Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-06-07
CAUGHT.

A number of burglaries had been COM
mitted in that part of the city in which
the Bcemans lived, and Mr.. Beeman and
the other members of his family sat at
the tea-table one evening discussing the
latest case. the breaking into the house
next to their own.
Perhaps the most interested person at
the tca-table was Mrs Lucinda Drake,
Mr.. Beeman'5 Id aunt, who had arrived
on that very day to make a visit. Mrs.
Drake was country born and bred. She
loved the country, and detested the city
and all its ways, and distrusted every
dweller in city whom she did not
know to be good and honest. When
she went to visit Der nephew she was
accustomed to bid her family a solemn
farewell
Because, she would say, there's no
telling whether I'll ever get home alive
the city is such wicked place.
The account of the burglares referred
to greatly excited Aunt Lucinda, and
she at first declared that she would go
directly home, as iicr life must be in
constant danger i she remained in the
We're being committed.
Mr.. Beelnan had laughed at her fears,
however, and had finally prevailed on
her TO forego her intention of returning
home.
Lightning seldom strikes twice in the
same place, Aunt Lucinda" he said,
"and as the burglara have already visited
our neighbors, and they know that we
are all on The alert, they are not likely
to come thi, way again soon. :"
"Well, it'll be the worst for them if
thev come near me-, said Aunt Lu-
cinnda, and when one looked at her it
seemed that her saying might be true.
She was a large, muscular woman, in
perfect health, aud was not lacking in
courage, Notwithstanding her seeming
timidty.
"Its not that I'm afraid" she said,
scornfully, but | don't want to lose any
of my things, aud it isn't pleasant to
wake up in the dead of night and find a
burglar prowling around ones room.
You'll not be troubled, auntie, said
Mr. Beeman, confidently. All our
locks and bolts are in good condition,
and | shall sleep with one eye open.
81 shall be liNsly to sleep with both of
mine open, replied Aunt Lucinda.
MIR. Beemau attended an entertain-
ment down town that night, and, at
few minutes before midnight, found
himself on his own doorstep without his
latch key.
"This is too provoking" he said, as he
carefully searched his pockets without
finding tie missing key. 1t was only
this evening that harriet told me that
the bell wire was broken or twisted SO
the bell won't ring All the family sleep
upstairs, and / can't awaken anybody
without screaming loud enough to rouse
all the neighbors within a block. It's
two miles to the nearest hotel, and no
more hor>e-cars tonight. must get in
some way OF other.
A little balcony projected over tho
front door, 1t was supported by two
posts reaching to the front steps.
81 know what I'll do, said Mr. Bee
man, mentally. I'll climb up to that
little balcony. The window in front of
it opens into Aunt Lucinda's room. I'll
rap gently until | awaken her, and ask
her to raise the window and let me in. "
1t was not an easy thing to climb up
she smooth, round posts, hat MIR. i eman
finally succeeded in doing it, and scraE-
bled over the lalcony railing in doing
which he necessarily made not a lite
noise. Then he tapped gently on tho
window glass, AMI was about to call his
aunt bv name when, to his nmaHnm"nt,
a water-pitcher came crashing through
tie window, and struck him with stuA-
Mug force full in the face.
\ washbowl followed TIE wat"r
pitcher, and Mr.. Ecenan fell to tn" al
cony floor, not only a toni|l3cl h 10
q armed 10y the voIlcy of bru h", hrpr.,
soap-d .h",, pillows and mia.7'll"Ec MS
= jclc, of every description I'at we 9
.ho.. red upon him. II" tried t" c'l
Ia, aunt by name, but hi' c.i"' W. o
drowned by her prolonged ,trI'i,, Of
"Nurder! Police! Help. D,t't YOU
da.l come in here! john Lee nan,