The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-11-11
BURGLARS In A TRAP.
How Thoy Wero Caught by an
Intended Victim.

Intended Victim.
People said was very foolish when i
bought a ten-acre island three miles |
from the shore and built my summer |
house on it, but l laughed and said |,
quiet was what sought, and there !
would have it, far from the madding
crowds ignoblc strife. Being bache-
Tor, with few wants, | took with me
only my man Henry, who was an ex-
cellent housckeepcr and cook.
don't think I ever enjoyed myself
more than the first four weeks l spent
on the island. In the morning took
to the water. or took walk for an
hour or SO; then wrote for three
hours, and the afternoons l read and
loafed. and at night slept. Some days
would row over to the mainland. and
every day Henry went over after the
mail, unless it was stormy. Sometimes
had friend or two to drive with me,
but no woman was allowed to come
ashore there.
was rigid in my determination on
this point, for had not one Isabella
Ventnor told me two weeks before
bought the island that she did not think
/ was the kind of man that any wom-
an ought to marry?
She had, and for that ! had forsworn
all women.
AS say. was supremeIy happy all
by myself, excepting, of course, the
hurt Isabella had done me, and think
that was healing slowly, when one
night the entire scheme was over
thrown.
That night was dark one, but quite
still. and went to bed feeling fairly
comfortable, as a couple of my friends
had been with me until seven o'clock
and were to return early in the morning
with sailboat for a fishing trip out to
deep water. About one o'clock, or per-
haps later, was awakened by hearing
disturbance of some sort downstairs,
and before had my eyes fully opened
Henry rushed into the room, slammed
the door and locked it.
s.What's the matter?" exclaimed.
For Gods sake, major" he gasped,
.'get up and help me. There's burglars
in the house, and I'm done for"
Then Henry went down on the
floor in a heap and l lit lamp, as
there came terrific hammering on the
door.
The light showed me Henry GOV
cred with blood, his throat slashed
living there dead or dying, as ! sup
posed.
What to do l did not know, for tn
only arms in the house were across thu
hall and the burglars had me shut OF
from that direction and were rapidl.
demolishing my door,
They swore and pounded, entirely re
uardless of the ordinary rules OF bur
ylarv. for they knew that SO far ava,
from the shore they were perfectly safe
600 downstairs and get that ak"
heard one of them say, land we'll hav
this blame door out of the way in
minute. We've done up one OF 'en
and now we've got to do up the othel
80 there won't be any tellin' tales on
of school,"
Then he laughed, and heard 100
steps down the hall and stairs.
| knew there was no help for 70
there, and only chance anywhere, an
took that. One window OF my rool
opened out on back roof, and frol
that IL was only short distance to u
ground. Once out of the house ma
one chance in million OF escape IL
minute was out of the window, ov'
the shed and on the ground. | had G
only nv pajamas, and the sharp ston'
cut nv feet cruelty, but did not thin
Of that. 1t was life, and life is vel
sweet to us, even though some fair Is
bella may have slippe d drop OF bit
into it.
Over the rocks and stones few,
;nr knew not where, thinking
nothing but escape.
What brought me to my senses som
what was my rushing into the waite
and Mt first | thought of swimmil
ont and trying to reach the mainlan
but was only poor swimmer ana
Lnew / should be drowned or caug
and knocked on the head in the wat
Nv the burglars as hunter mig
knock q muslzrat in the hcad' anu
horror OF it drove me back. linen
thought OF my own boat, but zero
! started that way, ! remembered In
INV friends had moved 1t over to !
,ra;nland to return at daylight WI
the sailboat, leaving me only my roc
cts to signal the shore in case OF nee
and what were signals now? Only
means whereby the murderers mig
discover me.
One thinks rapidly at such momen
fancy, and allthis took place IN mu
less time than it requires to tell 1T;
there was time enough for the ourGis
IN learn ! was not in the room, =
with their quick eyes see the vino.
through which l had escaped. and
heard some of them coming along !
course / had taken, and one goi
down towards my boat landing TO
me of there.
Then aimlessly again and ute
daxed, began to circle the htsle
land. running on the beach,
cou.d not see me and my pare J,
made no noise in the sand and rnsi
madly ahead. when all at once W.
with : terrible crash over somcsn'