Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-08-01

After giving the business message
from her father, she added one for
herself. When the card was adj
dressed she went to the window and
looked out, wondering why she had
not thought to write it earlier in thd
evening. There was mail box
diagonally across the street on th3
corner
"Ill just run across and mail it,
rll leave the door open-it won't
take moment"
Taking 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 I'd
drop that card in the box and run
back to the house The door was aja}
as she had left it, no one was on thq
street; but in that one moment
]
1t was past midnight Mrs Bas-
comb was reading very interesting
novel. She was surprised when tho
clock struck the half hour, and laid
her book down. Not that she fel1
sleepy. but she had just determined
| that she would sleep downstairs in
the new foldlngbed in the back par!
lor. There were portieres between
the rooms, but these were drawn
back and hung limp on either side.
The "bed' was large handsome
bookcase, with bric-a- brac on its ton
shelf. Mrs. Bascomb lot it down and
admired it from all sides. 1t took UP
all the space between the walls, ex-
cept just room enough for her to pass
to the little table under the mirror,
pushed this further back and laid her
watch and chaiu-her wedding pres
ent from her father-her diamond
graduation ring, and her purse which
she took out Of the pocket Of her
dress. on the table in q 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 at
the folding doors leading into the
hall 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,
conscious Of 4 slight exhilaration in
the region Of her heart. Then she
glanced at a mirror, in which she
saw the full-length figure of a map
standing back of the portieres.
l have heard 1t said, or read some
where, that every man is ready to
protect 4 woman from every other !!
man except himself. At that mo-
ment Lottie Bascomb would rather |
have seen tiger standing ready to |
devour her. Her next surprise was
at his manner Of address:
Good evening, ma'am," and he |
stepped from the poruere and, stood |
before her "You needn't be fright |
ened. ] amt goin' to hurt you"
What do you want?" Her voice |
did not even tremblc.
II want the money yer husband
brought homo that he's goin' to take
10 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
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, and
struck his foot against the folding
bed, throwing himself across it in his
attempt to retain his balance. There
was grinding, whirring sound and
a complete disappearance OF one Of
Z ha n nal. n this affair
On that same night. a belated citi-
zen hurrying home was accosted from
the lower window OF house he was
passing in the residence portion of the
city.
'tSir, oh. sir.''
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 I 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 help
Meanwhile he took up position
where earlier IN the evening the fold.
Ing-bed had stood. 1t was now shut
up, and looked merely a massive
bookcase again.
When the patrol wagon arrived, |.
this desk became an object Of lmme
GIare interest one DIue-coated on.
cial was stationed on either side and
two at the foot. Mrs Bascomb and |.
the now awakened Kitty were de.
tailed at little distance
"Now!" said the sergeant, and he |.
the desk as Mrs. Bas.
comb had shown him how to do. j
before.
1t came down on the run, and Il
there, limp, and half-smothered, was
the trapped burglar. his forehead cut
ana bleeding from chance inclsion
as the bed had shut up with him in
IN explosive embrace.
$50, Clever Jim, you're at it again.
Here you are" said one Of the police
men as he snapped the bracelets on ,
his wrist YOU'RE pals not in it j
this time" as he handed him over to
two OF the force.
That's him." said Kitty ''that's
the man that was lookin' for girl as |,
he said was his sister. Oh, the WILL A;
yunr'
He was taken away, tried and con.
victed and sent up for five years, but
he never opened his mouth as to his i,
method Of getting into the house. 1t il
is quite safe to infer that Mrs Bas.
comb never resorted again to that
very common practice OF ladies who
mail late letters, Of leaving the !,
house door ajar. And the folding
bed will remain 4 desk to the end OF a.
its days, unless it should again be |,
used as n burplar-tran Utica Globe. j.