Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-05-05

"MY FRIEND, CANNOT We SErTLE THIS
THING ON A FINANCIAL BASIS p o.
"a East Fifty-fifth street 7 own a lot of
solid silver tableware and some highly
priced silver trophies and cups which my
horses have won at various shows, fairs
and exhibitions. The value of these is
considerable, and do not care to leave
them in my dining room on the first floor
at night. l always have them carried up
stairs to my bedroom in baskets at night
This silverware was in my room when
I heard the doorknob turned. Who's
there?' demanded. No reply Is that
you, Mentor I said, thinking it might be
my faithful butler.
For answer the door was pushed wide
open, and a man about 5 feet inches high
and weighing perhaps so pounds, put his
foot across the threshold. You d better
keep quiet, he said i'll low, threatening
tone. If you make no noise, I'll do you
no harm, but if you shout / II shoot BY
the dim light entering Iny chamber from
the street lamps | could see that he was
pointing a revolver straight at my head
Il am ar old man now. said the bank
er, smiling, and my nerves are naturally
net So strong as they once We're. IL is I'M
necessary To deny that l WAS frightened at
first, and the inclination TO shout FOR help
was as strong as instinct. l knew that my
son, who was sleeping on the floor just
above me, would rush TO my rescue with
out one thought of himself and felt sure
that my only inanScrvant would not be
fnr behind. There was an electric burglar
alarm at the head of my bed 50 placed
that / could easily have reached it in the
dark without the burglar seeing me-
Il was just about to push the button
when my wits came back to me, and l was
able TO recall what l had often read about
burglars that though they generally
come armed, they prefer not to add mur-
der to their crime, but will shoot when
driven into a corner aGd when they think
1t absolutely necessary to avoid capture
I reflected also thai my sons life was
worth to me much more than any amount
Of silver plate, so l said to the burglar:
AN right. I'll be quiet
''Then the man, still keeping his re-
volvcr pointed at ne, advanced into the
room and shut the door I'm going to
strike light, he said. Cover up your
head with the bedcIothes. l don't waclt
you to see my face He struck amatch
and lit one of my own candles II had
covered up my head, but not completely
| kept an eye on him all the while He
wore no mask, and seemed to be about 27
years old. His clothes were not shabby,
snd he used excellent grammar. His ac-
cent was not what you call tough, but
his face was hard and forhidding. Ny
eysight is not good now without glasses,
and doubt if / could pick him out i'll /.
crowd. There was nothing ont Of the way
about him to assist in identifying him.
The man at once began 20 take stock
of the articles in my room. | expected. of
course, tlIat he would carry them all off.
! suppose he had confederate. This sup
position was strengthened when he sud
denly asked me, What is your nitne:'
What in the world do YOU want To know
my niine for l asked, surprised. We
might want TO make restitution some
day, he replied, and then il would be
handy to know your name. When ne
said we felt glad l had not called my
son. L told him my name
He verified it by reading my initials
OH the silver He seemed To think the
tableware rather too bulky for his prr-
pose, however, and began TO slip into his
pockets two or three small ornaments
which | valued far more highly for their
associations than for their intrinsic value
- 1t this sight began to feel injured
I am telling you this story Just as it hap
pened. 1t seems all like dream rs ] sit
here nova bad dream too. | car look
back at myself and recall my feelings al
most rs those of third person pushed
down the sewers and resolved to reason
with him, As man to man. Now, look
here, 1 said, i think you would Bc foolish
TO take those things which are marked
with my name and initials IT, you pawn
ed them, they would probably lf;d To your
arrest. Why can't we settle this thing on
a financial basis
60 That's sensible, he said Well. what
do you propose
'''W What do you want:' l asked
"'I want money he replied How
much have You got:
II knew had only 81 in my clothes
and thought of offering him Il check Oh
the bank, but dismissed the idea as son
as ! formed it, because l saw he was too
intelligent fellow to fall into that trap
and it would only make him distrust INV