Evening star., 1894-02-03
A Thief IN THE NIGHT
Tudor jerks in Harper's Weekly.

Tudor jerks in Harper's Weekly.
Miss Abigail sat straight upright in bed.
1t was too dark to see anything. but she
listened with all the intentness of maiden
lady's midnight ears.
She had heard something.
The roise was repeated. 1t was the sharp
Icy cracking made by a diamond cutting
glass.
Miss Abigail softly slid from the bed. and
felt noiselessly about with her bare feet
until she touched her quilted and beribboned
bed room slippers. Leaning forward, she
put them on, and reached out to the foot
Of the bed for her dressing robe. Just as
her hand touched its leecy texture a sharp
brittle crack warned her to lose no time.
She put on the robe and knotted it's silk
cord in 'front.' listening keenly meanwhile
for what she knew would be the next sound
in the long-expected and often-rehearsed
series.
A muff1ed scraping assured her that the
burglar, having removed the pane of glass,
was pushing back the window catch.
II must make haste! whispered Miss
Abigail.
Stepping with cat-like silence across the
| room. she opened the top drawer of her
bureau, and laid her hand upon the revolver
in the front right-hand corner. Then from
behind portrait Of the adis;ral, her father,
she drew forth small dark lantern Mean
while her quickened hearing followed the
whole process of raising the window, though
1t was on the floor below. Two deadened
thumps, barely distinguishable at that dis
tance. called out a whispered comment from
| the lady:
Awkward boor!-he jumped in!'
With sulphur match she lighted the
lantern, saw that 1t burned freely, and then
softly drew the slide. The light that had
shown brightly for but an instant, became
condensed into a single bright ray as she
closed the front Of the lantern, and disap-
peared totally when the slide was drawn.
Miss Abigail then retired to the side of
her room furthest from the door, and seated
herself in favorite rocking chair. She
faced the door and waited. Cautious foot
steps brushed to and fro upon the floor
downstairs.
He must think I'm a fool If he expects to
find the silver downstairs!" remarked Miss
Abigail, under her breath. She was becom-
ing inpatient inaction was a nervous state
to her. Presently her brows relaxed in the
darkness She heard the burglar coming up
stairs. He paused at her door; she heard
him breathing. Then she felt cold draught
about her ankles. He had opened the door
That" Miss Abigail reflected, "shows
that he has prepared a way of escape down.
stairs. The cold draught shows that beyond
doubt" shifting sound gave her another
thought. He smells the tin of my lantern
and Its odor certainly is not pleasant" she
admitted to herself. but it's no time to be
fussy. Here goes!" Then. swapping back
the lantern slide and leveling the revolver,
Miss Abigail said sharply,
Put up your handsr
She had pointed lantern rays and revolver
at the foot of the bed, and her Judgment
had been correct. Lighted as by a calcium
ray, there stood within the illumined circle
sallow thin man. closely buttoned into a
frock coat, which (as Miss Abigail noted
! even then1 was very shiny, and lacked two
buttons. His hands hung at his sides, and
his mouth was wide open. His jaw had
dropped.
Put Up your hands,"
The repeated command brought him to
| his senses.
well, I'm d.
Don't you swear: and put I'D your
! hands!-or I'll blow yoar brains out.' added
MISS Abigail SO coolly that the mans hands
went up.
shes regular" the man began, but
| was interrupted.
.'Hush." said Miss Abigail. Il will do the
| talking just now. Go sit down There's a
| chalr back of you; but keep your hands
| up
The man backed slowly until he struck n
| chair with his heels. He locked around m
| make certain of its position, and then sat
| down. ~
Miss Abigail had kept both lantern and
revolver accurately ranged upon the mov-
| ing figure The burglar had moi been nm
mindful OF this, his next question
| showed.
Beg pard'n. MIN he began. SOFTLY an I,
waited to see whether he might go on.
But are you Miss oakley?"
| Miss who?"
Miss Oakley. m'nl-that shoots in the
Wild West. m'n--BuTalo Bills. m'm?''
| Miss Abigail was not above taking a sllg-
gestion from the enemy. Then you've
seen me shoot?" she inquired easily
| "Oh, yes, M said the burglar. Il seen
you Dustin glass balls only a month ago.
And 1t was done beautiful. l didn't know
| it was your house. m. Indeed didn't, or
l wouldn't "a dared
| Put up your handsr
| "Oh, yes, m! L forgot; truly I did Miss
Oakley-if you are Miss Oakley"
What weapons have you?" asked Miss
| Abigail.
I've got bulldog in my pocket"
! "A BULLDOG"
| Yes ma bulldog revolver m'm"
| oh! Well, now I'm going to step around
| behind you. Then you get up when 1 tel
you, and march over to the wall, and stand
| mo, m. l know when I'm beat / aim,
! goin to give no trouble, only I'd like to tel
! you how come here
| "Al in good time said Miss Abigail
| serenely, as she took a wide circle ant
! came up behind her prisoner keeping him
! Well covered. Now get up and march >
| The burglar arose, sJill with his arms ex.
| tended, AID marched slowly to the wall.
| Next, you may fold your arms" said his
captor.
| "All right, m. I've done 1t often" re-
marked the burglar. It's the reg lar peni
| tentiary racket"
II know it," said Miss Abigail That i:
| what I've heard"
AS the burglar folded his arms Mis-,
Abigail touched an electric Dutton, ana its
quiVerng tinkle was heard coming from
the upper floor.
My maid will be down in a few min
utes,' said Miss Abigail, seating herself ir
| the chair the burglar had left. .AIean
while we must wait. Is there anything yol
| wish to say to me?'
only to explain how it came that
| thought OF helpin myself to your silver ;
the burglar remarked, without moving. .Srb,
fact is, I'm pretty We'll broke"
why don't you get some honest work +,
| do?" "oiM u
| Don't like it, said the burglar YER,
frankly. Never could stand benz bosseT
| round by another man. l don't mind :
lady's doin' it-specially when she's HANDY
| with a revolver
| mo nonsense, now," said Miss Abigail
| with dignity
BEG pard'n, MIN; no offense. I hope
only meant to say that L took to burglar,
because L enjoy it. I'm NOT one OF Ib,
snlvelng Kind, anyhow. I'm burglar
| and I'm proud of III