Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-04-17
A Red Hot Poker.

The poker point was the means OF
getting mc five years. That was the
last time was hc:c. Ii came about
this way; The young and newly
mnired squire had furnished the
old house forthc reception OF his
bride, the daughter Of rich mer.
chant in the neighboihood, whu.
Il was rumered had large dowry
The new plate, clocks, loose money,
etc, they were, in u measure,
obliged to keep in the house. were
too tempting for me, burglar. !
arranged with my accompl;ce in
London TO send the sqdlrc telc.
gram calling him TO London in
hasic-whch he did, tclcgraphinp
me ihat he had done so. proceed.
cd to the house and watched The
squire depart, then. Whiting I'LL
night, admitted mysclf as well
knew how. Finding nothing OF
value downstairs. | crcpt up To- tho
library, but found nothing, SO. con.
GLIDING the vnluablcs were kept in
their bedroom. /, after a moments
thought, determined to risk all and
tty for the cash, which / rccdcd,
aud wished for most. | crcpt 10
what | thought would bc the door:
but no, the room was unfufnished
and empty. Stopping to consider,
| saw light from under the door
opposite TO me. "Thatr 1 thought.
might be the room, and tic lady,
being timid, is afraid 10 90 TO bed
Shah trys It's yciy dangerous
should she scream. Never mind.
III try-may never get the chance
again" Creeping to the door /
turned the handle; the door yieldcd;
| entered with my pistol cooked.
and remarked, "If YOU scream /
shoot But il would have been
better bad ! not spoken, she having
fallen asleep in her chair by the side
Of the FIRE, (tbc light Of which had
seen under the door), but at the
sound Of my voice She started up i'm
tcrror--dUmb. | said .Ifyou make
- sound III murder you" After
looking round the room had only
found her watch and jewelry orna.
ments, so again turning to her. 4
babe her tell me where tie cash
was kept. She, too terrified 10
speak, pointed to small oak chest
which had escaped my notice
There ] found both money and
plate. ] had put the cash into nv
vest pocket, and was preparing 10
pack the plate in my bag, v hen
slight noise attracted my attention
Somebody was stirring. Listened.
Il was someone coming up stairs.
looked at the lady. Yes, she had
evidently heard il TOO; her face
wore q felieyed look. Closing the
chest j turned 10 her, cooked my
pistol, and said, III you breathe
one word that I'm in the room IIli
murder you both" then slipped
under the bed, hoping 10 escape
later. The person we had heard
ascending the stairs proved 10 be
her husband, who told his wife he
only went as far as Sbfcv sburv
where the line, owing 20 an accident
TO luggage train, was blocked.
and finding bc could not reach Lon.
don I'LL very late, hc ielegraphed on
70 know II il would do in tie morn.
ing, or must lie post through % the
ststisn. arriving in London about
midnight. lie received a reply that
they did not understand bis niessa0e
WHAT did he refer foS lie AGAIN
wired, sending q copy Of the mes.
sage he had received from them
that morning. They answered they
had not sent the message and there
was evidently some unpleasant
hoax. y" he continued. feared
u might be burglars, and that ere
could reach home again you might
be murdered IN your sleep But
how is u yon arc not in bed "a this
late bourf There's nothing wrong
/ hope, he asked bis wife. /.
under the bed, lay waiting her reply
before deciding wbcthef 90 bound
ior the door OF remain perfectly
quiet.
She answered "Fecline nervous
and lonely, did not care 10 90 TO
Dcd untii certain you bad rot re-.
turned ~ this train, and ! was also
timid Of burglars, they have been 20
busy 10 Tie ncighborbood. But
have you bad anything % eats' She
asked.
lie said he had dincd n Shrews.
bury, bot had had nothing since.
and felt railer hungry.
She till l..... aIn Ii Ill. -