Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-17
\ ROOMMATE

Il =
was travelling one snnn 49,,
ss ana had collected about $500 from
= 49, Wno insisted on paying in gold
4 ppeu overnight at a hotel 81
& mat was obliged to take q
soom with another man. No uos T.,
~. S.u when Yen l went to the room. and !
n ~ see him, for while l was I'm.
nG he had sheet drawn IN ovor
1ace and was apparently sonnd
p' placed my money in my in.
- vest pocket and, rolling I'D the
80 paced it under my pillow. This
uone, locked the door. which
vas near my bed, luy down and went
to sleep ~ ''
was awakened in the night bv the
80 u u1 OF some metallic substance dron.
ping on wood and by light shining in
tne court saw the dim figure If , NOV,
uear the window placing something in
oraw er Of the bureau. Then I heard
ann smut the drawer very cautiously
so az to make the least possible so,,nd
.ns'ncuveiy felt under my pillow
tor my vest 1t was gone!
Surely I had been robbed. and # was
evident that my gold had been demos
ated IN the bureau drawer. Rut whv
mad the robber not kept it on his Der.
son! And why had he not taken II
away! He had only to unlock the door
and pass out. But he would have to
pass very near to my bed. Indeed the
lock was within few feet Of nv
head' and l remembered that the bolt
went Into the socket with some diff
Guilty and noisily. Doubtless the man
reared to awaken me? He would await
his opportunity. Meanwhile it was not
necessary that he should run the risk
of being caught with the money ON his
person.
l lay awake long while deliberat-
1ng what to do. I had no arms with
me; besides, am not disposed to risk
my lilo with one of these desperate
fellows One doesn't know when they
may consider it to their interest to kill.
i must use article. Should wait till
could hear the man drawing the
heavy breath Of a sleeper, then crawl
to tho bureau, open the drawer, take
the money, crawl back to the door.
open 1t and bolt? dismissed the plan
at once. The man probably would not
go to sleep. and If he did the opening
of the drawer might awaken him. No:
this plan was not to be thought of.
The next plan | considered was to
get up and touch the electric button.
But this would not work. for did not
know where the button was located.
Besides, the robber might finish me
before could accomplish the purpose
While l was Illuminating heard the
man turning in bed. He was evident
~ not asleep. Then he got up. /
heard him feeling about for something
The next sound was that Of his getting
into his clothes. He was going to get
up and deliberately walk away with
any money.
A plan came to me, on which I acted
at once. groaned. The man stood
still in a dark corner Evidently be
had not calculated on my being awake
i groaned again, this time as though in
excruc1at1ng agony. Still the man
stood motlonless and silent.
Il say" cried, you in the other
bed! Call for help! I'm dying!'
"Um-&h! What is it?" in the tone
of one suddenly Awakened
Il want a DOCTOR
whats the matter with you?"
At this point l was taken with such
severe paroxyshs that couldn't an
swer at once. "For heavens sake,
strike Hght!' 1 said us soon as
could speak.
In q few moments the gas was lit,
and a man in his nightshirt stood near
the foot of my bed.
What should be my next move? If /
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