The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-08-13
AladYaldABlrglal.
A BLACK VILLAIN
FOUND HIDING UN-
81 IT, .-.4
DER A BED. ...,..

FOUND HIDING UN-
| DER A BED. ..... =.
A WoMAN'S GREAT NERVE.
1t Saved Her Life and That of
Her Child and Resulted in
the Capture OF % Despe-
rate RObber.
Philadelphia Times
1t was just after the war, and
things We're in rather chaotic state.
We-my husband, my little one and
I--were living in Richmond then.
On the night of which | write, |
could see that John was worried
about something. lie seemed pre-
occupied all during supper, and after
the things were cleared away he
took his seat at the table with
pile Of medical BOOKS reaching above
his head on his right, and an i'm
mense volume spread open before
HIM.
He evidently had a puzzling case
on hand, and was not in a humor to
be talked to. | took out my choch-
citing, and worked for a short time
on little Annas sacque. Then |
yawned, crocheted round or two,
va ~ned again, and finally, in despair,
folded up my work, and went up
stairs to my room. Little Anna had
preceded me there, and lay, tucked
away in a corner of my bed, in the
rosiest slumber imaginable.
II won't put her in her crib just
yet" I thought, "she is sleeping SO
sweetly." had got in the process
Of disrobing, to the point of dressing
wrapper and slippers and was shak.
ing out my hair preparatory to its
arrangement for the night when the
brush slipped from my hand and fell
with a sharp ring upon the floor. As
l stopped to pickit up a sight met
my eyes the very recollection ofwhieh
makes me grow hot and cold by turns.
A negro was under my bed. ewas
drawn up as close as possible to the
wall and lay there watching me. I
am only al average woman, not par-
iicularly courageous or particularly
anything that | know of. How l ev-
er KEEP. from shrieking or fainting
will ever remain mystery to me.
Supernatural strength must have
coue to my aid. l felt in a moment
the importance of concealirg from
this man the fact that was aware of
his presence. arose from my stoop-
ing posture aud began brushing my
hair with the utmost GOODNESS and
deliberatinn, but very white face
looked back at me from the mirror
before which / stood. | believe. II
any thing. brushed my hxr longer
than usual that night then, dividing
il 10 two paris with great exsctuess.
began plating il, turing over in my
mind all the while what course OF
action should adopt. Suddenly ]
remembered that / had forgotten 10
bring up the basket If silver, which
We always kept In our room at night
There" l exclaimed aloud, 81 left
the silver down stairs. | must ask
John TO bring II up with him."
"John! Oh. John !" ! said, going
out in the passage and calling dow0
the steps. "bring the spoons and felix
up with you when you come"
II; There was no answer. The din.
ing room door was shut and John
was deep in his book.
"How provoking" exclaimed
Il will have to 60 down for then
myself"
Every detail Of that nights adyen
ture seems gfayen, as with an iror
pen, upon my mind. The very SOUND
of my slippers-loose al the heel-a
| went down the bare steps Is dis
tinct in my memory.
"John," l said, as closing the din
ing room door behind me, / crossed
the room and placed my hand upor
my husbands shoulder, don't ex'
claim at what Pm going TO tell you
I There is q man under the bed In ouI
) room. He doesn't know that / hav,
seen him. Slip quietly out at th,
2 back door and call for help before b,
makes his escape" don't think tel
2 minutes c1uld have elapsed befor,
] my husband returned, accompanied
] BY two policemen armed to the YER
/ teeth, but it seemed like hours l.
= me as stood there thinking Of gu
4 little one sleeping so unconsciousl!
on our bed, and Of the villain lynn
beneath il. He was q big, burly fel
: low, IL was discovered, when at las
! he had been dragged from his hidini
place and induced 10 assume the per
y pendicular. On his person, in ad
9 dition to mJ diamond ring, gol'
watch and Get Of pearls, was found
bottle Of Uhloroform. big knife an
' q loaded revolver. The next day
!, very tremulous heroine was reading