The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-07

work pertaining to Christmas-which
have no right to mention here-went TO |
bed, too.
was shown to my door at the far end |
of a hall in an extreme wing of the
house and with a lighted candle, en-
tered.
1t was q large corner apartment, pur-
posely secluded from the household so
its guests might enjoy quiet and pri-
vacy. On one side CHEEKY coal fire
glowed from the CRATE between two
windows, at the back stood bureau,
then came a closet on the other side a
little way from the foot of the comfort
able bed which was to occupy.
At first l determined not to satisfy
my little mischievous friends by look
ing under it, but woman's curiosity
finally compelled me to take sly peep
and there, just as 1 expected, lay the
stuffed figure pushed back against the
wall. 1t can stay there till morning
for aA me, / thought, and when the
boys fish it out the laugh will be on
them. Besides it will completely
ssJtelch the stories told in the family,
and out of it, too, that l can't go to
sleep before looking under my bed for
man.
So l locked the door and, without
thinking, put the key in the pocket of a
sack had on and hung the garment in
the closet.
Then l wound my watch, saw it was
past twelve o'clock and laid it on the
bureau, took off my side curls and some
ot1 1,;r NOT tO tinT
and in night-cap and gown sat on the
rocker before the cozy fire with my
trusty poker on my lap. After 1 had
sufficiently warmed my feet which I've
| been told is productive of sound rest
and health, 1, first saying my prayers,
of course, by the bedside, jumped be-
meath the blankets and tried to go to
sleep with the poker on its blue ribbon
handy by ready for emergencies. But
the idea, which 1 couldn't vanish, of
that stuffed form under me kept me
walkeful and nervous.
Finally began to dream of boring
red hot pokers into burglars hearts and
! then all of sudden l awolSe oppressed
with that icy sensation of peril and in
| tuitively feeling that some one was in
the room.
| l lay without sound or motion awhile,
with my eyes open but so frightened
that scarcely breathed.
The fire shed soft, dull light
through the room and l fancied saw
my dress, containing my pocllet-book,
slowly being pulled from the chair at
the foot of my bed.
Perhaps a cat was playing with it.
AS still as death L lay watching, as
noiselessly in some invisible way it dis
appeared. Yes, was sure it was only
the puss. Just as | was going to cry
scat! scat!' my quick eye detected a
dim, shadowy form crawling like an
immense snake over the floor toward
the bureau. Frozen with terror / gazed
unable to move or scream.
saw it get there and stop. Slowly a
! long arm raised and the huge, black
hand of negro began fumbling around
for my watch. Then / knew what the
| figure had seen under my bed was and
realized that my only chance of safety
consisted in pretending sleep and let
ting the colored thief go away with his
plunder. Soon the horrible form was
flat on the floor again creeping without
sound to where l helplessly lay.
Instantly closed my eyes, praying
that all he wanted was to escape
through the hall. heard him squirm
past me and try the door. Then l re-
membered it was locked and the key
hanging in my sack in the closet.
| think l tainted. Then | seemed as
in trance, but perfectly conscious that
the terrible negro was at my bedside
watching me. Every moment l eX.
pected he would discover my poker and
brain me with it,
He must have thought l slept, fol
after an agony of suspense, l felt that
he was moving off to the windows.
In spite of myself l opened my eyes
and gasped, saw him drop to the fool
and like great toad spring behind the
foot of my bed.
Luckily had no power of sound OF
movement to break the awful stiffness
during the moments the black devil
was listening. Was he again crawling
beneath the bed? No! l saw the tor
of the closet door quietly open and
shut. Evidently the fellow had chosen
the pantry for a temporary hiding
place and if so, for the present / would
be spared.
A young person in my situation
would probably have been murdered il
cold blood by acting hastily, but 1, frs
cautiously securing my poker, tool
time for reflection. l considered the
robber would wish to stay in the closet
as long as 1 was awake and not venture
out before the coast was clear for hin
to escape, which might reasonably no
happen till left my room in the morn
ing-when somebody from the outsid,
could unlock the door and release me
> The first step then was for me to hav,
pain or chill so | could slip on a shaw
and get to the fire for warmth or t,
heat some water and, in the meantime
slyly make the end of my protecting
poker red hot, when | wouldn't fear
dozen robbers, white or black.
1t was fearful effort to control M
nerves to act properly, but I'm rroud t,
say l managed it successfully, aid sool
was rocking and groaning before tn
CRATE as naturally as the best actres
living-knowing all the while that tn
negro was eying me through the cracl
of the door and ready at the slightes
false movement made to pounce ou
and kill me.
: judged at least several hours of tha
torture must be endured ere the blessed
; daylight came and fervently prayeC
I that both of us could or would hold ou
till then.
2 Long sat there forcing myself to b,