The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-15
A COOL HEAD.

p0ta IN their operations IN our city, but as
the Thermometer had marked above the
niDeties fer several days. and had htsis
Of value in my room, 1 preferred to ris
that little and leave my windows open, al
though Of easy access, rather than under
go partial suffscation. If an unlimited
guest made his appearance, and did
awake, 1 could feign sleep and let him take
whatever he might find.
This class of visitors, - reasoned with
myself, "do not generally commit personal
violence if they can accomplish theft and
make good their escape without it. -
These were my reflections every night as
7 undressed and threw myself on my bed,
leaving my castle open to the enemy.
had been asleep one night about an hour,
when I was awakened by the falling of a
small china ornament Starting slightly
and opening my eyes, I saw the gas burn
ing and a tall broad shoulaered man with
his back turned toward me, his face look
ing over his shoulder to see whether the
noise had awakened me My self possession
did not, however, f0rsake me. What fol-
lowed illustrates the value of presence Of
mind.
Opposite the side of my bed, and about
eight feet from it, was the door of my
room, two or three feet from which were
the stairs leading to the hall. The burglar
must have used ladder in ascending to
the roof, from which he entered the win
dow. 1t was some 80 feet frona the ground
and Isolated My plan was net only to es-
cape harm myself but to effect his cap
ture. knew the policeman's beat, and he
would pass in short time. Sitting bolt
upright then, as opened my eyes and saw
the burglar looking very unpleasantly at
me, said, rubbing my eyes drOwsily, al
though, to tell the truth, never was more
wide awake in my life:
Hello, john What are you looking for?
Can't you ceTne into my room without
making such COMPOUNDED noise?''
The fellow, taken somewhat aback at
being addressed in this way, said in a low
but menacing voice and pointing a revolver
at me:
''shut upl What do you take me forP''
81 took you for John, - replied with
we'll assumed nonchalance. But I didn't
suppose he was after anything valuable in
my room, except one thing and, by the
way you are the unluckiest fellow in the
world"
CLOVIS that" growled my visitor
f'Well, have very good watch, but if
you waEs to get it you must pay a visit to
the watchmaker's after you leave here, for
I had what [ considered the bad, but what
now seems the good, fortune to break the
spring yesterday and left it for repairs.
you're a precious cool one, " he said,
evidently astonished at my indifference.
or attempting to resist your You are
armed and you see I am not. And if you
had no weapon your fighting weight must
be at least 10 stone, while mine is not
more than 81. 1 had no idea of interior
ing with you. If the room were filled with
diamonds, I would not lift my finger to
save them. Take all you can find. I am
going to sleep, SO don't make any more
noise.'
''Hold onr' said the fellow where's
your kays9''
Il suppose you want to make as much
of haul as you can, - said. $50 look in
my pants, hanging over the bedpost there,
and you'll find my pecketbook with few
stamps in it. -
1t was nearly time for the policeman to
pass, and l paused to listen l must in
few moments put my plan into execution
4 glance, quick as lightning, showed
me that the key of the door was on the
outside.
Ny listening expression did not escape
the sharp and practical ear of my grim
visiter. 1t vas a curious scene no doubt
I sitting in my bed in my pightcl0thes
Unarmed, and tlis sta.lwart ru4f2n, pistol
in hand, glazing half sCspiciOusly, half
ferociously at me and almost in the
crOuching attitude OF a tiger about to
spring upon his prey. But there sat,
ceo1Iy conVersiug with him. the necessities
of the moment keeping my wits too wide
awake to allow my fears to get the upper
hand for an instant.
What are you listening to?'' asked the
burglar,
Il thought heard cry of fire.
In that instant and in the dead stiffness
of the night I heard the TRAMP of the po-
Hceman. It was still some distance of.
You viii find, - said, some clothes
of mine in the press They will, however,
keys are in the middle drawer. p"
He turned to the drawer indicated, and,
as he did so, with one tremendous bound
1 cleared the space between my bed and the
door, slammed the door and locked it upon
him. Oblivious OF my dishabille, 1 sprang
to the steps I had two flights to descend
and open the door before could reach the
yard, but it was hardly possible for him TO
descend the ladder more quickly.
Bounding rather than running down
stairs, I flung back the bolt and rushed in
to the yard. E4e vas half way down the
ladder Shouting Police p Justify, I seized
the ladder at the bottom, and using all my
power brought it and the burglar to the
ground with Il crash. Tbs pistol he held
in his hand fell from his grasp. made a
dash for it, and he, springing to his feet
like a cat, rushed at me, and as I stopped
seized me by the pape of the neck. I turn
ed the pistol upward and pulled the eFig-
ger.
1t merely snapped-there were no more
charges in it. With a terrible oath the
baffied villain wrenched the weapon from
my grasp and raised it aloft to deal me
what might have proved a fatal blow when
there was a rush behind him, and he was
felled to the ground. The policeman had
heard my shout and was just in time to
rescue me.
The burglar was soon secured, and in
my excitement I was about to relate the
story have told, when the policeman,
with a smile, suggested that might
''ketch cold IN them clothes p"
I then rene1nb ered, for the first time
Eirca [ he'd spri1ncr from bed. that was