Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-05-06


He ought to go to the Sulphur Springs:
that is what cured me. shall tell him
so.'
"'And I shall pray for him. said
Rev. Mr.. Spicer's widow. And / shall
take him my late husbands excellent
tract. on the uses of Affection" to-
morrow
And wouldn't mind reading the
Bible to him one bit,' said Miss Annie
Spicer, If he liked it,
How you express yourself said
her mother. You should determine to
do SO whether he liked 1t or not, and
you should rejoice to do it. Wouldn't
mind, indeed
Then we went to bed. There was
light in his room still, and I called
through the keyhole Che slept in his
reclining chair): Mr.. Bolter, are you
comfortable for the night?' and he
answered:
THANK you, ma'am, I am. I am
having an hour in meditation
Excuse me for interrupting you,'
says l.
"'Oh, not at all, says he, and away
l went; and went to sleep thinking
how glad I was, with all my troubles,
was not an invalid.
Il guess it was about o'clock when
walked up with noise of bursting in
my ears, and there was a light in the
room. 1t was a queer light, bright
oil in ,y1,
I don't believe in 'em, it was a ghost.
And says I, out loud: oh, Lord! and
covered my head with the sheet.
hadn't had it covered but a minute
though, when 1 felt big hand on my
throat and just the toughest voice
ever heard growled in my ear:
Now, old lady, be sensible.
amt goin' to hurt you If you're quiet
Keep your head covered and lay still.
I've got a six-shooter here, and If you
screech, fire.
Are you a burglar?' says I.
"'Form your own conclusions, says
he, only don't shrek. ! shouldn't
want to live if was an old woman,
but p'aps you do
well, I kinder wondered what for
myself, but 1 did, and 1 laid still and
only shrunk inwardly.
after while there was no more
poking at the bureau and rafting in
the closet; and then 1 heard creaking
all over the house and a shrek some
where, and 1 didn't know but there
uyQ ToIIrdnr nd oh -
poor invalid, and if he was in that
wretch's hands, poor man, and
thought over all the stories I'd ever
read of dreadful tragedies, and I felt
for all my boarders, but most of all
for the poor invalid that couldn't help
himself; but it wasn't until all was
quiet as the grave that l dared sit up
and then 1t was daylight. And then
courage came to me, and put my head
out of the window and shrieked. No
body heard me at first, but at last
there were two policemen, with theil
clubs, and then put on my waterproof
and went down stairs.
you've been robbed, that's plain,
said the policeman; but is anybody
hurt?
Murdered in their beds, I've nc
doubt says I. And I thought it must
be so; but it was better than that.
Some were gagged and some were
tied, and dear little Mr.. Becker was
rolled up in blanket, like rollypoly
pudding, and pinned in. And diamonds
and clothes and everything was gone
poor dears. And even the Indian lido
from Mrs. Smiths mantelpiece. And
as for me, hadn't a spoon left, and
nothing to put on but the waterproof
cloak But nothing dreadful had hap.
pened except to the invalid gentleman
He had disappeared.
They've murdered him. says l.
They've carried him off for ran.
son. says Mrs. Squizzle. The Italians
do that, you know
| "'Maybe he's thrown himself out Of
the window in a fright says Mrs
Smith.
There we all stood, mostly in blan
kets and such, and made suggestions
1, for one, knew I should find hin
down cellar, weltering in his gore
What did you say? Did we? Oh, no
we didn't. No. The policeman gav'
the first hint of the truth.
"'Your invalid is your burglar say
he. It's easier to open a door from
inside than from out. reckon l know
the man. It's Sly Tom, as they cal
him. He's been up to this dodge be
FORE
"And so it was, sir, so it was. Mrs
Jerrup got back her diamonds, but
never got back my spoons; and no of
tense, sir-no insinuations. I'm sur,
this invalid gentleman is all that on,
could wish-all! Oh. feel quite posi-
tive of that, and no offense; but will
an invalid in the house l should b.
obliged to sit up in the bed all night
I should have nerves to that extent
No, no invalids for me; but Mrs. Temp
kins over the way has never had sucl
an experience, and I'd recommend yol
to call there.
mo, no; l do not believe Mr.. Wedg