Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-04-10
DURSTON'S BURGLAR.

Richard DurstOn, OacnelOr, mas al
WAYS been afraid OF burglars and
susceptible of old maids. He could
not remember the time when the
dread of being robbed or sued for
breach of promise was not upon him.
In other respects he was quite coura-
geous. He never seemed to be ner-
vous about dogs, lightning or fire.
He even dared to do right now and
then. On the whole he was as plucky
as the average man in spite OF his
convictions that the time would come
when he would have trouble with Il
burglar and suit at law with an old
maid.
Durston, as you know, lives in a
handsome house on an uptown cross
street. He always held that the ma
jority of burglaries are effected
through the treachery Of servants.
He has, therefore, kept bachelors
hall for many years with the aid OF
an assistant an Old woman-a kind
of heirloom in his family. As he gen
orally dimes at his club he has man
aged to live very comfortably with
out keeping a boarding house for men
and women who might be in league
with robbers. His aged housekeeper
is not ambitious. He feels confident
that she willne sue him for breach
of promise nor permit a burglar to
make breach in the house.
Durston's library and bed room are
on the second floor. The old woman
sleeps in the back room of the floor
above. She is very deaf, 50 that when
Durston wishes to call her he touches
a button at the head of his bed. This
sends mild electric current through
the reclining form of the housekeeper
up stairs. She approves OF this pro-
cess i'm the belief that it tends to hold
her rheumatism in check. 1t seems
very shocking way to treat an old
woman, however. And then Durston
must find it unpleasant to discharge
a servant two or three times day.
But reraRGts q nos burglar. One
night last winter Durston reached
home rather earlier than usual. AS
was his custom he examined the doors
and windows in the lower part of the
house and then went TO the library.
He found his jacket and slippers in
their accustomed place. \ wood fire
was cracking in the CRATE and a de
canter Of whislley and a box of cigars
tempted him from the center table.
Durston smiled contentedly as he
drew all easy chair towards the fire.
Life was very pleasant to him. He
was one of those happy bachelors
who have no regrets. Not that Ours
ton lacked sentiment. Far from 1t.
In fact, he was not al all what the
world calls practical man.
No; Durston was inclined to look
at the romantic side Of life, and as he
smoked a petfecto and slipped his
whisky and seller in front of the blaze
that night he jndulged in inaginings
that would have shocked the hard
headed house keeper up stairs worse
than did her private electric current
the day the battery was over-charged
Durston had for the moment for
gotten all about the old maid and
burglars. He vas in a condition OF
bodily AMI mental repose that drove
into outer dark kness all the unpleasant
things OF his life. Finally the con-
viction came UPON him slowly that it
was time to 60 to bed. He fought
hard against che proposition, but
there was no eecape for him. Look
ing at his watcG he found that ii was
long after one o'clock. Turning out
the lights in tie library he entered
his bedroom. lie was till in state
of sleepy contentment. Just &' he
was about to PIT out the gas he was
startled by slight noise that seemed
to come from tie cellar. He listened
intently. Five minutes passed, but
there was no further sounds from be
low. Durston surrounded himself by
perfect darkness. and crept into bed.
But lie could not sleep. That un-
lucky noise had rendered him fever
ish. The thought of burglars had
disturbed his serenity OF mind. His
revolver lay on, a chair by the bed
side, and he keEt his hand on it for
some time. Th, weapon seemed to
whisper to him. Peace. Dnrston, 90
to sleep. my chzd. | will not go of
until the burgla, comes"
This assuranc, on the part Of the
pistol quieted :Durston somewhat.
and he was beginning to feel very
sleepy again wien he heard light
step on the stairs. There was no
mistake about il. After keeping sui
lenlv alouf for years Durston's bur-
glar stole carefully through the nail
and entered the 1brary. Durston was
astonisbed to realize that he was ly-
ing in bed with u pistol in his hand,
a housebreaker n the next room, and
that he was beginning to enjoy the
adventure. The thought flashed
through his ming that even breach
of promise case might not be as hor-
rible as he had Imagined.
The reckless l.llow seems to think
that there is NOBODY in the house. "
chuckled Durst1n as he heard his