The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-21


There lay the weakness of my dcfenses. Inc
window was without shutters and lacked one
pane. which left an opening so situated that
fastening the sash would have been useless.
These rooms were on the ground floor, and, by
leaning cut of the window, might nave
touched some of the passcrs i'll the street.
The insecurity had occasiOned me no con-
Germ before, but money breeds distrust. ana
thought Of ugly possibilities as ] stood III front
OF that window Circumstances had forced me
TO Keep the money in my possession. As IL
was necessary to be at the end of n long journey
In the afternoon. ] could only take n tram
starting before banking hours, and the nature
OF my business precluded the use OF check.
After all why should anything happen 10
nicht?" / thought, and then straightway re-
membered that thieves have their detectives
and wondered whether one had not seen me
paid IN the bank and followed ne TO my odg-
incs.
/ thought of several hiding-places, and
finally decided to put the money in large dc
tionary. and. with a feeble effort TO treat the
matter lightly. remarked, that although money
can always be found in dictionary, no one
would ever think of looking for it there
Then into my mind came the whimsical idea
OF putting ii on the page which bears the WORD
money" Now, it oddly happened that on
opening the book the first word that met my
eye was murder" 1t was so significant that
shuddered. 1t WAS like speaking of ropes ID
the house of a hangman.
! am not what is ordinarily called supersti-
tious but | must confess that this incident
annoyed me greatly. ] tried 10 drive it from
my mind by reading, looking at pictures, ana
repeating verses: but every device failed. /
could not forget it, perhaps il is a prophecy,
was my morbid thought. Being very per-
sistent man, finally returned to my first idea,
and taking from nay pocket 10 500 hIils,
found the page containing the word money,
placed them there, closed the book, and re-
turned it to the bookcase. i then put some
smaller bills in the toe of a shoe, and there
remained onlya few coins of little value, which
left in my waistcoat pocket.
/ was practically alone, for il was not worth
while considering my landlady, who was the
only other person in the house. She slept on
the floor above me, and was very old and very
deaf
There were no streetlamps near, and it was
50 dark / could not see yard from the win
dow.
at would be difficult" I said to myself, for
anyone to examine my rooms without light,
and that would expose him to discovery from
chance passer-by."
That was some consolation and TO add to
The risk of using a light / took the rolling
curtain from the window Just before / went TO
bed. Assuring myself that my revolver was
under the pillow, / closed my eyes. was very
tired, and, in spite of my gloomy apprehenslons,
soon fell asleep
How long slept have never been able to
determine. / was awakened, no doubt by the
opening of q drawer In my writing-desk, for
that was the first sound of which was con-
sciOgs.
There was utter darkness. / strained my
eyes, but saw nothing. heard rubber band
snap, and remembered that one had fastened
the top on small box in the first drawer of the
desk. felt draft Of air in such volume
Al Al a.
open. These were proofs Of confirmation strong
enough.
According to Napoleon, the two-o'clock-in
the-morning courage" is the rarest. That, he
explains, is the kind that keeps the mind clear,
when sudden danger awakens one from sound
sleep. confess it is courage that is not mine.
] felt on this occasion the impulse to act like
mailman, to make leap in the dark, to fy,
II not opposed, but to destroy, with the strength
Of desperation, whatever impeded me. Such
acts have often been miscalled brave, when, in
reality, they are the effects Of terror.
For few moments ] lsbored under ter
Tible excitement my heart beats were so vio-
lent that they seemed audible, and had any
new or nearer sign or danger appeared, could
not have remained quiet. But perfect still
ness prevailed, and had time to collect myself.
Becoming calmer, began TO hope that / was
mistaken. 4 mouse might have made the
noise in the drawer, and caused the swapping
of the rubber band. But the air from the win
dow? Well, had forgotten the missing pane,
and that had taken down the curtain.
bah "I thought, sits all imagination,
will get up, light my lamp, and settle the ques-
ton" But ] had grain of doubt in my mind,
and wanted to have my revolver in hand be-
fore rising. 1t was under the pillow away
from me. I.turned to reach it, and my motion
made the bed creak; a moment afterwards,
perceived the odor of tobacco as it lie on the
breath after smoking.
There was no doubt then that some one was
in the room, and had approached ne on hear
ing the creaking OF the bed Iexpected to feel
his hands on me the next instant aud my ter
ror was not lessened by the fact that he had
not made the least noise.
] was quiet, but more from the paralyZing
effects OF fear than from self-coDtrol. / could
no tell how near the danger was, but the hope
came 10 INC that, If / could convey the impress
sion that was asleep, ] would not be molested
For several moments the odor remained I'M
changed; then IL grew fainter and finally dis
appeared entirely.
lie had evidently moved away, but ] had
heard no sound TO indicate his whereabouts.
The darkness was so intense that could not
Sec even the vaguest outline Of anything.
de is satisfied that am asleep" thought
and will return TO his search for the money.
So long as ] am quiet will not be disturbed.
The game we are playing has conditions then
This thought was re2ssuring. Besides famili-
arlty with danger lessons its effect. grewcalm-
or. and began 10 think less about losing my life
and more about my money. decided to risk
moving little, hoping 10 gain by slow degrees
position where ! could secure my revolver.
IT wosld be Of little use in such darkness. but
the burglar might at last risk making light.
and IN that event resolved TO act at once
j WAS about 20 move when i heard coins
cilnking. That was the change in my waist
coat remained quiet
Having made that noise he Will be very
watchfui for awhile" j thought.
waited 4 few moments. Ny confidence in.
creased. a gain of several inches, and the re-
vOiver would be in my hand. ] stretched my
right arm 10 the utmost, but without reaching
IL. This caused a slight rusting OF the bed.
clothes. ] waited. i was prepared this time
and when the odor was again perceptible il
gave me but little concern ii would soon dis
appear, as before. But it did not, and began
10 despair. heard the clock strike three.
This might last two hours more. / thought but
q moment after felt hand on my rfrht arm
IL was light touch no doubt there was a sus-
rcion that j was awake, but not a certainty
IL moved slowly along my arm toward NV
s. hand.
suspects, ] thought, not only that am
awake but that i reaching for something.
he viii find the revolver, and then what? /
suddenly remembered the dictionary, and the
word murder" came before my mental vision
aseistinctiy as in print. These thoughts passed
like Clashes Of lightning. Now or nevern |
1hUuglt and imnaeAinfalv eaaclad ouf ,,;,yor