The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-03-31
ADVENTURE WITH
FEMALE BURGLARS.

days work, tagged and weary, wish
ing that I were almost anything but
what I was-a doctor practicing in a
densely populated working class neigh
borhood, where the calls were plenti-
full, but the fees meagre, the said fees
having to be collected in small weekly
sums by my agent-an arrangement
which seriously lessened the sum total
of my annual income.
I was unmarried Though I may say
I am now sixty, with sons and daugh-
tiers in plenty), and therefore had no
sympathizing ear into which could
pour my troubles.
was stretching out my weary limbs
when clang went the night bell. Such
was the force used on the bell wire
that I was certain it had broken, and
therefore lay still, thinking however
much the knob Of the door was manip-
ulated, should not be disturbed
In this was mistaken. A few mo-
ments, and I was again disturbed-al-
most startled-by the savageness Of the
ring.
I went down stairs, turned up the
gas in my surgery, and unbarred the
( door, It Wag:s,9ushed open impatiently,
IS impatlenty that was compellgd to
retsreat, or otherwise should have
been bruised. A lady entered, closing
the door behind her.
She was tall, well dressed and thick
" yelled. I could not discern Her feat
ures, but saw through the veil a pair
of dark, flashing eyes fixed upon me.
Without waiting for me to speak, she
said:
You have been long in coming, doc
tor. But let that pass; want you to
accompany me at once. Are You ready
to go?"
I was struck by the voice-it was
certainly that of a lady, but so intense
1y charged with sorrow or anguish, I
knew not which, that it's tones seemed
to curdle my blood, and a shiver ran
down my back, as though some one
had poured ice-cold water there
Seeing me pause, startled, she hur-
riedly continued:
''You must come, sir; make your fee
as high as you like it shalt be paid
1t is a case of life or death! Good
heavens, sir, she may be dying now
while you stand there hesitating.
Quick!'
Without a word I returned to my
bedroom and dressed. I did not like
the case. The lady's manner perplexed
and not a little terrified me. Yet felt
danger; it was my bounden duty as a
doctor to. give professional service.
These thoughts flashed through my
mind as quickly dressed. On again
reaching: the surgery, I noticed the
Iady's eyes fixed on the door through
which 1 entered. She had evidently
never taken them off it since I made
my exit.
II am ready I said.
"You have got your instruments?"
''No: will they be needed?'
T-l do not know; better bring them,
kir!'
I took my case Of instruments from
the cupbt ard in which they were kept,
and placed them i'll my Overcoat pocket
"Allow me;' said, but the door was
opened before could reach it, and the
Lady was standing on the step.
What terrible night-or rather
nlorning-it was! Neither moon nor
stars were visible:
The lady walked On in front-it was
more trot than walk; i followed,
wishing had refused to come out at
all. Turning a corner, suddenly
observed a vehicle. It was not a car
riage; it wa. not handsom; to this
day don't know what to christen
that strange conveyance. It was some.
thing on four wheels, with a dark
cloth-probably tarpauGn- thrown over
it. / noticed that the horse was black
and the driver was muffled up so that
his face would not be recognizable
even with better light.
The lady opened. the door and bade
me enter. She sprang in, closed the
door, and sat down opposite me with.
out a word. The driver lashed the
B horse, and away we ratified over the
stones.
was familiar with every street in
the district, and nearly every house
could almost have traversed it blind.
fold. But soon the district was left
behind On, on, we went, through the
I heart Of the city; on, on, till the wheels
OF the conveyance no longer rumbled
over rough stones, but glided almost
noiselessly over the country roads.
( became doubly nervous as we rode