The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-19
A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE
Visited by Chicago Husband on
Midnight Intruder.


Nothing, Emily. Let me 90 to sleep,
will you?"
For a few moments silence reigned in the
Slceping-chamber.
Cyrus WinteIbOttOm, there's somebody
in the housed Ihear noise in the kitchen!"
Cyrus sat up in bed and listened.
Its the cat" he grumbled drowsily.
"a cat doesn't wear boots and so about
opening doors. Hark y
The baby stirred and Mrs. Winterbottom
soothed it to rest again.
II don't see what anybody wants TO get
into our kitchen for" growled Cyrus, with
a yawn. "There's nothing to--heigh-ho !
to steal in that part of the house, is there?'
Nothing to steal! There's q plateful of
tarts. pan of doughnuts and sponge
cake"
Some Of neutrality-suspicious. own con-
cOciiOn, Emily?"
Eyes, some of my own making. Then
there's all the silverware, and"
Hell never get to the silverware. Emily,
if lie tackles the doughnuts first. You will
find his horribly distorted body in the morn
ing"
Hush! Harkw
He listened again. All was quiet. But
presently an unmistakable sound, as Of
somebody moving about on the floor below,
aroused even Cyrus's dulled senses. steps
seemed to be approaching the stairway.
CYRUS took his revolver ont 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
the stairway, and in a 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 a mask.
Mrs. WinterbottOm screamed at sight of
him, the baby woke up and howled, and be-
fore the burglar could recover from the mo-
mentary confusion into which this nneX-
pected reception had thrown him, Cyrus
confronted him with the revolver.
"You internal scoundrelW he Missed.
Don't you move muscle 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 mask.' sternly commanded
Cyrus.
The burglar complied. With ashen face
and mean hang-dOg look he stood there and
said not word. Mrs. Winterbottom had
recovered her self-possession, but the baby
continued to howl.
contemplate villain" said Cyrus in deep
tragic voice, "if should shoot YOU where
You stand. | believe I'll do it anyhow"
Mercy! Mercy!" pleaded the trembling
wretch. It's the first time | ever broke
into a house. I'll never do 1t again. Please
let me CO."
Its the first time you were ever caught
at it. It'll be the last. Down ON your
knees ~
Don't kill him. Cyrus" begged his wife.
Think OF the carpet"
"Listenw said Cyrus coming closer TO the
Epenlinu BURGLAR ssHoll nm ynur bopJe
While the fellows hands were up Cyrus
rfled his pockets. He took therefrom two
loaded revolvers, bowie-knife, dagger, a
slung-shOt, bottle Of chlorofOrm and a
sandbag.
Your first offense, is it?" said Cyrus.
''For novice at the business you carry a
pretty good kit of tools. Stand up!"
The burglar obeyed
Are you man OF famtly?'
eyes, sir; oh. please -"
stop your whining"
a look of hard, stern, relentless purpose
settled on Cyrus's face. He pointed the re-
volver at the abject scoundrePs head again.
Go and take that baby!' lie commanded.
"Wh-what for?"
Never mind what for! You 60 and take
that babyw
"Cyrusv' exclaimed Mrs. Winterbottom.
in dismay, what do you mean ?''
II know what l am about, Emily, Pick
up that squalling infant, you villain v'
The man obeyed.
'Handle it carefullyW
'Yes, sir!'
'Now walk the floor with it!'
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 cry
ing, squirming infant in his arms.
AT daybreak tie criDging, crawling villain
was permitted TO sneak away from the prem
ises, q 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 some
times brings its own punishment. and that
the way Of the transgressor continues to be
hard.-Chicago Tribune.