Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-09-13
DU URSTON'S BURGLAR.

Richard Durston, bachelor, has always
been afraid of burglars and susceptible
of old maids. He could not remember
the time when the dread of being robbed
OF sued for breach of promise was not
upon him. In other respects he was
quite courageous. He never seemed to
feel nervous about dogs, lightning, or
fire. He even dared to do right now and
then. On the whole he was as plucky as
the average man in spite of his convic-
ton that the time would come when he
would have trouble with burg lar and
suit at law with an old maid.
Durston, as you know, lives in hand
some house on an up town cross street.
He has always held that the majority of
burglares are effected through the
treachery of servants. He has, there
fore, kept bachelors hall for many years
with the aid of only one assistant-an
old woman-a kind of heirloom in his
family. AS he generally dimes at his
club he has managed to live very COM
fortably without keeping a boarding
house for men and women who might be
keeper is not ambitious He feels conf
dent that she will never sue him for
breach of promise nor permit a burglar
to make breach in the house.
Durstons library and bedroom are on
the second floor. The old woman sleeps
in a back room on the floor above. She
is very deaf, 50 when Durston wishes to
L., ,
of his bed. This sends a mild electric
current through the reclining form of
the housckcep2r up stairs. She approves
of this process in the belief that it tends
to hold her rheumatism in check. 1t
seems very shocking way to treat an
old woman, however. And then Dur
ston must find it unpleasant to discharge
a servant two or three times a day.
Bat revenons nos burglar. One night
last winter DurSton reached home raj her
earlier than usual. As was his custom
he examined the doors and windows in
the lower part of the house and then
went to the library. He found his smok-
ing jacket and slippers in their accus-
toned place. A wood fire was crack
ling in the CRATE and decanter of
whisky and a box of cigars tempted
him from the center table Durston
smiled contentedIy as he drew an easy
chair toward the fire. Life was very
pleasant to him. He was one of those
happy bachelors who have no regrets.
from it, In fact, he was not ut all what
the world calls a practical man.
No; DurstOn was inclined to look at
the romantic side of life, and as he
smoked a perfecto and slipped his whisky
and seltznr in front of the blaze that
night he INDUCED in imaginings that
would have shocked the hard headed
housekeeper up stairs worse than did her
private electric current the day the bat
terry was overcharged
Durston had for the moment forgotten
all about old maids and burglars. He
was in a condition of bodily and mental
repose that drove into outer darkness all
the unpleasant things of life. Finally
the conviction came upon him slowly
that it was time to go to bed. He fought
hard against the proposition, but there
was no escape for him. Looking at his
watch he found that it was long after
o'clock. Turning out the lights in the
library he entered his bedroom. He was
still in state of sleepy contentment.
Just as he was about to put out the gas
he was startled by a slight noise that
seemed to come from the cellar. He
listened intently. Five minutes passed,
but there were no further sounds from
below. Durston surrounded himself by
perfect darkness and crawled into bed.
But he could not sleep. That unlucky
noise had rendered him feverish. The
thought of burglars had destroyed his
serenity of mind. His revolver lay on a
chair by the bedside, and he kept his
hand on it for some time. The weapon
seemed to whisper to him: Peace, Dur
ston; go to sleep, my child will not
go off until the burglar comes. "
This assurance on the part of the pistol
uuieted Durston somewhat, and he was
beginning to feel very sleepy again when
he heard light step on the stairs. There
was no mistake about it. After keeping