The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-09-20
DURSTON'S BURGLAR.

Richard Durs.on. bachelor. has always
been afraid OF burglar. and susceptible
Of old maid. lie could not remember
the time when the dread OF being robbed
or sued for breach ~ promise was not
upon him. IN other respects he was
quite courageous. lie never seemed TO
feel nervous about dogs, lightning, or
fire. He even dared tOdo right now and
then. On the whole lac was as plucky as
the average man ia spite OF hi conyic.
ton that the time would come when he
would have trouble with birgl.r and a
Guit nj law with M ulil mail.
Durston, ms you know, lives in hand.
some house on an zap town cross street
He has always he'll that the majority oil
burgaries arc eff eted through the
treachery OF servants. lie has. there.
fore. kept bachelors hall for many years
with the aid OF only one assistant--an
old woman--a kind OF heirloom in Ills
family. As he generally dimes at his
club lac has managed 10 live very com.
fortably without keeping IA boarding
house for men and women who might b.
in league with robbers. His aged house
keeper is not ambitious lie feels CONT
dent that she will never sue him for
breach of promise nor permit a burglar
TO make a breach in the house
Durston's library and bedroom are on
the second floor. The old woman sleeps
in back room on the floor above. She
is very deaf. so when Durston wishes 10
call her hc touches button at the head
OF his bed This sends mild electric
current through the reclining form OF
the housekeeper up stains. She approves
of this process in tho belief that Il tends
TO hold Ter rheumatism in check. IL
seems n very shocking way to treat an
oil woman, however. And then Dur
n,on must find it unpleasant TO discharge
a servant two or tire times day.
but revenons q nos burglar. Oae night
last winter Durston reach, home rather
ear.ics than usual. ~ was Bis custom
he examined tho doors und windows in
the lower Iart az the liou5s and then
went 20 the library. lie found his smok-
ing joke. an slippers il Their uccus-
TONED place. a Wood irc was crack
linz In TIC crate and a dccanter II
whisky and box OF cigars tempted
him from tho center table. Duiston
milel conientedly "a Ia drew an easy
chair toward the fire. l.ife was very
plcasant to him. lie was one OF those
hapfy bachelors who lave no regrets.
Not that Durston lacked sentiment. Far
from il. In fact. he was not 40 all what
the world calls practical man.
No; Durston was inclined to look at
Che romantic side OF life, and as he
smoked a perfecto and slipped his whisky
and seltzer In front OF the blaze that
night lac INDUCED in inaginings that
would have shocked the hard headed
housekecper up stairs worse than did her
private electric current the day the bat
terry WINS overcharged.
Durston had for the moment forgotten
all about old maids aud burglars. he
was In condition Il bodily aud mental
rcposa that drove into outer darkness all
the unpleasant tA.asioi lie. Finally
the conviction came upon him slowly
that IL was time 90 go 10 bed. Hefought
hard against the proposition, but there
was no escape for him. Looking nj his
watch he found that IL was long after
o'clock. Turning on. the lights In the
library he ent .rsd his bedroom He was
still in n state ~ sleepy contentment
Just as he was about 70 put ous the gas
hs was startled by q slight no sc that
seemed To come from tho cellar He
listened inlcntly. Five minutes passed.
but there were no further sound from
below. Durston surrounded hinsclf by
perfect darInea nnl cravlsl into bed.
But no could no. sleep THAI unlucky
noise had rendered him fcverish. The
thought OF lurgla-s hal Il stroyed his
serenity OF mind lis revolver lay OH a
Chair by the bed,id'. and h kept his
hlnd ON il for some time. Tue weapon
seemed to whisper to him: Peace Dur
fton: 40 to sleep. M child wsl not
20 or until the burglar comes
This assurance on the part OF the pistol
cuictal Duration somewhat. and he was
beginning to feel very sleepy again when
he heard light step on the stairs There
VAS no mistake about IL. After keeping
fullenly aloof for years Durston's bur
rlar had come at last. Atfirst our bach
cior felt n cold chill creeping mp his
spinal column. Then. as the burglar