Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Mr. Luckyman Was Innocent, but
Could He Have Proved Ii.


As an Illustration of how easy il is to be-
come the victim of circumstances and how
the strongest kind of proof may be estab-
lished against a person entirely innocent
OF criminal intent merely through false
appearances, 1 wish to narrate an incident
II! my own experience" said a gentleman
to a reporter of The Star.
Some years ago / occupied house on
" street in this city, and there was
more room than the family needed the
third floor was rented. the occupants there
OF being rewly welded couple. The hus-
bands work kept him from home at night
though sc sometimes, when work was slack,
he would get in before daylight. My Sleep
irg room was Immediately beneath that
occupied by the tenants.
AT the time L speak of there was also
another ledger in the house. not confined
to eny particular floor or room, but hav-
Ing the run of the whole premises. This
was pet cat, great favorite with all OF
US. This same cat came very near getting
me INTO serious trouble. On one occasion
she took a weeks leave of absence We
never ascertained where or how she spent
the time. and no trace of her could he
found But the cat came back
one night L vas aroused from a deep
sleep to hear a piteous mewirg at the
upper door. / hastily arose and without
taking the time to even put on my slip
pers L hurried down and admitted the
Warderer. Then 1 started upstairs % my
room, but by some mental alteration i
emed to forget its location. passed ii by
and went on up to the third floor
The only way in which can explain my
mistake is this: There was a basement to
the house and Usually entered that way
10 reach my chamber i'm such event i was
OF course. compelled to ascend two flights
or stairs. and the habit thus formed may,
lE my sleepy state, have led to the error
The first thing l knew / was standing
clad only in one very much abbreviated
garment inside the tenants room The
dcor was unlocked and had opened it and
StenDad diSt, l.irer h..
cupant, the young wife. There before
me, by the light streaming in through an
oPen window, l could plainly madame
Wrept In slumber. unconscious of the rrox-
unity of stray man, calmly Vet nor oui.t-
ly. snoozng away.
For moment I was completely unset
ana tailed to realize the situation. Then
recovering my senses. / softly stole out
without attempting to close the door I
mad been in my own room less than FIVE
minutes when there was a rattle at the
mont door as a kew was inserted and IN
walked Mr.. Younghusbani. Quietly he
sped upstairs, and soon after i heard :.
somewhat animated discussion, in viii
the iact OF the room door being open SEEM
ed 10 cut quite figure. / didn't 20 up
and explain the matter In fact / Was
sc impressed with the narrow escape 1 had
made that L was compelled TO resort TO the
contents Of small bottle kept in my room
lr case of accidents to steady INV nerves
What wonderful difference few min
utes may make in the affairs of mankind
was never before SO struck with the
value of time.
What Might Have Happened.
Now, suppose / had beer discovered bv
the young wife as / entered or by the hus-
band as L came OUT What construction
Mocld nave been put upon the situationo
would my explanation have aVailedo
hardly. Suppose, as is most likely a row
mac occurred, ard the matter had gone into
the courts. What would a Jury have
thoughf OF my apparently all too dia-
phanous story? 1 hate TO think of what
the consequences might have been, both
TO myself and to Others
1t Is true, my character was. and stfIl
is. fairly good, and the cat was there TO
TESTIFY in my behalf. but 1 fear that would
not nave helped me much. But suDpose
me eXonerated by a jury. Would NOT
suspicion, strong proof of holy writ.
nave damned me in public estimation?
haven't the least doubt Of it,
Inc experience of that TO me, eventual
night taught me a powerful lesson.
nave since been exceedingly careful I'm
passing judgment upon others when tina
evidence is based on appearances ONLY no
mater now convincing these may seem
sometimes meet my former tenants
row pater and mater familias. but / never
90 SO without experiencing an uncomforta-
BILE feeling. "
II may say, in conclusion. that r am
SO mighty particular how l travel about
at night, especially when CARRIED only IN
rectitude and a very short robe de mutt