Wichita eagle., 1890-03-05
MRS. HOWARD'S BURGLAR.

Clination TO be one. nevertheless" SAID Mrs
Howard, ''if l had mad my deserts, it is DOS
sible that [ might for a few days, weeks
months, or, possibly, years, have languished
behind prison bars"
You" exclaimed the guest, whose chance
expression had drawn forth the above con-
fession. .'You1 Ny dear Mrs. Howard"
AZ" calmly. eyes, in reply to a look of
incredulity.
"But ho1ya Pray tell ue."
Mrs. Howard laughed at tho surprise writ
ten Oh her friends face. 81 was rather i'm
pulsive in my younger days" she said, ''and
full of theories, one Of which was that all
criminals save mmderers-I drew the line
sharply thefe-should be demonstrated and
reasoned with instead Of being imprisoned
Prison life, prison disci oline. hardened and
enbirtered them, l argued. Soon after my
first husbands death l lad all experience
where opportunity was given me to put my
theory into practice. Twas then exceedingly
careless in all business matters, and | one day
went into a savings bank, where | had depos-
tied some odd hundreds, and drew $500
Then, with these bills IN my hand-not even
hidden in my purse, mind you-I walked
from that bank, on one of tie busiest streets
of our city, straight 10 my own house. All
the way i held them Lightly clasped IN my
hand.
Well, OF course, what might naturally
expect To happen, did ha open. Yes, that
night man entered my he use through one
of the area windows. He had seen me, as
walked nonchaIantly along tae street, swing
ing my roll Of bills, and, wan ting money, he
came for it. But he would har dly have taken
the trouble had lie known that Godfrey, my
brother, who is now in Brazil, happened TO
come to lunch that day, and insisted, very
perernptorily | thought then, very wisely
think now, upon taking the bills and giving
mo check for the amount.
Ny robber, knowing nothing OF this trans
action, entered the house by means of a file,
with which lie forced one Of the shutters OF
the area windows.
Startled Frightened! Very thoroughly
startled, very thoroughly frightened was 1
that night. He entered the house, ne searched
the lower rooms, be came up TO my chamber
and ordered me, rather roughly, l confess, to
rise and produce the money mad that morn
ing brought into the house.
With chatterirg teeth, with trembling
limbs ! complied with his request. Indeed, I
could not well do otherwise, since he stood
over me with large billet of wood in his
hand, which | was quite sure he would test
upon me, did refuse to obey.
4 wild thought occurred to me, as slipped
into my wrapper, and / at once proceeded to
execute it.
90 won't have no foolin'," declared my
1other, clutchng me by the arm and giving
me Il violent shaking, as well as a dreadful
heart throb. NO foolin', mind you! But
just you lead me straight 10 the place where
you've hid that money in"
~ is down in the cellar" faltered.
THAT'S lie, III swearl" he exclaimed.
''Oh, but it isl" ! answered
az don't believe -- word of itn
/ was rather more composed now, and l
said again, very firmly:
at IS, it is there 1t is under a big smooth
stone in the air chamber Of the furnace. l
sent my maid down to toe grocery. and then
! carried my money down aud hid it there
myself"
The smooth, untrippirg confidence with
which l delivered this false statement made
au Impression on the man. | followed it up
instantly: Il viii light a lamp and go down
with you, and show you the very spot
saic.
Go long, then," he ordered; ''but if its
- lie II pull the hair outer yer head!"
Very well, ! said, proceeding to light
kitcheD lamp u will 90 first, if you please
| held tho lamp before me as we descended
the cellar steps, Lighting the way for myself,
but not for him. Swearing vigorously at the
darkness, he followed me. When we reached
The flooring 1 stood 8 lirtlo aside. You must
step carefully over that loose board = / said,
for the soft water cistern is sunk i'll the
ground there. Carefully, carefully. Lightly
now. Ah.' and with 4 loud scream | threw
the lighted lamp far ahead into the cellar.
then turned fsi up the dark stairway, closed
and bolted tee cellar door before my roboer
compreheuded my purpose
This had been my plan from the moment
we left my room. but had Thought it would
be far more difficult of achievement. The
blaze Of the exploding lamp would 90 no
damage knew, since the floor of the ca!lar
was stone one; and while it would bswi,der
him, it would do him no injury. Aud as the
cistern, upon whose brink he stood, existed
only in my imagination. felt no compunc-
Iion in leaving MIN poised upon the board.
Ah what long breath drew as | SHOT
that bolt into place What sense of relief
was mine.
For although had spoken calmly, and had
acted as If / felt no fear, ! was in reality
desperately afraid of this man.
Now that he was safely imprisoned in tho
cellar, that fe3r changed into dap resent
ment. What had / dSne, asked myself,
that he should use me so roUShlya Had l not
Obeyed himi
Ny theories did rot recEr to me then. In
deed, as l ran into the drawing room and
opened n window my only Thought was TO
call in an officer and have Tie man carried
to the jail. No inclination did l feel then to
demonstrate or reason with the man whohad
broken into my house, had threatened me,
had clutched and shaken me!
For others. NOT for mySelr, we're my ;Eeo-
ries that night
4 policeman socn came down TIE street,
and l called TO him. AS he stood under my
window hastily tcid him of tho burglar
'FTst 90 for my Brother added. land
then ger him out Of the cellar and carry him
of"
Geofrey lived in the house facing mine
sad, with the same strong feeling Of resent
ment, watched ths OtHcer cross the street.
Soon he returned, accompanied by my
brother. who quito naturally greeted me with
tie remark: Il knew your folly of today
would inTite something OF this scrt!n
One can pardon slight acerbity OF speech
frc5i man who is aroused from his slurnycrs
IN the dead of night. ], therefore, took no
notice- and Tsgtioning Godfrey to lead the
WAY TO tho kitchen, / simply followed ihe
two men to the isndiag and set down upon
the top stair, aIld waibasi for the end
Acn that baas.c, had. come. 3 strange tapor