Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-05-03

toned place, for only by that mean
are we incapables able to find any Oh
| jcet with certainty again.
Suddenly thought of the purpos'
which had brought me to bed so early
and began TO doubt if | was golne
through good preparation for glvlnt
the sleeping draught fair chance.
had grown wider and wider awake
every moment from that time when
ascending the stairs, | had first felt 9
sense of loneliness. Nevertheless
would take n glass of my light clare'
forthwith, considering that by the time
| should be getting into bed it would
be beginning to take effect stepped
out in the direction of the table where
it stood, felt about for an instant and
the next had the bottle, within my
grasp. Then | found the glass, and
was proceeding, as expected, to take
the cork out, when lol there was no
cork Raising the bottle, | instantly
knew from its lightness that it was
empty. This discovery was conclusive
Somebody had been in the roo,ii, per
haps was in the room at ~tfiis moment,
a most unpleasant notion, but was no
longer nervous.
who is there9 SpeakW cried.
"Who are you, and where are youF
No reply. listened intently; not a
sound broke the stiffness of the sweet
autumn night. Taking my stick, |
thrust it under the bed and round
about in various corners of the room.
The furniture appeared a little disar-
ranged, but otherwise there was no
evidence of the presence of any human
being. Very strange, Thought Any
way, must ring for the footlnan--for
may say here that dislike being
valeted, and beyond Indispensable as
sistance prefer doing everything as
much as can for myself, especially in
my bedroom.
AS my hand passed across the corner
of the table, it knocked something off
on TO the ground which ratified like tin
and glass. Not stopping to investigate,
the next discovery my sensitive fingers
made on the table was some short iron
tool | took it up and felt it, but could
not make out what it was, so proceeded
to grope for the bell rope close to the
bedhead
Now with all that had gone before,
imagine my sensations when, as my
fingers passed over the edge of the pill
low on their way to the top of the bed
stead, they fell upon warm human
cheek Yes! the cheek of man, as |
knew instantaneously from his sparse
beard, whisker, and hairl Imagine my
sensations, say, at that monentl
That | was startled beyond express
sion admit, bit | checked my impulse
to shout aloud. stepped back into
the middle of the room, humping
against chair or something in my
haste. In two seconds, however, | col
lected my wits. Quick as thought al
most drew my conclusions and settled
what to do. | went to the window,
closed and fastened it as securely and
as noiselessly as | could, for | had no
desire to disturb the intruder, who so
far except for the warmth of his flesh,
apparently showed no sign of life--my
quick ear told me that. stood still
for moment listening, and could not
even hear him breathe. Then | crept
to the door, felt for the key, which had
been, knew, inside, but it was no
longer i'll the lock. BY great good luck,
just as | was debating on how might
secure the door outside, my foot trod
on what | knew to be the key. 1t was
lying close to that wedge like bit of
wood with the screw which had first
attracted my attention. l now guessed
what it was; so, picking it up with the
key, | passed out into the passage.
softly closed and locked the door after
me, and jammed the bit of wood in the
crack beneath it. At least, thought,
whoever you are, you shan't get out
this way. Then made what haste |
could along the corridor and down the
stairs, rang the dining room bell, and
in few minutes had told my story to
the butler.
lie was for Immediately rushing off
upstairs to see about it all.
mo, no, Pitts" said |. wait a
bit. Call two of the footnen and let
them take up position where they
can see that no one leaves that room
Go out and get hold of two or three
gardeners--anybody, and post them
under the window Then start off
somebody from the stable to the village
for the constable-for two constabIes
If there are two Now quick's the
werd. The fellow is sound asleep who
ever he is, but we may as well make
sure who he is"
These orders were rapidly carried
out, and in less than half an hour two
stalwart policemen arrived. One Joined
the men under the window; the second
the head constable, went upstairs with
the butler and me. He was the first to
enter the room. | slipped in last to
listen
"Hullo, my man, what are you up to
here} Come, wake up! Give all ac
count of yourself"
A pause.
why, he is sound as u top still"
A noise as of shaking something
another pause
"Oh, yes, of course, here's the littla
saihe-dark lantern rolled owe. on the
loor, jimmy and crowbar, box of noise
HSs Innf ..lioc al