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

rup. how ne Is amfcted, 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 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 a
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, am. 1 am
| having an hour in meditation
Excuse me for interrupting you,'
says 1.
"'Oh. not at ALL says he, and away
l went; and 1 went to sleep thinking
how glad was, with all my troubles,
l was not an invalid.
II guess it was about one o'clock
when 1 walked up with a noise of
bursting in my ears, and there was a
light in the room. 1t was a queer
light, bright all in one spot, and /
thought, though 1 don't believe In
'em, 1t was a ghost. And says /, out
loud: oh, Lord!' and covered my
head with the sheet. l hadn't had it
covered but minute though, when
felt big hand on my throat and just
the toughest voice ever heard growl-
ed in my ear:
Now, old lady, be sensible.
ain't goin' to hurt you IL you're quiet.
Keep your head covered and lay still.
I've got six-shooter here, and IL you
screech, fire..
Are you a burglar?' says I.
Form your own conclusions says
he, only don't shrek. / shouldn't
want to live IL was an old woman,
but pr'aps you do
well, l kinder wondered what for
myself, but did, and 1 laid still and
only shrunk inwardly.
After a while there was no more
poking at the bureau and rafting in
the closet; and then / heard creaking
all over the house and a shrek some
where, and / didn't know but there
was murder done; and thought of my
poor invalid, and IL 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 it 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 it was better than that.
Some were gagged and some were
tied, and dear little Mr.. Beckett was
rolled up in blanket, like a rollypoly
pudding, and pinned In. And diam
monds and clothes and everything was
gone. poor dears. And even the Indian
idol from Mrs. Smiths mantelpiece.
And as for me, hadn't a 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 of for a ran
son. says Mrs. Squizzle. The Ital-
ians 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
blankets and such, and made sugges-
tions. /, for one, kaew 1 should find
him down cellar. weltering in his
gore. What did you say? Did we?
"a, nv, VIC 0i0n mo- ne DOllC6-
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. reckon I
know the man. It's Sly Tom, as they
,all him. He's been up to this dodge
before
"And so it was. sir, SO it was. Mrs.
jerrup got back her diamonds, but I
never got back my spoons; and no Of
ense, sir-no insinuations. I'm sure
his invalid gentleman is all that one
could wish-all! Oh, feel quite
positive of that, and no offense; but
With an invalid In the house / should
De Obliged to sit up in the bed all
aight. I should have nerves to that
extent. No, no invalids for me; but
Mrs. Tompkins over the way has new
sr had such an experience, and I'd
recommend yoa to call there.
mo, no; do not believe Mr.. We'd