Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-05-01

AoASo shOhA W olSCp duu lOr bWO Or
three hours the silence of the house was
unbroken.
Suddenly Mrs Branscome awolse out
of a sound sleep with every sense
alert. The door leading from the bed
chamber into the hall was open. Surely
she heard sucalthy step in the parlor
below, then a slight noise, as though
some one unfamiliar with the room had,
in the darkness, stumbled against some
article of furniture.
"Davel" she cried, liz terrified
whisper, at the same time seizing him
by the shoulder. "Wake up, Dave,
there Is some one in the house."
Branscome sat up in bed, sleepily
rubbing his eyes. The sound was re-
peated and he was wide-awake in an
instant.
He placed his hand over his wife's
mouth and said In whisper: "Lie
perfectly still, and whatever happens
do not strike light or make sound
until I calrto you"
"Oh, Dave" began his trembling
wife.
"Be silent" he whispered, sternly,
''and obey"
Branscome arose softly and CROPPED
his way to the corner of the room
where he knew he would find pair of
Indian clubs. He seized one firmly and
softly entered the hall. Again he heard
the sound of a footstep. He stole to
the end of the hall and listened at the
door Of the room where Bridget, their
one servant, slept A heavy snore pro-
claimed to him that she was within and
sound asleep. Softly descending the
stairs he entered the parlor all was
dark and silent The storm had ceased
and the night was still, the darkness in
tense.
Branscome stood several minutes lis
tening; then came the sound again, ant
this time he was able to locate it in the
dihing-room. directly below where ht
stood. 1t was evident that the burglar:
felt themselves safe, knowing that the
entire parlor-foor intervened between
them and the sleeping-rooms of thu
family, and they went about their worl
1 with no little noise. Branscome heart
chair overturned and then the clink o
silver.
Now Branscome was an enthusiast II
regard to antique silver. His sideboar,
was laden with choice early Italian ant
old English plate, which he used ever.
day upon his table and never locked II
the safe at night. The thought that h
was about to be robbed of these rouse,
him to grim fury against the yandal
who had invaded his home to despoi
him of his possessions He set hi
teeth hard, grasped the Indian clu'
firmly and made his way toward tn
basement stairs.
!. The door creaked loudly as he openc
1t, and for ten or fifteen seconds ther
was silence, then directly below him
apparently approaching the foot of tn
stairs, he heard a sound like muffle
footsteps.
The burglars were frightened, h
| thought, and were about to escape.
The basement hak was enwrapped 1
,, inky blaclsness. Branscome had des
cended the stairs when he heard agai
an approaching sound. The miscrear
seemed about to ascend. Raising hi
!, Indian club, Branscome sprang fol
ward, striking at the same time bio,
that would have killed an OK.
The blow fell-on empty air, an
Branscome fell, face first, into ice-col
water, which dripped from his sing
garment as he rose, sputtering an
cursing and called to Mrs. Branscom
!, to bring light.
What Mrs. Branscome had suffere,
. lying silent in the darkness, expectin
any moment to hear the sound of
+ struggle and the cries of the wounded
" may be imagined. At the call of HI
husband she sprang from the bed,
the lamp and with trembling liml
S hurried downstairs. Bridget, too, hs
; been aroused, and in picturesque cor
l. bination of red flannel and green pla
n shawl followed her mistress.
q At the head Of the basement stat
!. Branscome, shivering and swearin
+ with streams Of dirty clay-colort
l, water streaking his features and dri
q ping from his robe du nutt, dawped upC
q them.
D. grieve to relate it, but those tv
% heartless women laughed long and 10,
n at the sight, while Branscome in c
. Tended dignity sought the seclusion OF
dry nightgown, and the spare ROOF
7, and was seen no more that night.
Is The heavy rain had so overfush,
n the sewer that the water had "back
up" and laid the basement floor for
teen inches under water. The NOV
,r ment of this miniature flood had pr
duced the sounds resembling footster
" and the overturned chairs and lig
IS tables, floating on the surface of t
ot water, humping against each other al
ii coming in contact with the walls h
30 been mistaken for the movements OF
10 burglar
BY Branscome likes to tell good stor
lie but he never relates this nights expe
ence, and | venture to say that VIII
'" next he goes on still hunt for b,
glar he will take Mrs. BIS advice a
H. first strike light.-Lou V. Chaplin,
Chicago Graphic.
10 The Wicked Bosom-Pin.
Id As every one knows, In the ear
days of Methodism a considerat
8. degree of strictness was maintained