Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-03
A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE.

Nothing Emily. Let me go to sleep,
will you2"
For few moments silence reigned in the
sleeping chamber.
"Cyrus Winterbottom, there's somebody
in the housed I hear noise in the kitch.
en"
| Cyrus sat up in his bed and listened.
tIr's the cat," he grumbled drowsily.
"a cat doesn't wear boots and 60 around
opening doors. Hark!"
| The baby stirred and Mrs. Winterbottom
soothed it to rest again.
81 don't see what anybody 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 there9''
'.Nothing to steal! There's plate full
of tarts, pan of doughnuts. and sponge
| cake" Some of your-heigh gh.ho-your
own concoction, Emily"
"Yes, some Of my own making. Then
there's all the silverware and"
"He'll never get to the silverware, Emily,
if he tackles the doughnuts first. You will
find his horribly distorted body in the morn.
ing,
He listened again. All was quiet. But
presently an unmistakable sound as ofsome-
body moving about on the floor below,
aroused even Cyrus dull senses. Steps
seemed to be approaching the stairway.
Cyrus took his revolver out from under his
pillow, 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 entirely in
his hands.
Softly and stealthily came the steps up
stairs, and in few moments the dim light
of the night lamp on the dressing case fell
upon the stalwart form of man whose face
was concealed by mask.
Mrs. Winterbottom screamed at sight of
him, and 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 scoundrelp' he hissed.
Don't you move a m uscle or I'll put ball
through you!''
The revolver hadn't been loaded for
year or more, and Cyrus knew it, but the
burglar didn't.
The pitiful wretch stood perfectly still.
"Take off your maskl' sternly command
ed Cyrus. -
The burglar complied. With sshen face
and mean hang-dog look he stood there,
and said not a word. Mrs. Winterbottom
had recovered her self-possession, but the
baby continued to howl.
SIT would serve you right, you saeaklug
contemplate villain" said Cyrus in deep
tragic voice, 'if I should shoot you where
you stand. I believe I'll do it, anyhow"
MERCY! MercyP' pleaded the trembling
wretch. "It's the first time ever broke
into house. PH never do it again. Please
let me 20.
It's the first time you were ever caught
at it! It'll be the last. Down on your
kneesp'
"Don't kill him. Cyrusp begged his wife.
''Think of the carpet!'
"Listenp' said Cyrus, coming close to the
kneeling burglar. ''Hold up your hands.
While the fellows hands were up Cyrus
rif1ed his pockets. He took therefrom two
loaded revolvers, a bowie knife, dagger.
slung shot, a bottle Of chloroform and q
sand bag.
sYour first offense, is it?" said Cyrus.
"For novice at the business you carry
pretty good kit of tools. stand up!''
The burglar obeyed.
'tAre you q man of family"
eyes sir, o, please"
s'Stop your whiningp'
A look of hard, stern, relentless purpose
settled on Cyrus face. He pointed the
revolver at the abject scoundrel's head
again.
"ao and tske that badly" he command
ed.
"Wh-what for?"
"Never mind what for! You 60 and take
that babyW
"Cyrusp' exclaimed Mrs. Winterbottom
10 dismay, .'what do you mean?"
81 know what am about, Emily. Pick
up that squalling infant, you villainl'
The man obeyed.
'Handle it carefullyr'
s'Yes, STRIP
'Now walk the floor with itP'
For four long hours Cyrus Winterbottom
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, squirning infant in his arms.
| At daybreak, the cringing, crawling viii
lain was permitted to sneak away from the
premises, broken hearted man.
| His raven hair had turned gray in that
one night.
1t was horrible retribution, but who
shall say 1t was not deserved!
| And thus We learn, my children, that
crime sometimes brings its own Punishment,
and that the way of the trapsgressor con-
tinues to be hsrd.-Chico0o Tribune.