Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-19
The Daily Short Story
A Midnight Alarm.

y
IF you make a noise" Missed the
burglar. Il Will cut your throat1' He
paused a moment, then went ON rough
ly, where's the chink your husband
brought home this mornings"
He knew il. then. l felt cold shud
der of despair creeping over my body.
There was a faint noise outside my
room. the sound of heavy footsteps on
the stairs.
somebody's comingw he muttered.
''See here. madam, if you dare to tell
I'll kill you and the old niger and
burn the house down"
He stepped behind the massive head
board of the bed.
The door of the room opened. and old
Aunt Chloe entered, with n cup of choc-
olate.
''Why, whatever is dc matter wild yer,
honey? Sure de poor chile is gettin
worsew
She placed the cup upon a table be-
side me and bent anxiously over me-
What should L do? Just then my eyes
fell upon little notebook with pencil
attached which lay at my side and up
on which in my stronger moments
had amused myself and beguiled the
time with fragmentary scraps of COM
position. A sudden inspiration flashed
across my mind. 1 thanked God then
that long ago 1 had taught Aunt Chloe
TO read and write. l drew the notebook
toward me. enforcing silence on my
garrulous old nurse by warning ges-
ture. With quick intuition she per-
ceiyed at once that something was
amiss and stood quietly by until. with
trembling hand, L hurriedly scrawled
these words:
Aunt Chloe-There is a robber behind my bed.
Do not scream when you read this. Our lives de-
pend upon you. Go at once TO DIR. Parker's and
tell them TO send help shall be robbed and
murdered. BE quiet.
As the dim eyes of the old woman
glanced slowly over these words L
grasped her arm 10 enforce silence, but
there was no need. for Aunt Chloe was
shrewd and sensible. 1 had just began
TO fancy that she had not understood
the import OF my words, when she
managed TO whisper:
''All right, missy. I'll go in minute.
Don't you be afeard.'
1 smiled by way of reassuring the
good old soul.
She vanished as she spoke. and. with
n strange feeling of terror. lay SILVER
ing. trembling. half insensible.
In a short time felt my bed pushed
softly aside. and again the ruffian step
ned forth. This time he held his pistol
in his hand.
We'll. you're n cool one, sure" he
said. gazing at me half admiringly.
,rrl,n frrr.Na
ing the pistol toward me as he spoke.
Il want the chink. Where is itE'
1 did not answer.
Come. now. you'd better look sharp.
Well, never mind; I'm blamed if don't
believe it's in here"
His hand was on the door of the
wardrobe. My heart sank like lead in
my bosom. He laid his weapon upon
the table and unlocked the wardrobe.
for the key had been careleSsly left in
the lock. 1t was huge piece of furni-
ture. without shelves. the garments
hanging from hooks, and in small
box concealed at the bottom the money
was hidden. l watched the villain
thrust his head into the wardrobe.
Then n sudden thought struck me. If
could induce him to enter the ward
robe. 1 would lock its door upon him
and hold him prisoner till help came. L
acted at once on the idea. Half arising
in the bed as though in listening at
tltude, 1 cried aloud:
Thank God, some one is coming.
The exclamation sounded very, fer
vent. although my listening ears could
catch not the faintest sound of foot
step. But the ruse succeeded. With n
volley of frightful oaths the burglar
sprang hastily into the wardrobe and
drew the door to upon himself. Now
was my time. l sprang quickly from
my bed-excitement lent me fictitious
strengthened rushed to the door of the
wardrobe and turned the key. In an
instant with his foot he burst it open.
My eyes fell upon the robbers pistol
lying on the table. loaded, cooked,
ready for action. With an inward
prayer of thanks l grasped the revolv-
err as he rushed furiously toward me.
stand back" / cried, "or I'll blow
your brains out!'
Then. closing my eyes that 1 might
not see him fall, fired.
There was n low grOan of agony. He
threw his hands upward and fell heav-
lily TO the floor. Then lost conscious
ness.
When L opened my eyes again, Aunt
Chloe was weeping and wailing above
me. and DIR. Parker stood near, with n
grave and anxious face.
'The robber." 1 gasped as soon as L
could speak, lis he dead?"
"Oh, no. Mrs. Howard" answered
the good doctor; slightly wounded,
that is all. dressed the wound, and
the sheriff has carried him of. He will
not trouble you any more"
Before 1 could answer there was a
hasty step outside the door. and my
husband rushed into the room.
1t was long while before fully re-