The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-06

false movement / made to pounce out
and kill me.
JUDGED at least several hours of that
torture must be endured ere the blessed
daylight came and fervently prayed
thSt both of us could OF would hold out
TIL then.
Long sat there forcing myself to be
calm and planning how was TO GIT my
door opened without causing suspicion,
which would bring on an attack at
once. l must communicate in some
way unknown to the villain in the
closet. In my trunk was paper ard
pencil. l got them and going to my
bed where could be unseen managed
to scrawl in the dark as follows:
"Help but be careful! Man under the
bed-now hiding in closet watching
me. Hall door locked. can't get out.
BE quick"
Then l slipped the note under the
door trusting it would be found by
some one and went back to my chair
by the fire and waited.
Would daylight ever come? Looking
out of the corners of my eyes l could
see that awful closet door keep softly
moving, as the burglar was observing
me, and once, when at the bureau, I
got back glimpse in the glass of his
black face and shining eyes. ! almost
screamed, and thought it was all up
with me, for the demon seemed coming
out, but when I turned prepared to
meet him with my hot poker the door
quickly closed, and breathed again.
By and by heard rooster crow,
| and my courage was renewed. The
gray of the welcomed dawn began to
appear. Soon came footsteps through
the hall, nearer-to my door-past it
gone. My letter wasn't noticed.
Row was my greatest danger, for
may be, the robber would fear to wait
for daylight ard folks to be about be-
fore making dash to get out, by the
window, if necessary, and kill me in
the attempt. There had been and was
no use for me to call assistance. Before
it could come would have been slashed
with the black fiend's razor or throttled
by his long, wiry fingers. Hank! More
footsteps outside. Coming-passing-
going-No! thank Heaven, they stopped
and | heard the rustic of the letter as
it was picked up. o, would the finder
have sense to understand it? The foot.
steps left me and in worse suspense
than before / waited and watched the
| closet. After what seemed an age Of
agonizing fear, again came the sounds
of advancing feet in the hall and a key
was inserted gently in the lock- Their
praise the Lord-the door swung oper
and in bounded my nephew with a re-
and Bridget with an axe, all followed
at a safe distance by the rest of the
family. Up / jumped and shouted
Come out, you black rascal and sur
render!" No reply or sound came from
the closet. Then, when we all were il
position, in the van with my glowing
| fiery poker for a good jab at the villain
and the rest with weapons appraised
my nephew sent bullet, bang! through
the closet door. Like a flash it burst
wide open, and out leapad the biggest,
ugliest, blackest-CAT ever laid eyes
on, ard that, as we plainly saw, was
the only burglar in there.
Quicker than / can tell, the knowl
edge came to me in all it's horror that
was still in night-cap and gown, will
my side curls and other feminine APP
pendages lying around for them all t.
see. With a blood-curdling shrek,
dropped the hot poker on the cook
feet, sprang in the closet, pulled tigh
the door, and yelled go away! Shu
your eyes! Go out!'' Their laughter
on doing SO, nearly gave me fit, it wa
SO heartlessly provoking.
And now my story is done, for Their
wasn't any burglar at all-not even
stuffed one, as had foolishly supposed
The whole thing was nightmare
first and vivid imagination after, al
the result of my looking for forty year
under the bed for horrid man ant
finding only an innocent cat.
But it cured me forever of that non
sense, and although never hear tn
end of the jokes about it I'm happie
and sleep better than before. Now VIII
wants to buy good poker with blu
ribbon attachment?
1t will be sold cheap.-H. c. Dodge
in Goodalls Sun.