The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-11-16
MARY JAMES Thief,

Miss Mary Jane Simpkins, for such
was her name, although none OF her
neighbors or friends ever gave her the
benefit of the latter, was near her
fOrtieth birthday, and did not look to
be a day over 80. She had, many years
before, her love affair, followed by Il
misunderstanding, the reason Of
which was 50 securely locked in her
breast that, although many had been
the conjectures in regard to it, yet no
one surmised the exact truth concern
ing the lovers quarrel.
They knew that big, handsome Sam
Hopkins had gone away suddenly,
that he had never returned to claim
the bride they had expected him to
take, and that was all they knew
They readily imagined that it was
through no fault of his that their
favorite was left Spinster, but what
her reason for putting him out of her
life had been they neither knew nor
could they find out. So far as Mary
Jane was concerned, she never as
much as intimated that Sam had not
gone away of his own accord, glad to
escape the bonds of matrimony.
Short and plump, with kindly face,
and good-natured as the day was long,
she was regarded by many as still 10
the matrimonial market, partly on &C.
count of her attractive home and bank
account as well as her genial, CHEEKY
personality, which had won for her a
legion of friends as well as many
would.be suffers, none of whom, how
ever, had replaced the old love.
AS time slipped by her village
friends had almost forgotten the ex-
istence of Sam Hopkins, her beau
Of more youthful days, who had, to
everyone's surprise, Miss Mary Jane
accepted, suddenly left for parts un.
known, but who had been heard of by
chance some few years ago as having
made snug little pile in Australia.
IAN old maid from choice, not ecesi.
ty," was what her friends said of her,
and when several Of the towns most
eligible young men had tried to make
up" to her she bad been friendly, but
kept them at arms length.
On one particular afternoon she had
sent her neat little maid servant with
some jelly and freshly killed chicken
to sick neighbor, some half a mile
away, and sat among the geraniumS
10 the sunny bay window upstairs
mending some table linen. The sound
Of footsteps on the front graveled walk
made her pause to listen; then some
one knocked and at the same time
stealthily turned the knob of the
screen door and stepped in.
Only last week the big house on the
hill had been visited by burglar, who
had departed as quietly as he came
with some old family plate and several
valuable pieces Of jewelry. What II
this were the same thief, emboldened
by his former success, to pay her home
a visit in broad daylight, with the
hopes Of similar plunder. Not il
wOman's prompt action and courage
could prevent, thought Miss Mary
Jane. So hastily opening bureau
drawer and picking up revolver, both
old.fashioned and unloaded, which
had lain there many years, she crept
swiftly downstairs, where with his
back turned toward her stood strap.
ping big fellow, who turned as she
reached him, and, taken by SURPRISE
stepped quietly back ward toward the
door OF the closet located under the
stairs and then attempted to pass
her.
Summoning all her courage and
pointing her weapon OF defense at his
head, she cried "Open that closet
door II you value your 1lfe," whereup-
on the imputent fellow exclaiwed:
"Why, Miss Mary Jane!T
Don't Mary Jane me-" she shouted,
"but open that door," pow Thoroughly
courageous with righteous anger at
the fellows bold insolence. Az he
turned and opened the door she gave
him one push, shut the closet door
With bang, at the same, time turn
lng the key with q dexterlty supris.
Ing even " herself,
Thank heal en, 81 had him good
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