Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-07-27
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
ls such May BE CInsred This Tale OF
Plain, unvarnished
Facts.


In all the 20 years Of his married lif'
Mr.. Greenup had never forgotten 10 looi
after the valuable portable property o.
the family before retiring 70 rest al
night.
II was his invariable custom 70 loci
up the jewelry. gold and silver ware
and other tempting articles Of like ma
ture, in a cunningly devised closet 0
his own invention. let into The wall OF
the dining-room so skillfully that tn
most experienced burglar would never
suspect its presence.
Then, having concealed in a some
what similar way whatever money he
happened TO have about him. Mr.. Green
ups unyarying habit was to examine
the fastenings of the doors and WIN
dows, place a sheet of zinc or tin under
the rug at the foot of the stairway lead
ing up to the sleeping apartments-th
mission of this sheet of metal being 10
emit a loud noise when stepped on
after which he always went to bed.
For the proper understanding of this
narrative it is necessary TO emphasize
the fact that these precautions had
never been omitted, no matter how late
the hour. To observe them had become
second nature with Mr.. Greenup.
One night last week, however, when
on the point Of making his usual rounds.
be was disturbed by the loud ringing OF
the door bell.
On going in person 70 answer II he
found a boy with telegram.
The telegram was to the effect thai
an elderly aunt Of his wife's was on he,
way to visit the family, and would be
at the station at six o'clock the nexi
morning. Would be please meet her
there?
To comply with this request IL would
be necessary for him to set the alarm
clock for five a. m.
NO, boy. there's no answer"
He closed and locked the door. and
with the telegram in his hand went up.
stairs to reassure his uneasy wife and
to set the alarm clock.
Then he undressed and went 10 bed.
Five minutes later. when on the point
of falling to sleep, he remembered with
a sensation like a sudden jolt that he
had forgotten 10 secure the family val
uables and examine the doors and win
dows.
First time in 20 years." he said to
himself as be prepared to get up again
Then he lay back and reflected.
Twenty years! And in all that lime
/ there has never been any attempt &c
break into this house. Ihave spent-le'
| me seat least ten minutes every night
locking things up. Twenty times 300
that's easy-is 1900. Ten times that fig
ure is 10000. Great Scotti Ihave speni
$4,000 minutes-that's over 1900 hours
or l20 working days Of ten hours each
in doing something that has proved tt
be absolutely useless. And l haven
allowed anything for leap years. Per
haps I've been away from home enough
nights TO make up for that. -Four sole
months thrown away! And never bur
glar! If one wanted to get in he'd a.
il ANYHOW. Does IL seem likely that th'
one night in 1900 when | miss locking
things up is TO be the one night tina
some burglar is going to select for rob
bling this house? Hardly. I'll run m.
chances of it. anyway"
And he went 10 sleep.
The night sped away.
No sound disturbed the peaceful
slumbers of Mr.. Greenup.
Until five a. m.
Then the alarm clock aroused him.
Intent only on dressing in a hurry
attending to the furnace, and arousinl
the kitchen girl 10 the necessity of hav
. ing a cup of hot coffee for Aunt Penel
ope at $3.50, and, forgetting all abou
his reflections and computations of
few hours before. he FASTENED dow
stairs.
Then the recollection of his willfu
negligence. his indolent calculation o
chances, came upon hkn with a rush.
The air of the rooms seemed somehow
different. Hastily he lighted the ga
and looked about him. He saw-noth
, ing unusual. The house had not bee
,, entered.
All, no!
With a feeling akin TO sorrow th
narrator admits il. Fact Is strange
than fiction, and when reinforced by
overwhelming array of figures il woul
be madness to fly in the face of il wit
the trumped-up story of a burglar
that had only one chance in 1900