The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-05-08


to get out of bed, for the present, at
least. This sound was the rhythmical
brea thing of a man, who was evidently
sunk in the profoundest slumber. To
listen to the sound of snoring is not
pleasant at any time, but to hear the
whole scale run up and down the gamut
of sound from under ones bed is APP
palling. AS soon as L had located the
sound it robbed me of the last remnant
of courage, while my late ghostly
fancieS gave way at once to fears.
Could / have indeed heard voices out
side my dream? Was here a plot to
rob my brother, who, as postmaster,
had about this date considerable cash
OF hand from the money order business.
Middleton being a factory town, and
numbers of non-reSidents working
there in the busy season and sending
hcme their earnings to family and
friends? What was L todo? How was
TO act under the circumstances?
can never describe the agony of terror
which endured as lay there, listening,
hardly daring to breathe myself, to
those unmuSical sounds.
When the first faint peep of day came
creeping through the shutter Stats |
began to form my plan of reaching the
door. As the bed was against the wall
had, of course, only one side to choose
from IN getting out. But thought if
could work my way toward the foot,
l should have at least a gain of a few
feet nearer ;he inside door in my favor
Slowly and painfully worked my way
through the bulging feathers re ioicing
that no modern bedstead upheld me, for
not the fainest creak did the frame
upon which | rested emit as l pursued
my plan of retreat. | had almost
reached the foot of the bed when the
sounds beneath me suddenly stopped
In mortal terror now of the conse-
quences | became desperate and gave
one headlong plunge forward toward
the door, at the same time uttering a
piercing shrek. Then tainted
When | came to myself my head was
very wet and / was stiff all over
heard voices, two of which Irecopnized
as those of Nat and Kate. There was
also a third voice, which soon made out
TO be the doctors. L was not very par
tIal TO medical men, perhaps, because
mad seen so many of them. | heard Nat
say:
1t was great wonder that he did
not attack her before. 1 suppose he
must have stolen in when 1 went there
to get my things in the evening"
1t was mercy that you came, Nat"
said Kate
The doctor added:
'She is coming to- You must keen
her quiet and try gradually to find out
what led up to the attack | will call
later"
Soon | opened my eyes to find myself
upon couch in the sittingroom and
Mats serious face bending over mine.
Did YOU catch him. | asked
Catch who, Fan, dear?" inquired
Nat, with puzzled expression.
by, the burglar, to be sure"
There was no burglar To catch"
We'll, that is calm. to say the least"
remarked, sarcastically, rising to a
sitting position and putting both hands
to my drenched head. after the ter
rible night that L have put in, why did
you let the wretch escape?"
1t was not a burglar, Fam"
If he was not n burglar pray what
was he, and why was he secreted under
the bed? / only wonder that he did
not Kill me outright, though | am sure
L could not have suffered more if he
had. First frightening the life nearly
out OF me by his snoring and then
actually bouncing upon me at the last
when l tried to call assistance. And
after all this you calmly tell me there
was no burglar! You will tell me next
that there was no mani" | exclaimed
savagely.
Neither was there any man, Fanny.
dear" said my brother with a dawn
ing smile. Your burglar was bur
glar-catcher-my good mastiff, Watch
What" / exclaimed, have L endured
all the terror of the past dreadful night
because of an old dog?''
Certainly, because of a dog my dear
Fan, though not by any manner of
means an old one. Watch is possibly
two years old at the utmost. | am aw-
fully sorry, Fan, that you, with your
poor health, should have been disturbed
Others have complained of his ability
in the snoring line. l, myself never
hear him. But / am so thankful that
he did not injure you that have no
room for grief over your discomfort,
for, remember, you We're stranger to
him. He was standing over YOU in a
very threatening attitude when Kate
found you. Fortunately, | came in Just
then, | was restless and could not
sleep. But | learned something nv
dear sister of which was before doubt
full, and that is that there is one woman
who does not examine under her bed
before retiring" This last was said
with laugh, in which Kate joined as
soon as she saw me sitting up.
mo, but you better believe that /
will after this" / made answer, as |
fel back on the couch.
| was not seriously hurt by nv fall
though | had cut my head a little. |
caught a bad cold from the drenching
the old doctor administered to bring
me around. l did not hear the last of
the burglar during the remainder of my
visit, nor, indeed, for many n long day
afterward. Nothing happened to my
dear father on the 18th nor up to this
day But out of that night of terror
grew the habit in which so many of nv
sex indulge of looking under the bed
My husband says that if 1 slept upon
single mattress on the floor l would
raise the edge to look under to see if a
burglar was fiattened out beneath
Philadelphia Times
An Elizabethan Tomb
\ superbly rich EliZabethan tomb is
left to US in Boreham church, Essex
This was erected to the memory of
Thomas Radcliffe, earl of Sussex, lord