The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-10-01
A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE.
Verify. tho Way of the Transgressor Con.
tinues to BE Hard,

tinues to BE Hard,
clark Cyrus! What was that?"
Nothing, Emily. Let me go to sleep,
will you?"
For few moments silence reigned in
the sleeping chamber.
"Cvrus Winterbottom. there's some
body in the house! / hear noise in
the kitchen!"
Cyrus sat up in bed and listened.
'Its the cat" he grumbled, drowsilY.
"a cat doesn't wear boots and go
around opening doors. Hark!"
The baby stirred and Mrs. Winter
bottom soothed it to rest again.
Il don't see what any body wants to
get into our kitchen for" growled
Cyrus, with yawn. There's nothing
to-heigh-ho!--to steal in that part Of
the house, is there?"
Nothing to stoal! There's a plate
full OF tarts, a pan OF doughnuts and
sponge cake"
'Some of your--heigh-ho-your own
concoction, Emily?"
"Yes, some of my own making. Then
there's all the silverware, and"
Hell never get to the silverware,
Emily, if he tackles the doughnuts first.
You will find his horribly-distorted
body in the morning"
"Hush! Hark!''
He listened again. All was quiet.
But presently an unmistakable sound,
as Of somebody moving about on the
floor below, aroused even Cyrus dulled
Nsenses. Steps seemed to be approach
tng the stairway. Cyrus took his re-
Solyer out from under his pillow,
4 climbed softly out Of bed, went to the
door of the room and got behind it, first
having cautioned his wife in whisper
to make no noise and leave matters en-
tirely in his hands.
Softly and stealthily came the steps
up the stairway, and in a few moments
the dim light of the night lamp on the
dressing-c case fell upon the stalwart
form of man whose face was con-
cealed by mask.
Mrs. Winterbottom screamed at sight
of him, the baby woke up and howled,
and before the burglar could recover
from the momentary confusion into
which this unexpected reception had
thrown him Cyrus confronted him with
the revolver.
You Internal scouEdrel!' he Kissed.
Don't you move muscle or I'll put a
ball through your
The revolver hadn't been loaded for q
year or more, and Cyrvs knew it, but
the burglar didn't.
Tho pitifuI wretch stood perfectly
still.
"Take off your maskp' sternly com.
manded Cyrus.
Tho burglar complied With ashen
face aud mean, hang-dog look he stood
there and said not word. Mrs. Win.
terbottom had recovered her self-pos-
session, but the baby continued to howl.
ut would serve you right, you sneak
ing, contemplate villain" said Cyrus,
in a deep, tragic voice, ''if should
shoot You where you stand. l believe
I'll do it, anyhow"
MERCY! Mercyw pleaded the trem-
bling wretch. "It's the first time ever
broke into a house. I'll never do it
again. Please let me 60"
It's the first time you were ever
caught at it! It'll be the last. Down
on your kneesw
Don't kill him, Cyrus!" begged his
wife. Think of the carpet''
LISTEN said Cyrus, coming closer
to the kneeling burglar. "Hold up
your hand!"
While the fellows hands were up
Cyrus rifled his pockets. He took there
from two loaded revolvers, bowie
knife, a dagger, slung-shot, bottle
of chloroform, and a sand-bag.
"Your first offense, is it?" said Cyrus.
''For novice at the business you carry
pretty good kit of tools. Stand up!"
The burglar obeyed
Are you "a man of family?"
"Yes, sir; 0, please"
''Stop your whining"
"a look of hard, stern, relentless pur.
pose settled on Cyrus face. He poiAted
the revolver at the AFFECT scoundrel's
head again.
go and take that baby" he com.
manded.
''Wh-what for?"
Never mind what for! You go and
take that baby"
"Cyrus!" exclaimed Mrs. Winterbot.
tom, in dismay, what do you mean?"
al know what | am about, Emily.
Pick up that squalling infant, you viii
lain!'
The man obeyed.
Handle it carefullyr'
"Yes, STRIP
Now walk the floor with i'll"
For four long hours Cyrus Winter
bottom held that empty revolver
leveled at the head of the miserable
man and compelled him to walk up and
down the room with the crying, squirm-
ing infant in his arms.
At daybreak the cringing, crawling
villain was permitted to sneak away
from the premises, broken hearted
man.
His raven hair had turned gray in
that one night.
1t was a horrible retribution, but
who shall say it was not deserved?
And thus we learn, my children, that
crime sometimes brings it's own punish.
ment, and that the way of the trans
gressor continues to be hard. Chicago
Tribune.