The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-14


that no one was passing and slipped
out, 1t took her only moment TO drop
that card In the box and run back 70
the house. The door was ajar as she
had left II; no one was on the street,
but in that one moment
II was past midnight Mrs Bascomb
was reading very interesting novel.
She was surprised when the clock
struck the half hour, and laid her book
down. Not that she felt sleepy. but
she had jnst determined that she would
sleep downstairs IN the new folding
bed In the back parlor. There were
portieres between the rooms, but these
were drawn back and hung limp on
either side.
The "bed" was d large handsome
bookcase, with bric-h-brac on Its top
shelf Mrs. Bascomb let II down and
admired II from all sides IL took mp
all the space between the walls, cx-
cept Just room enough for her 10 pass
to the little table under the mirrt7r5
where Howard's revolver lay She
now pushed this further back and laid
her watch and CHAMBER wedding
present from her father her diamond
graduation ring, her diamond engage
ment ring and her purse, which she
took ont o. the pocket Of her dress, on
the table in shining heap.
II wonder II he married the tall,
thin one, or the short. homely one, E
she said TO herself, and, going out into
the parlor, picked up the book again,
and was soon deep in the plot.
noise reused her. She looked at
the folding doors leading into the hail.
They were locked, she knew. Then
she turned her eyes toward the back
parlor.
Its the new folding-bed getting
used to being open, she thought, conr
scious Of slight exhilaration in tile
region Of her heart. Then she glanced
at mirror, In which she saw the full
length figure Of a man standing back
Of the portiercs.
! have heard it said, or read some
where, that every man Is ready to pro-
tect a woman from every other man
except himself At that moment Lot
tie Bascomb would rather have seen q
tiger standing ready to devour her.
Her next surprise was ut his manner Of
address:
Good evening, ma'am," and he
stepped from the portierc and stood be-
fore her. "You needn't be frightened,
amt goins to hurt you. "
What do you want?n Her voice did
not even tremble.
II want the money yer husband
brought home that he's goin' to take to
New York tomorrow.
II don't know what money you
mean, but my husband is on his way
to New York now. He left to-day at
noon
She had risen from her chair and
started forward to reach the revolver
But she could not outwit the disap-
pointed and enraged burglar
He sprang TO intercept her, md
struck his foot against the folding bed
| throwing himself across 1t In his at
tempt TO retain his balance There
was grinding, whirring sound and a
complete disappearance of one of the
principals in this affair.
On that same night a belated citizen
hurrying home was accosted from the
lower window of a house lie was pass
ing In the residence portion of the city.
'.Sir, oh, ,sirl
He stopped, for it was woman's
| voice, pitched at an alarm key.
"Will you please find the policeman
on this beat and send him here in.
stantly?"
Can be Of any assistance2''
NO Its burglar. and / have him
safe. "
The policeman arrived, and with him
the passer-by she had accosted, whose
services were not required, however.
/ The policeman went to the telephone
and summoned help. Meanwhile he
i took up position where earlier in the
evening the folding bed had stood. II
was now shut up and looked merely |
massive bookcase again.
When the patrol wagon arrived thi.
bookcase became an object Of imme
diate interest One blue-coated officia
was stationed ON either side and two d
the foot. Mrs Bascomb and the nov
/ awakened Kitty were detailed at LITTLE
distance.
"NowIn said the sergeant, and h,
1 manipulated the case as Mrs. Bascoml
had shown him how to do momen
before.
1t came down on the run, and there
limp and half-smothered, was til,
trapped burglar, his forehead cut am
bleeding from a chance incision as tn
bed had shut up with him in an ex
plosive embrace.
so, Clever Jim, you are at it again
Here you are, said one Of the police
men, as he snapped the bracelets Of
his wrist Your pals not in it thi
time, as lie handed him over 10 two 3
the force
That's him. said Kitty, That
! the man that was lookin' for a girl il
he said was his sister Oh. the viii
yunr
He was taken away, tried and con
victed and sent up for five years, bu
, he never opened his mouth as to hi
y method Of getting into the house. It'll
y quite safe to infer that Mrs Baseom'
never resorted again 10 that very com
mon pr actice Of ladies who mail lat
! letters Of leaving the house door aia1
And the folding bed will fireman book
} case to the end OF its days. unless |
7 should again be used as burglar trar
Mrs n. y Rayne. il Detroit Ere
i Press.
! lie Couldn't Tell Waiter Ii Q,
!. did yon find your steak, sir?" Cues
! ~ blamed il / know how did I'm