The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-25

fed that they were couple of Merry,
desperate fellows. There was an old
chair under the window. Jim stood on
this and cut out the wire screen and en-
tered the opening, while Tom urged me
to follow As landed in the kitchen
Jim whispered:
DO you feel this revolver? / don't
propose to shoot any of the family I'M
less I'm cornered, but if you try to play
dirt on me I'll let you have it off
hand, You are to follow me-"
We passed into the dining-room with
out the aid of light, but once in there
the burglar produced g dark lantern,
which l had not caught sight of before,
and flashed the light about. There was
fine display Of silverware on the side
board, but after picking up a sugar
bowl and netting it he shook his head
and replaced it. He led the way into
the front hall and upstairs, and | fol
lowed him. AS we turned at the top we
were before the open door of bed
room, which was dimly lighted by
low gas jet. l made out two forms on
the bed. and the heavy and regular
breathing proved that both were sound
asleep. There was chair close to the
door. and the burglar handed me tbs
dark lantern and motioned me to the
seat. He then advanced to the bed and
took the chiefs watch from under his pill
low. The next move was to inspect the
clothing hanging on chair. He got
wallet, and he brought watch and wal
let to me to take care of. He then
glided over to the dresser, and l caught
the flash of diamond earring as he
lifted it up. Was l frightened? Yes,
so much SO that was choked for breath.
The very silence of the house was
enough to have ratified me. Chills ran
, up and down my spine, and | had to
make determined effort to prevent my
teeth clicking together.
The burglar evidently thought the
drawers of the dresser contained valu
ables, for he lznelt down to investigate
them. This dresser stood about six feet
from the bed and on the side occupied
by the chief. / was shaking and gasp
ing and the burglar was inspecting the
second drawer, when there was sud
The chief had been awakened. and his
pistol, overlooked by the burglar, was
where he could reach it without any
movement to betray himself. At the
sound of the discharge / rose up, flung
everything down, and rushed for the
stairs. presume l rolled from top to
bottom. I don't remember passing
through the dining-rDom or crossing
the kitchen. AS l dropped from the
window Tom was running away and
some one at a window above was shout
ing for the police. ! dashed for the
gate and out of the alley and ran a mile
without stopping. After getting my
breath and doing little figuring l re
turned to the house The police were
. taking a dead man away-a burglar
! who had been shot through the head
and instantly killed. There were two
of them, the chief said, but the other
had escaped. ''Our esteemed contempt
rary" didn't happen around, and ! got
scoop" Furthermore, l wrote it up
in way to please the chief, and we
bridgcd the chasm.
Did ever tell how the burglary had
come about? | started to on one occa-
sion, but before had told him tenth
part of the story he laughingly inter
rupted me with:
''Oh, come off. OF all the newspaper
liars on the face Of the earth you take
the cake"'-Chicago Times.