The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-01-30
WHEN | WAS A BURGLAR.

. WeSo, uoCS Aioo SuO AHy AENAO IA cAAo
story; suffice it to say that l was there,
Hospitality entertained by my good
friend Professor Field, who is one of
the substantial pillars OF the organi-
cation.
had intended remaining over night,
and had been assigned by the Profess
or to a room on the second floor d.
rectly across the hall from his own.
Here I hastily arranged my toilet;
then, leaving my handbag, hurried to
the society rooms, where the meeting
was already in progress.
Everything passed off nicely. Dur
ing the forenoon Igot myself nominal
ed for an Office and was defeated by q
gratifying majority. At noon we were
invited to dinner at the big hotel, and
in the evening a banquet was served
in the society rooms.
made a speech at the banquet. I
was afraid I wouldn't get a. chance to
make it, but 1 did. knew just what
l was going to say before / got up. 1t
is some satisfaction to remembering t
now, tor when l did get on my feet my
mind was like a new slate. I have q
dim recollection of lights and unsym-
pathetic faces, OF a mad clutching at
ideas, of two or three big words get
ting crosswise in my throat like fish
bones, then of q terrific silence.
Some one has said that it is a rare
quality to be able to think standing.
l disputed that statement when ]
read it, but I won't do so any more.
The author of it has evidently at
tended more banquets than I have.
After the banquet there was to be
further entertainment, but l was tired
and had lost interest. Referring to
my watch, I found I had just time to
catch the last train by walking rap
idly. I hunted up the Professor to
lie to him about pressing engage
ments, and to apologize for taking
such a show of myself before he msoci-
ETY.. He was very kind and said it
might have been worse; / suppose he
thought | was lucky in escaping with
out bodily injury. Then he aided me
in finding my hat and led me to the
gate.
"You can stop at the room and get
your bag" he said "You turn to the
right, you know, at the foot of the
hill" Hecalled after me the number of
the house from the corner, as hurried
away.
Time was flying rapidly and Ihad
nome to lose. ran to the foot of the
hill and turned to the right. The
houses on that street were as like each
other as nine-pins.
Suddenly I found that I had forgot
ten which one he had said it was. I
had taken but little notice OF the place
in daylight, and couldn't have picked
it out to ave my credit. Then / tried
to recall his words. 1t struck methat
he had said something about the fifth
from the corner. The fifth? Yes, Twas
quite sure of it. l would try that,
anyway. l stepped up on the porch
and knocked.
NO AilSW6r.
Very likely the family were out, or
in the back part of the house. I tried
the door. It opened, and there was g.
light burning in the hall. The place
looked familiar. I had no time to
waste if l was to catch my train, and
Ifelt that l would not remain in Lance
row over night for a good deal. I
knew the way to my ROOM, and
mounted the stairs without further
hesitation.
When l reached the door I felt some
little trepidation, but l had gone too
far to back out now.
cropping around in the dark for my
handbag. l thought l knew just
where l had put it, but it was not
there. I remembered settingit against
the wall somewhere. l rummaged.my
pockets for matches, but found moth
ing but toothpicks. Then Ipgot down
and felt along the wall close to this
floor, making q circuit of the room,
and swearing softly to myself in the
meantime. =
The cold drops began to stand out
on my forehead. Suppose some one
should be there in bed and suddenly
shoot me for a thief!
It was dark as pitch, and I was in a
hurry, for the precious moments were
passing. Suddenly l pumped against
something soft; it was the bed. Per-
haps my bag had been laid there dur
ing my absence. Iput out my hand
to feel for it. AS I did SO, there arose
on the air q feminine shrek which
fetched my hair up with such a sudden
jerk that / am quite sure some of it
fell out.
/ did not pause to make sure of that.
Happening to remember my hitherto
unspattered reputation, l withdrew.
Possibly I was a little abrupt. / have
a faint remembrance of q brief
prayer that / might reach the side
walk before any one came; the rest is
all blank. I heard a door open
somewhere as / stepped out into the
night, but / did not linger. I never
was any hand for idle converse
ton.
Meanwhile I was cutting q thin
groove through the air at the rate Of
eight or ten miles an hour, headed for
the open fields. / heard footsteps be-
hind mi, but they might as we'll have
tried to overtake the limited
mail. made q large circuit
around the tsWn; then / sat down
and cooled of, adjusted my necktie,
and walked leisurely back to the soci-
ETY. meeting with an air Of innocence
and unconcern. This, + reflected, was
my safest course.
When my friend saw me come In, /
Thought he looked diaann0intAd. Int