The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-10
A. Successful Burglar.
HE TELLS 1T.


Mother and the girls were quite in
ecstacies over the new house. The
masculine members of the family were
inclined to be dubious as to its ad-
vantages. The objection which we had
to it was that it was one of IL row of
eight, all exactly alike. and it was ex-
tremely difficult to be sure of the right
door.
A weeks practice, however, made
that all right; ours was the fourth
house from the south end of the row ;
as l walked from the office along the
street Immediately south of us. | soon
became accustomed to taking the
exact number of steps. after turning
the corner, which would bring me to
the door.
Besides the hour at which L came
home q am a proof-reader on II morn
ing paper and my duties usually kept
me at the office until after 3 a. n.y.
made it necessary for me to carry a
latchkey. While knew that of course
our neighbors had exactly the same
convenience which we ell joyed, and
looked for light to windows in the
same portion of exactly similar rooms.
and experienced the annoyance of
smoky chimneys when the wind was
in the particular quarter which affected
ours, l did not dream that the houses
were so precisely the same that the key
of one would unlock the other.
We had lived here about week
when the sireet-car line near by began
running owl cars. This was a boon
for me, as it saved me walk of some
length. The car line ran within half
square of the house, being ON the
next street north of us.
The first night that ] rode home /
was SO sleepy when got out of the
car that scarcely knew what l was
doing. Hitherto the exercise of walk
ing had kept me wide awake until |
got into my own room. l managed to
unlock the front door, however, and
get upstairs, habit making my move
ments noiseless, as l knew that my
mother was easily awakened and did
not readily go to sleep again.
The room which l occupied was over
the dining-room, the door being near
ly opposite to the head of the stairs.
Somewhat to my surprise tie gas was
not burning on the landing; the girls
had probably forgotten to light it be-
fore going to bed. CROPPED my way
carefully along, and at last reached the
door of my room. l entered; it was
like the hall, pitch dark. 1 tried to
find the table, on which there should
| be lamp, and my hand came in con-
tact with something else. l drew a
match from my pocket and struck it.
As l held il screened by my hand l
saw that the room was a strange one.
/ low
that the match had gone out, but the
brain was shadowed; l knew nothing
more.
| SHE TELLS IT.
/ was always rated courageous;
seemed to lack that instructive feal
which causes some to shrink from dark.
ness and loneliness. NV brothers and
sisters often declared that l would
never be frightened; not even, added
May, with a shudder, if a burglar were
to present himself before me and de
mand my valuables. These would no
Tempt any well regulated burglar, be-
ing small and of little intrinsic value
but should not like to lose them, anC
had always determined to defend my
property stoutly if threatened. pro
viding, of course, that l had sutficien
warning of the robbers intentions t.
enable me to act.
awoke one morning at that pro
verbal darkest hour, just before dawn
had no idea what time it was, as tn
whole house was wrapped in silenc
and darkness; it is from after event
that am able to say that it was near
ly morning. l had started suddenl
from sleep, but at first | could not tel
what had aroused me. As l lay listen
ing for some sound to follow that whicI
had recalled me from the land o
dreams, my thoughts turned instinct
lively to our next door neighbOrs, win
had been domiciled in the row TO
about a week.
/ Nobody knew them, although severa
of the older residents had spoken c
calling upon them-perhaps; for W
liked the looks of the ladies and the
seemed inclined to be friendly. Th
men, however, seemed to be hom
all day and away all night. They wer
not twOrkingmen-one could see tha
by their hands, their clothing, thei
bearing-and we were afraid that the
were not just what they should bt
We recalled certain grewsome storie
r OF SNhN C~hN
criminals. who settle in respecttl
neighborhoods, and only excited su'
picion by the unreasonable hours whic
they kept.
Was that step upon the stairs?
listened more intently, my wanderin
thoughts recalled from all other sui
jects Surely it was, and that wa
Z a burglar in the house. l sprang OF
of bed aud enveloped myself in a ci
cular which chanced to he hanging a
a chair, rs l had worn it out in Il
> rain the preceding evening. If Wi
:. to receive burglar was determine
that the proprieties should not SUITE
e would have something on besides m
night-dress; while if he went to al
other room l could steal along the dan
halls to alarm my brothers, and be lie
G noticeable in this dark wrap than
my night-gown.
In spite of my boasted courage, II
heart beat very loudly as the step w
haard once more and this time upS