The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-04-15
miscellaneous.
CAUGHT.
From the Youths COMPANION.

From the Youths Companion.
A number of burglaries had been
committed in that part of the city in
which the Beemans lived, and Mr..
Beeman and the other members of his
family sat at the tea-table one even
ing discussing the latest case, the
breaking into the house next to their
own.
Perhaps the most interested person
at the tea-table was Mrs. Lucinda
Drake, Mr.. Beeman's old aunt who
had arrived on that very day to make
visit. Mrs. Drake was country born
and bred. She loved the country, and
detested the city and all it's ways, and
distrusted every dweller in city
whom she did not know to be good
and honest. When she went to visit
her nephew she was accustomed to
bid her family a solemn farewell.
Because, she would say, there's
no telling whether I'll ever get home
alive the city is such wicked place.
The account of the burglaries refer
red to greatly excited Aunt Lucinda,
and she first declared she would go
directly home, as her life must be in
constant danger if she remained in the
neighborhoodi in which such rascalities
were being committed.
Mr.. Beeman had laughed at her
fears, however, and had finally pre-
vailed on her to forego her intention
of returning home.
Lightning seldom strikes twice in
the same place, Aunt Lucinda" he
said, land as the burglars have al
ready visited our neighborhood, and
they know that we are all on the alert,
thew are not likely to come this way
again soon.
"Well, it'll be the worse for them if
they come near me-" said Aunt Lu-
cinda, and, when one looked at her it
seemed that her saying might be true.
She was large, muscular woman in
perfect health, and was not lacking in
courage, Notwithstanding her seeming
timidity.
Its not that I'm afraid" she said,
scornfully, "but | don't want to lose
any of my things, and it isn't pleasant
to wake up in the dead of night, and
find burglar prowling around ones
room"
you'll not be troubled, auntie, ;"
said Mr.. Beeman, confidently. ''All
our locks and bolts are in good condi-
ton, and | shall sleep with one eye
OPEN"
II shall be likely to sleep with both
of mine OPEN" replied Aunt Lucinda
| Mr. Beeman attended an entertain
ment down town that night, and, at a
few minutes before midnight, found
himself on his own doorstep without
his latch key.
''This is too provoking" he said, as
he carefully searched his pockets with
out finding the missing key. ut was
| l., u IL, ~ al
| that the bell wire was broken or twist
ed so the bell won't ring. All the
family sleep upstairs and l can't
awaken anybody without screaming
loud enough to rouse all the neighbors
within a block. It's two miles to the
nearest hotel, and no more horse-cars
! tonight | must get-in some way or
other
A little balcony projected over the
front door. 1t was supported by two
posts reaching to the front steps
Il know what I'll do" said Mr.. Bee
man, mentally. '1'll climb up to that
little balcony. The window in front
of it opens into Aunt Lucinda's room.
I'll rap gently until awaken her, and
ask her to raise the window and let
me i'm
1t was not an easy thing to climb up
the smooth, round posts, but Mr. Bee
man finally succeeded in doing it and
scrambled over the balcony railing, in
doing which he necessarily made not
a little noise. Then he tapped gently
on the window glass, and was about
to call his aunt by name when, to his
amazement, a water-pitcher came
crashing through the window, and
struck him with stunning force full in
the face.
A washbowl followed the water
pitcher, and Mr. Beeman fell to the
balcony floor, not only astonished but
alarmed by the volley of brushes,
boots, soapdishes, pillows and miscel-
laneous articles of every description
that were showered upon him. He
tried to call his aunt by name, but his
cries were drowned in her prolonged
shrieks Of
Murder Policel Help! Don't
YOU dare come in here! John Bee
imam, come here I've caught the
burglar. Oh, I've got you J"
She had thrown up the sash while
she screamed, and had reached out
and grasped Mr.. Beeman by the
ankles. He was small man and she
was large and strong, and she had
dragged him halfway over the win
dow-sill before the terrified mem,
bers of his family came running
with lamps and weapons of various
kinds.
Harriet - Mr.. Beeman finally
gasped out to his wife, cant you
make her stop?
"Why-John Beemann' shrieked
his wife.
"Why, it isn't-bless me if it isn't
John Beemanw screamed Aunt Lu
cinda, dropping down on her bed in q
state of utter collapse.
why, par cried his eldest daugh
ter.
''rd shot you in another second,
was the cheerful remark of Tom Bee
man, boy of sixteen, as he displayed
an evil-looking pistol, which he haf
kept under his pillow ever since the
first burglary had been committed.