Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-04-30
MRS. H0WARD'S BURGLAR.


sible that might for few days, weeks,
months, or, possibly, years, have languished
behind prison bars"
"Youp exclaimed the guest whose chance
expression had drawn forth the above con-
fession. "Youl My dear Mrs. Howardw
III" calmly. eyes" in reply to a look of
incredulity.
"But howl Pray tell me-"
Mrs. Howard laughed at the surprise writ
ten on her friends face. III was rather inn
pulsive in my younger days" she said, land
full Of theories, one of which was that all
criminals save murderers-I drew the line
sharply there--should be demonstrated and
reasoned with instead Of being imprisoned
Prison life, prison discipline, hardened and
embittered them, argued. Soon after my
first husbands death | had an experience
where opportunity was given me to put my
theory into practice. I was then exceedingly
careless in all business matters, and one lay
went into q savings bank, where had depos-
tied some odd hundreds, and drew $780,
Then, with these bills in my hand-not even
hidden in my purse, mind .you-I walked
of our city, straight to my own house. All
the way held them lightly clasped in my
hand.
Well, of course, what l might naturally
expect to happen, did happen. Yes, that
night man entered my house through one
Of the area windows He had seen me, as
walked nonchalantly along the street. swing
ing my roll of bills, and, wanting money, he
f1t R,,f ba 10, f.Ir,
the trouble had he known that Godfrey, my
brother, who is now in Brazil, happened to
come to lunch that day, and insisted, very
peremptorily | thought then, very wisely
think now, upon taking the bills and giving
me a check for the amount.
My robber, knowing nothing of this trans
action, entered the house by means of file,
with which he forced one of the shutters of
the area windows
Startled Frightened Very thoroughly
startled, very thoroughly frightened was |
that night. He entered the house, he searched
the lower rooms, he came up to my chamber
and ordered me, rather roughly, confess, to
rise and produce the money had that morn
ing brought into the house.
With chatterng teeth with trembling
limbs complied with his request. Indeed, /
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.
A wild thought occurred to me, as slipped
into my wrapper, and at once proceeded to
execute it.
II won't have no foolin'," declared my
robber, clutching me by the arm and giving
me violent shaking, as we'll as a dreadful
heart throb mo foolin', mind you'll But
just you lead me straight to the place where
you've hid that money in"
at is down in the CELLAR faltered.
"That's lie, I'll swearln no exclaimed.
ooh, but it isln answered
81 don't believe - word of it."
was rather more composed now, and /
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 the grocery, and then
1carried my money down and hid it there
MYSELF
The smooth, untripping confidence with
which l delivered this false statement made
an impression on the man. l followed it up
Instantly: 81 will light lamp and go down
with you, and show you the very spot"
said.
go long, then" he ordored "but if it's
$780, lie III pull the hair outer yer headm
every well, +" l said proceeding to light
kitchen lamp. 81 will go first, if you please.n
l held the lamp before mo rs we descended
the cellar steps, lighting tho way for myself
but not for him. Swearing vigorously at tho
darkness, he followed me. Whom we reached
the flooring stood little aside. "Nou must
step carefully over that loose board, | said,
"for the soft water cistarn is sunk in the
ground there. Carefully, carefully. Lightly
nowl Ahlp and with u loud scream I threw
the lighted lamp far ahead into the cellar l
then turned, fled up the dark stairway, closed
and boltcd the cellar door before my robber
comprehended my purpose.
This had been my plan from the moment
we left my room, but had thought it would
he far more difficult of achievements The
blaze OF the exploding lamp would do no
damage l knew, since the floor Of the cellar
was a stone one and while it would hewilder
him, it would do him no injury. And as the
cistern, upon whose brink he stood, existed
only In my imagination, felt no Compunc-
ton in leaving him poised upon the board.
Ali what long breath drew as l shot
that bolt into placed What a 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 the
cellar, that fear changed into a deep resent
ment What had l done, / asked myself
that he should use me SO roughlyl Had not
obeyed him'
My theories did not rocur to me then. In
deed, as ran into the drawing room and
opened window my only thought was TO
call in an officer and have the man carried
70 the jail No inclination did feel then TO
demonstrate or reason with the man who had
broken into my house, had threatened me,
had clutched and shaken mel
For others, not for myself, were'my theo-
ries that night
A policeman soon came down the street,
and called TO him. As he stood under my
window hastily told him Of tHc burglar.
First SO for my brother" added, land
then get him out of the collar and carry him
off,"
Geoffrey lived IN the house facing mine,
and, with the same strong feeling Of resent
ment, watched the officer cross the street.
Soon he returned, accompanied 10y my
brother, who quite materially greeted me with
the remark; Il knew your folly Of today
would invite something of this sort.'
One can pardon a'slight ucarhity If speech
from a man who is aroused from his slumbers
in the dead Of night. !, therefore, took no
notice, and motioning Godfrey to lead the
way to the kitchen, | simply followed the
two men TO the landing aud sat down upon
the top stair, and waited for the end
Now that help had come a strange torpor
seemed 10 steal over me Scarcely conscious
of thought sat there liStlrSs motionless and
almost stupelicl With the intensity of the fear
I h,1 axVarfauca1