The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-03-02
A QUEER INTERVIEW.


Forester heard the figure creeping
toward her in the dark. She saw il
pass in front of one window, and
then in agony waited for.it to reach
the other. She tried to cry out, but
was powerless, as in a nightmare.
Then the cloth, saturated in chloro-
form, was pressed over her face,
and-well, could stand it no longer,
and went to bed.
When the bedclothes were tucked
tight about my chin, felt better.
In my hand I held 80 caliber Smith
81 Wesson, and l tried not to think
of tho choloform saturated cloth
and the sinking feeling of Lady For
rester. A revolver is comfort
against ghosts, imaginary robbers
and mice in the walls.
For awhile / only had the last to
guard against. Then the imaginary
robber came pattering up tho tin
roof of the old shed under my win
dow. I rose up in bod ready to be
hero. Looking out, 1 saw, by the
moonlight, that it was only tho
icicles melting and dropping down.
After that grew sleepy. turned
over on my side, resting my temple
against the barrel of my revolver.
Through tho window looked up to-
ward tho barn where slept Virginia
of Virginia, three-quartcr bred
silly, of which had hopes.
The trees were all thickly incrust-
ell with ice, shining In the moon
light with a summery effect of silver
leaves The thaw kept on tinkling
down the icioles in the most engage
ing way, and altogether complete
ly forgot about Lady Forester and
the chloroform saturated cloth.
Just as l was doing of my win
dow was darkened, the sash rose
and man put one foot into the
room. My heart gave one big jump,
and then / became quito calm. The
man looked co years old and cold
and wet, and my pistol, as ID lay on
my pillow, pointed directly at him.
! quite pitied him; l was so warm
under two down comforters, and
knew he would presently be SO dis
appointed.
When he had got his second leg
inside and was sitting on the win
dow sill, peering into the shadow of
the room, spoke:
ITO what, may ask, do owe the
honor of this visit2" 1 have often
wished l could be as polite to my
friends and relations as 1 am to the
blacklegs l meet.
The robber gasped and then in
the approved way Missed to mo to
hold my peace an I valued my ex-
istence.
For your sake" I replied with
unabated politeness, II regret to
say that I've got the drop on YOU"
THAT air fish story" return
cd snappishly. In his experience
men did not. get the drop on any
one without swift action.
/ moved my hand about four
inches into the bar of moonshine |
that fell across the edge of the pill
low.
"Do you believe now1" asked.
The pistol was in plain sight.
The burglar looked crcstfallen.
81 sec that my incognito can no
longer be preserved, he said, speak
ing in an entirely different voice
that of a cultivated gentleman. He
crossed his legs comfortably. II
must confess to you that am no
burglar at all, but u ghost
you may tell that" said !, "to
the marines"
II did not expect you to believe
me" he said patiently. "But if you
will kindly take that tennis racket
at the head of your bed, you will
find that you can wave it through
me, or you may throw pillow at
me and / shall be no hindrance to
its passing out of the window. F"
The fellow was very plausible. !
have cut my eyeteeth, however, and
q moments reflection showed me
that the burglar hoped by his STRAIT
agem either to wrench the tennis
racket from my hand and brain
me, or to escape under cover of tho
pillow, as Hector once escaped from
an awkward predicament, in q cloud.
The burglar seemed to read my
thoughts. With quiet courtesy he
"Or l will simply fade
away, If that will convince you bet
ter"
"If you can fade away before /
get shot at you, 1t certainly, will
convince me-" said with some u.s. ,
peIity.
Would you rather have me dis
appear suddenly, or, with lingering I
smile, gradually, like the Cheshire ,
cata'' he asked &