandering
thoughts recalled from all other sub ,ects.
Surely it was, and that was another.
There was a burglar in the house. [
sprang out of bed and enveloped myself
in a circular which CHANGED to be hang
ing on chair, as had worn it out into
the rain the preceding evening.
In spite of my boosted courage, my
heart beat very loudly as the step was
heard once more, and this time upon the
landing lust outside my own door. [
grasped the poker firmly, however, try
ing TO restore my wonted courage by the
pressure Of that formidable weapon in
my hand. 1t was plain, heavy bar of
iron, at which the others often laughed,
declaring that it must make me tired to
rake the fire.
The knob of the door turned slowly
and cautiously, and the burglar entered
the room. W hat would he do next? He
closed the door as gently as he had opened
it, and for moment seemed undecided.
Did he have a dark lantern and pistol?
could not imagine a burglar without
such ad juncts, both of which were equal
ly unfamiliar objects to me; and |
shivered as i thought of the advantage
which he would have over me and my
poker.
Evidently the dark lantern was not IN
working order, however, for he simply
struck a match The little flame showed
me that our new neighbors were not I'M
founded upon reason-this was one of
them. They were certainly gang of
burglars.
He made a step toward the dresser
To reach it he must pass me. He was
within reach of my arm. l raised my
weapon, and uttering the loudest scream
Of which my lungs were capable, 1
struck him on the side of the head. He
fell like log to the floor. Horror!
had killed him.
NV renewed screams alarmed the
house. and the others were speedily at
my side. l had already lighted the gas,
and was on my knees beside the man 1
HAD struck, vainly endeavorjng to recall
life. My assortment of restOratives, [
was afterward assured was sufficient to
have revived dozen swooning men.
''What in the world" began my
brother as he appeared upon the scene.
He was the first to come to the room.
''Oh, my burglars come" l exclaimed
half historically, ''but Pve killed him."
"Wholly unnecessary severity" re-
marked Tom; you always overdo the
thing. But that man isn't dead"
AS if to confirm his words, the burglar
just then opened his eyes and looked in
quiringly around him.