Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-05-18


the house. The door was ajar as she
had left II; no one was on the street,
but in that one moment
IL was past midnight Mrs. Bascomb
was reading a 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 just determined that she would
sleep downstairs in the new folding
bed in the back parlor. There were
portieres between tho rooms, but these
were drawn back and hung limp on
either side.
The "bed" was a large handsome
bookcase, with bric-a-brac on its top
shelf Mrs. Bascomb let 1t down and
admired II from all sides II took up
all the space between the walls, ex-
ccpt just room enough for her to pass
to the little table under the mirror,
where Towards revolver lay She
now pushed this further back and laid
her watch and chain-her wedding
present from her fathcr-her diamond
graduation ring, her diamond engage
mcnt ring and her purse, which she
took out Of the pocket Of her dress, on
the table In shining heap
81 wonder II he married the tall,
thin one, or the short, homely one"
she said TO herself, and, going out into
the parlor picked up the book again,
and was soon deep In the plot.
A noise reused her. She looked at
the folding doors leading into the hall
They wero locked, she knew Then
she turned her eyes toward the back
parlor
ITS the new folding-hed getting
used to being OPEN" she thought, con-
scious Of slight cxhilaration in the
region OF her heart Then she glanced
at n mirror, in which she saw the full
length figure Ct man standing back
Of the portiercs.
have heard II said, or read some
where, that every man is ready to pro-
tcct woman from every other man
except himself At that moment Lot
tic Bascomb would rather have seen a
tiger standing ready to dcvour her.
Her next surprise was at his manner of
address:
Good evening, mn'am," and he
stepped from the porticrc and stood be.
fore her You needn't be frightened,
| amt goin' to hurt you"
"What do you want2" Her voice did
not even trcmble.
81 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. lie 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 enragcd burglar.
He sprang TO intercept her, and
struck his foot against the folding bed,
throwing himself across IL in his Mt.
tempt to retain his balance. There
was grinding. whirring sound and d
complete disappearance OF one of the
principals in this affair
On that same night belated citizen
hurrying home was uccostcd from the
| lower window of house lc was pass
ing In the residence portion Of the city
"Sir oh, sirv'
lie stopped, for II was woman'i
voice, pitched at an alarm key.
"Will you please find the policeman
on this beat and send him here In
stnntiy?"
Can be of any assistance?"
''No. It's n burglar, and ] have hin
safe"
The policeman arrived and with hin
| the passer-by she had accostcd, whose
services were not required, however
The policeman went to the telcphon,
and summoned help. Meanwhile he
took up position where earlier in the
evening the folding bed had stood. Il
was now shut up and looked merely {
massive bookcase again.
| When the patrol wagon arrived thi.
bookcase became an object OF immc
| diate interest. One bluc-coated ollcia
was stationed on either side and two nj
the foot Mrs Bascomb and the now
awakened Kitty were detailed at little
distance,
"Nowl" said the sergeant, and h,
manipulated the case as Mrs. Bascoml
had shown him how TO do IA moment
before.
II came down on the run, and there
limp and halt-smothercd, was the
trapped burglar, his forehead cut ant
bleeding from IA chance incision as the
bed had shut up with him in an ex
plosive embrace.
80, Clever Jim, you are at II again
Here you are" sad one Of the police
men, as he snapped the bracelets on
his wrist "Your pals not in II thi,
time, :" al he handed him over to two OF
the force.
That's himl" said Kitty. That's
the man that was lool,in' for n girl n,
he said was his sister oh, the will
YUM
lie was taken away, tried and con
victed and sent up for five years, but
he never opened his mouth as TO his
method Of getting INTO the house. II IA
quite safe TO infer that Mrs. Bascoml
never resorted again TO that very com
mon pr actice Of ladies who mail late
letters OF leaving the house door ajar.
And the folding bed will remain book
case to the end OF its days, unless II
should again be used as burglar trap.
Mrs M. L. Rayne, In Detroit Free
Press.
He Couldn't Tell. -Waiter--"liow
did you ind your steak, sir2" Guest
-"Blamed II l know how / did find
IL, II was so small"
secretary carlisle mas caIi7u 40, "a,
RESIGNATION Of = g. RrOpf of Macon