The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-03-21

know that he would find the key undo
d the clock, and not under my pillow.
Then l picked up some things ths
were scattered about, turned out tn
light and with an effort slowly Wake
past the window to the hall, where
confess ran upstairs as fast as m
trembling legs would carry me.
This happened on Thursday nigh
in October, and on the Saturday nigh
following the robbery took place.
| was entirely alone in the house, TO
my brother and his wife, taking advan
tage of the midnight train. had gone {.
the city and had not returned, owing
as learned afterward, to their missin,
the train. The upstairs servant was q
her mothers, sick, and the cook was of
visiting friend, who, treating her to-
well, made it impossible for her to wall
home before the next day. Our hiret
man, after bringing in the milk, haG
started for his barn-room, where ]
supposed he was sound asleep.
sat up in the parlor with the cat till
one o'clock, heard the train arrive, and
after vainly waiting for the sound OF
the village hack bringing my brother
home, opened the front door to listen.
U! how black the night was. quickly
closed and bolted the door, and, brave
as | naturally was, when locked N.Y.
self in my bedroom / shivered at the
thought that the burglars might have
chosen that time to visit me.
/ on,11Av,sf c1onx~ o-1-~ l.
ing and praying they wouldn't. After
awhile felt calmer, and then-iust as
was losing myself in doze-down
fell on my face that awful towel, token
OF danger. The thread, which / had
never failed to set, was snapped, and
the robbers. and, perhaps, murderers.
were in the house, knowing most likely
that was alone.
AT first was so overcome with fright
that l couldn't help trying to scream:
but, luckily, i only emitted a noiseless
gasp.
Alone, with burglars in the house.
with no neighbors near enough to hear
or help, realized, perhaps too late. the
extent of my girlish folly in playing
amateur detective. Then, somehow. INV
vanity and the fear of ridicule got the
upperhand, and / thought of the glory
of success, the five thousand dollars re-
ward, how the papers would praise me |
and print my pictures till, flushed with
'onceit, slipped out of bed and donned |
ny gymnasium suit which had kept |
handy for my purpose.
Then cautiously opened the peep
lole in the floor and peered through it
o the dining-room below.
For awhile could see nothing in the
arkness; soon / heard whispering
nd stealthy footsteps and then when a
match was struck made out two forms
y the safe.
l held in my trembling hand the
7ire leading to the trap, ready to pull
'hen both the rascals were surely in
osition.
l had cunningly placed an obstruction
the key-hole of the safe, so while
ne robber attempted to open it the
ther would have to stand close by him
, give light.
1t worked exactly as l planned. One
'iiow was on his knees trying the key,
he other burning matches and both
luarely on the trap. Now was my
me. Click! went the spring in answer i
my nervous pull and down disap- t
Jared my two gentlemen before either n
'uld say Jack Robinson" l heard S
e dull splash made in the molasses. 3
en the trap, swinging back to its
ace, left them for the present. at /
asst, securely entombed. s
Not even climbing one on the other h
uid release them, even when they had Il
covered from their confusion and de-
and rubbed the sickness q
t of their eyes. d
Now to get the assistance necessary +;
complete their capture. d.
but-how and where. My brother, OF
ing away just when needed him.
set this part of my scheme. Il
must go out in the black night nv h,
I, run other and unthought-of risks, 81
d find help. m
again the horror of my situation over &C
ne me and nearly tainted.
'orcing courage that will confess ev
~ AASo ACCi, otolc uOWn the back AC
IRIS, and, thinking to rouse Michael at
the barn, softly unlocked the kitchen tri
side door and looked out. A low hi
istle from the shrubbery at the cor ey
OF the house turned me to ice. tn
ere was another burglar watching at
m without.
had not reckoned on that. Evident be
Re took me for one of his pals. ma
oping SO, returned his whistle. and be
h what little strength l had left.
,aged to fasten the door and make str
way along the hall, past that awful wa
ng-room to the front of the house. do
ing him at the back. Through a LOT
or window gained the piazza. reI
ting to escape to the road before dis =
ny and there run for my life. prs
was feeling for the steps my hand IN
he'd something cold. sno
was my brothers bicycle which / ITO
d ride as good as he and, in nv
nasium dress, even better. His ~
Al L