The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-05-27

1 II N U5B S3UO l8kuCE . AxC06MxO w x40 W
ard. she solilcquizcd, and seating her
self at the pretty little desk which had
been one of her wedding presents shs
wrote postal card. After giving the
business message from her father shs
added one for herself. When the card
was addressed she went to the window
| and looked out, wondering why she
had not thought to write it earlier in
the evening. There was mail boz
diagonally across the street on the
| corner.
"l'll Just run across and mailit III
leave the door open--it won't take q
moment"
Taking a wrap from the hat-tree In
the hall she threw it about her, saw
that no one was passing and slipped
out. 1t took her only moment to droI
that card in the box and run back te
the house. The door was ajar as she
had left it; no one was on the street
but in that one moment
1t was past midnight. Mrs. Bascomt
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 just determined that she would
sleep downstairs in the new fielding
bed in the back parlor. There were
portiercs between the rooms, but these
were drawn back and hung limp or
| either side.
| The "bed' was a large handsome
bookcase, with bric-a-brac on its tor
shelf. Mrs. Bascomb let it down ano
admired it from ala sides 1t took ur
all the space between the walls, ex.
| cept 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 laiC
her watch and chamber wedding
present from her father-her diamond
graduation ring, her diamond engage.
ment ring and her purse, which she
took out of the pocket of her dress, or
the table in shining heap.
II wonder if 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 al
the folding doors leading into the hall.
They were locked, she knew. Then
she turned her eyes toward the back
parlor.
"It's the new folding-bed getting
used to being open," she thought, con
scious of slight exhilaration in the
region of her heart Then she glanced
at a mirror, in which she saw the full
length figure CT man standing back
of the portieres.
have heard it said, or read some.
where, that every man is ready to pro-
tect woman from every other man
except himself At that moment Lot.
tie Bascomb would rather have seen a
tiger standing ready to devour her.
Her next surprise was at his manner OF
address:
'Good evening, ma'am." and he
stepped from the portierc and stood be-
fore her. "You needn't be frightened,
l amt goin' to hurt you"
''What do you want?" 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.''
SIZE had risen from her chair and
started forward to reach the revolver
But she could not outwit the disap-
pointed and cnraged burglar.
He sprang to intercept her, and
struck his foot against the folding bed,
throwing himself across it in his at
tempt to retain his balance There
was grinding. whirring sound and
complete disappearance of one of the
principals in this affair.
On that same night belated citizen
hurrying home was accosted from the
lower window of house he was pass
ing in the residence portion of the city.
''Sir. oh, sir!''
He stopped, for it was a woman's
voice, pitched at an alarm key.
Twill you please find the policeman
on this beat and send him here In.
stantly?"
Can be of any assistance?"
mo. It's burglar, and l 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 felp Meanwhile he
took up position where earlier in the |
evening the folding bed had stood. IT
was now shut up and looked merely |
bookcase again.
When the patrol wagon arrived this |
bookcase became an object of imme-
1iate interest. One blue-coated official
was stationed on either side and two at |
the foot Mrs. Bascomb and the now
Kitty were detailed at q little
distance.
"Now!'' said the sergeant, and he
the case as Mrs. Bascoml |
had shown him how to do a moment |
before.
1t came down on the run, and there,
imp and half-smothered, was the |
trapped burglar, his forehead cut and |
from chance incision as the
bed had shut up with him in an ex-
,losive embrace.
So, Clever Jim, you are at it again!
Here you are" said one of the police
men, as he snapped the bracelets on
lis wrist ''Your pals not in 1t this
iroo nc 1n han1o1 IT,. .