Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-10-25
Strange Development.
BY q. e. v. OSBORNE.

Iale 1eI 1 cannot nelp DuC tel IL
as it occurred, and he who will not be-
lieve may laugh.
For some time past 1 have been an
ardent follower of Dauguerre, and
many leisure hour have / spent in the
fascinating study of photography. AS
most Of my time during the day is
taken up with business. 1 have been
obliged to do much of my Photographic
work by means of the f1ashlight; for
behind him, might be able to strike
that purpose l had. previous to the
night of my adventure, fitted up the
sittingroom to take Il series of pictures
of the family in such fantastic poses
as suited my fancy. The room is
large one, on the ground floor, and
had removed nearly everything from
it save the large square piano; this
stood in one corner of the room; the
other corner was hung with draperies
suited to my purpose; which were
used as a background for the groups.
l usually placed the camera on its tri-
pod in front OF the piano, and used the
latter as a table to hold my f1ashlight
powders and other articles l might
need.
On the night of which 1 am writing
! had taken several pictures. and at
about II o'clock was about to retire,
when an idea came into my mind that
/ thought would make an effective pic
ture. / stopped to re-arrange the
draperies, and manoeuvered about con-
siderably to get the desired effect. All
the members of my family had gone
to bed. 1 was about to take a picture
of a classical array of flowers and
bronze figures, when my wife called
to me from the floor above. After at
tending to the thing she wanted.
proceeded to lock up the house as usual
and went to bed, forgetting entirely
that had neglected te put my camera
and things away.
1t was a clear, moonlight night. and
before undressing l looked out of the
window and admired the beauty of
the country landscape, bathed in sill
yer. AS it was after midnight there
was got a soul about the streets, and
my last thought before dropping off
to sleep was of the flowing streams
and whispering trees.
1t might have been about two
O'Clock when l was awaked by
scratching noise that seemed to come
from the floor below. l listened in
tently for a few moments and then
distinctly heard Il sound as if some
one was opening window. 1t was
but moments work to slip on pair
of slippers and dressing gown, and
/ silently went out of my room and
stood at the head of the stairs and
listened again; the light of the moon,
now well down, still shone in through
the windows, and moment after
heard some one move through the din
ing-room and saw a man cross the
hall and enter the stting-room
Grasping stout walking stick
which stood in the upper hall, l tip
toed cautiously down the starts. l had
a vague notion that if l could catch
the intruder unawares and creep up
behind him. l might be able to stun
him with quick blow on the
Eead with the stick. AS soon as l
got to the foot of the stairs, l knew
that should the man turn he could see
me in the moonlight, so l quickly
slipped into the room and behind the
door: thus | was right beside the piano.
What followed happened so quickly
that hardly knew how it all occurred.
The burglar evidently stumbled over
some of the loose draperies in the
other corner of the room, for | heard
him strike something and then
utter a low oath. | suppose l must
have made n slight noise-for I'M
mediately after he called in II subdued
voice.
"Whos there?"
Thinking that he must have seen me
j started to jump forward, and as
did so shot rang out. At the same
instant the room was filed with
brilliant light 1t only lasted mo-
ment and then all was In darkness
again. was so startled by the hight
that jumped forward again; my feet
got tangled up In something and |
measured my length on the floor. strik-
Ing my head against the edge of the
plano as ! fell.
The next thing | knew | Was up
stairs In bed. my wife and physician
with me. II was about 10 O'clock In
the morning. and they told me what
they knew my wife had been awakened
by che revolver shot. aud rouslng the
rest of the family she ran dawn stairs
90 ind me unconscious. lying on the
fiooe with a gash In my forehead.
There was no burglar near, but the
giass In one window was broken and
the plants all trampled In lower bed
aust outside.
u noon was able 10 set up. for