Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-05-20

rup. How he is afflicted, to be sure.
I've had neuralgia myself, and know.
He ought to go to the Sulphur
Springs; that is what cured me. I
shall tell him so.'
And I shall pray for him. said
Rev. Mr.. Spicer's widow. And 1 shall
take him my late husbands excellent
tract, on the Uses of Afiiction," to-
morrow
And wouldn't mind reading the
Bible to him one bit.' said Miss Annie
Spicer, II 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 1t. 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 an
swered:
Thank you, ma'am, 1 am. 1 am
having an hour in meditation
Excuse me for interrupting you,'
says 1.
"'Oh, not at ALL says he, and away
went; and l went to sleep thinking
how glad l was, with all my troubles,
l was not an invalid.
II guess it was about one o'clock
when walked up with noise of
bursting in my ears, and there was
light in the room. 1t was q queer
light. bright all in one spot, and
thought, though l don't believe In
'em, 1t was ghost. And says l, out
loud: oh, Lord!' and covered my
head with the sheet. hadn't had it
covered but minute though, when 1
felt big hand on my throat and just
the toughest voice ever 1 heard growl-
ed in my ear:
Now. old lady, be sensible. I
amt goin' to hurt you II you're quiet.
Keep your head covered and lay still.
I've got six-shooter here, and If you
screech, fire.
" Are you burglar?' says I.
Form your own Conclusions says
he, only don't shrek. shouldn't
want to live IL 1 was an old woman,
but pr'aps you do
well, kinder wondered what for
myself, but 1 did, and laid still and
only shrunk inwardly.
After a while there was no more
poking at the bureau and rattling in
the closet; and then / heard creaking
all over the house and shrek some
where, and I didn't know but there
was murder done; and thought Of my
poor invalid, and II he was in that
wretch's hands, poor man, and I
thought over all the stories I'd read
of dreadful tragedies. and I felt for
for all my boarders. but most of all
for the poor invalid that couldn't help
himself; but 1t wasn't until all was
quiet as the grave that 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 their
clubs, and then 1 put on my water
proof and went down stairs.
You've been robbed, that's plain
said the policeman; but is anybody
hurt?'
Murdered in their beds, I've no
doubt says /. And thought 1t must
be so; but 1t was better than that.
Some were gagged and some were
tied, and dear little Mr.. Beckett was
rolled up in blanket, like rollypoly
pudding, and pinned in. And diam
monds and clothes and everything was
gone. poor dears. And even the Indian
idol from Mrs. Smiths mantelplece.
And as for me, hadn't spoon left,
and nothing to put ON but the water
proof cloak. But nothing dreadful had
happened except to the invalid gentle
man. He had disappeared.
They've murdered him. says I.
They've carried him off for ran
son., says Mrs. Squizzle. The Ital-
ians do that, you know
Maybe he's thrown himself out OF
the window in fright, says Mrs.
Smith.
There we all stood, mostly in
blankets and such, and made sugges-
tions. I, for one, knew 1 should find
him down cellar. weltering in his
gore. What did you say? Did we?
oh. no. we didn't. No. The police
man gave the first hint of the truth.
Your invalid is your burglar says
he. It's easier to open a door from
inside than from out. 1 reckon 1
know the man. It's Sly Tom, as they
,all him. He's been up to this dodge
BEFORE
"And so 1t was. sir, so it was. Mrs.
Jerrup got back her diamonds, but
never got back my spoons; and no Of
!ense, sir-no insinuations. I'm sure
his invalid gentleman Is all that one
.ould wish-all! Oh, / feel quite
positive Of that, and no offense; but
with an invalid in the house l should
De obliged to sit up in the bed all
aight. 1 should have nerves to that
extent. No, no invalids for me; but
Mrs. Tompkins over the way has nev-
,r had such an experience. and I'd
recommend yoa to call there.