Smyrna times., 1895-07-24
A Thief in the Night.
BY TUDOR jerks.

BY TUDOR jerks.
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 noise was
repeated. 1t was the sharp, icy crack
ing made by diamond cutting glass.
Miss Abigail softly slid from the bed,
and felt noiselessly about with her
bare feet until she touched her quilted
and bedribbed bedroom slippers. Lean
ing forward she put them on, and
reached out to the foot Of the bed for
her dressing robe. Just as her hand
touched its Heecy texture a sharp, brit
tie crack warned her to lose no time.
She put on the robe and knotted its
silk cord in front, listening keenlv
meanwhile for what she knew would
be the next sound in the long. expected
and often-reheArsed series.
A mufIled scraping assured her that
the burglar, having removed the pane
of glass, was pushing back the window
catch.
81 must make haste !" said Miss Abb
gail
Stepping with catlike 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 a portrait
of the Admiral, her father. she drew
forth dark-lanttrn. Meanwhile. her
quickeued hearing followed the whole
process OF raising the window, though
it was on the floor below Two dead
ened thumps barely dislinguishable at
that distance, called out Whispered
comment from tine lady:
Awkward boor he jumped in !"
With a match she lighted the lantern
saw that it burned freely, aud then
softly drew the slide. The light. that
bad shown brightly for but and instant.
became condensed into single bright
ray as she closed the front of the lam
tern, and disappeared 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 footsteps brushed to and from
the floor downstairs.
He must think Pm fool if he ex-
poets to find the silver downstairs !" re
marked Miss Abigail, under her breath.
She was becoming impatient; inact-
ION was nervous state to her. Pres
emily her brows relaxed in the dark
ness. She heard the burglar coming
upstairs. He paused at her door; she
heard him breathing. Then she felt a
cold draught about her ankles. He
had opened the door.
That" Miss Abigail reflected.
shows that be has prepared way of
escape downstairs. The cold draugbt
shows that beyond a doubt" A sniff.
ling 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 cried:
"Put up your hands !"
She had pointed lantern rays and
revolver at the foot of the bed, and her
Judgment had been correct. Lighted
as by calcium ray, there stood within
the Illuminated circle a sallow, thin
man, closely buttoned into a frock
coat, which(as Miss Abigail noted even
them, looked 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
Don't you swear; and put up your
hands !-Or I'll blow your brains out"
added Miss Abigail, so cody that the
mans hands went up.
"She's a regular"-the man began,
but was interrupted.
Hush !' said Miss Abigail. II will
do the talking just now. Go sit down.
There's chair back of you; you keep
your hands up"
The man backed slowly until he
struck a chair with his heels. He
looked around to make certain of its
positions, and then sat down.
Miss Abigail had kept both lantern
and revolver accurately ranged upon
the moving figure. The burglar had
not been unmindful of this, as his next
question showed.
"Beg pard'n, m'In"-he began softly,
and waited to see whether he might 60
In.
"Yes ?"
"But are you Miss Oakley ?"
miss who?"
Miss Oakley, m'm-that shoots in
,he Wild West, m'm-BuffalO Bill's,
n'm?"
Miss Abigail was not above taking a
suggestion from the enemy.
Then you've seen me shoot ?" she
inquired, easily.
"Oh, yes'm," said the the the burg
lar. II seen you busting glass balls |
1nly month ago. And it was done |
l didn't know it was your
house, MN, indeed l didn't. or I
wouldn't 'a'dared"-
"Put up you handsw
"Oh, yes'ml forgot; truly l did. |
Miss Oakly-if you are Miss Oakly."
What weapons have your" asked |
Miss Abigail.
1--WE got bulldog in my pocket"
"A bull-dog?"
"Yes'm-a bulldog revolver. m'm.n
"Ohl Well, now I'm going to step
around behind you, and you march |
Dver to the wall, and stand there
Don't you look around"
mo m'm. l know when I'm beat
amt going to give no trouble, only |
"a like to tell you how / come here.h
"All in good time" said Miss Abigail
erenely. as she took q wide circle and |
anne behind her prisoner, keeping
him well covered. Now get up and
march,"
The burglar rose, still with his arms
vail.
'"Next, you may fold your arms"
aid his oaptor,
"All right, MN. I've done It ofteu.n
emarked the burglar. TITS the req.
ar penitentiary racket"
II know it, said Miss Abigail; "that
8 what I've heard.n
AS the burglar folded his arms. Miss
Abigail touched an electric button. and
ts quivering tinkle was heard coming
rom the upper floor.
My maid will be down In a few
minutes" said Miss Abigail, seating
ierself In the chair the hnrolar had |