Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-10-01

AS a professional burglar myself l
knew the alarming nature Of that
sound. 1t was the distinct click of
revolver. peered through the cur
tains to determine what it meant. AS
I did so there was another click, this
time lower and less distinct. This was
caused by the pressing of an electric
button. The next moment the whole
house was brilliantly lighted.
I stepped back into the alcove with
trembling neart. The inmates OF the
house had been aroused, and my mas
| ter as well as myself was caught.
Through the filmy curtains caught
| glimpse of dark shadow flash
through the hall toward the front
stairs. l knew that it was my master
and that he was making n bold dash
| for freedom.
| At almost the same moment heard
door open and loud voice exclaim:
"Stop or I'll shootH'
| imagined that my master did not
obey, for the next moment two pistol
shots rang through the house, followed
| by the loud shufiling of feet and the
banging of doors.
Had tragedy been enacted within
sound of me or had my master es-
capped?
l waited and listened, expectantly
md anXiously. The people Of the
house wG.e evidently assembled in the
hall below. They We're too frightened
to do much talking. Then matters
Gained down Il little, and caught
snatches of their conversation.
"The basement window was opened"
somebody said. "He jumped out of
that"
Didn't you hit him. father?' asked
q youthful voice which 1 recognized
MS that of the seventeen-year-old son
of Mr.. Jaimson.
Il don't know. Do you see any signs
Of blood in the basement?"
They went down another fight of
stairs, and would have made a bold
dash for liberty then had not the pres
ence of some of the frightened sery-
ants in the upper hall prevented me.
Half an hour later they returned up
stairs. Fortunately for me no thought
of a search for another burglar en-
tered their minds Mr.. Jaimson tried
to calm the servants and the ladies by
saying:
Now all go to bed again. There is
no more danger. He has left the
house. and we are safer than ever. A
burglar never enters a house the sec
ond time"
Gradually they separated and re-
turned to their bedrooms. Only the
old man and his wife remained in the
hall within my hearing. When every
thing was quiet again, he said:
ELLEN, l recognized the burglar to-
night beyond doubt"
why, Edward, who was he?" his
wife asked quickly.
You will hardly believe me, Ellen,
when I tell you, but it is true. 1 could
not have been mistaken"
Then he lowered his voice and said:
ut was Charles Goddardv'
Impossible, Edward; impossible!
You We're excited and could not see
well!''
mo, Ellen; there was no mistake. I
faced him in the hall and could have
shot him dead. But the surprise at
meeting him unnerved me- Then l
merely tried to wound him and not to
kill him when he rushed downstairs"
Their bedroom door closed then, and
I heard no more. But what more did
I need? l saw the game was up. My
master was recognized, and nothing
but family friendship could ever in
duce Mr.. Jaimson to hold his secret.
several hours Before a darih 1aa to 9erdqe
out. Then as saw daylight begin
ming to break boldly left the alcove,
walked downstairs with my shoes in
my hand, unfastened one of the parlor
windows and dropped out upon the
soft grass. l did not stop to close the
window, but hurried home in time to
get in my room before the servants
would be rising.