Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-06-11

L
out where the noise really came from,
but she wouldn't hush until I took her
in beside me. and then all was quiet
again; but there was no more sleep for
any of us that night.
In the morning the upstairs boarders
came down to breakfast as usual; she
with her hair frizzled and her face
powdered, and he drawing his goatce
out to the incest possible taper between
his long, lean fingers.
We agreed that nothing should be
said about the strange noise until we
had examined the premises; but, on
examination, no clue could be found,
everything was in it's usual place, and
no sign of burglars anywhere.
The next night we went to bed early,
as our long waking made us drowsy.
| Neither OF us spoke about what was
uppermost in our minds, as we were
undressing, for fear of frightening Het-
ty, for she was very nervous, and fear
full of ghosts, so we were all soon
asleep.
Both Becky and I awoke about the
same time, with a strange feeling of
suffocation. Day was just breaking,
!; and Becky rose and staggered to the
window, which she succeeded in open
| ing after a great effort. The fresh air
seemed to revive her, and she came to
J me, staring with her big eyes, and
said:
"What is it, and what is this?"' as
she drew a handkerchief from under
: my chin.
''I tell you we've been chloroformed! !!
There are murderers in the house, and
I'm off for the policen'
I jumped out Of bed and ran to the
crib, but the child was sleeping sound
ly, and breathing regularly
In less time than it takes to tell it,
Becky was dressed and away for help,
f and I locked my door until heard her
t return with some one. who proved to
l be the police, sure enough.
e There was no doubt chloroforln had
4 been administered to both of us, for We
e were not then free from its effects.
y had not noticed before that my bureau
b drawers had been opened and ram
: sacked and, oh! terrible to find that my
l precious all was gone! Two hundred
t and fifty dollars and twenty-five cents,
l every cent 1 had in the world, be-
t sides my dear Anthonys watch, and
t some valuable jewels Of Becky's. It
s was too, too bad and we followed the
Y officer of the law upstairs to rouse
t our boarders, and tell them of our
: loss. Imagine our surprise, if you can,
when we found that the birds had
|, flown. The beds had never been slept
y in, but there were the trunks in their
v usual places, and they were not empty,
l as we were assured by their weight.
e These will be something to fall back
e upon to cover my loss, thought, as
e well as to help pay for their last two
weeks board, for we all believed they
a had committed the robbery, and
e knew their clothing was worth some.
d thing.
> When 1 had legal permission to open
r the trunks they were found to be filled
Y with blocks stolen from the sawmill
If close by, and this accounted for the
1t humping sound we heard the night
d before the thieves left. They had pro
d cured a box and one filled it from be-
le low, while the other drew it up and
in at the window; while their clothing
n was no doubt, removed in the same
e. mysterious way, and secreted some
- where until an opportunity offered fol
v procuring the means of escape. Il
r, turned out shortly after that they ha6
% passed number of bogus bills in the
II neighborhood, and that they were con
o nected with gang Of counterfeiters.
was very chary about taking il
d, strangers after this sad experience
" and I may say that have been very
j. fortunate, on the whole, since then
b. with just one exception.
I'D A few years ago. a gentleman wht
a had been living in the South, brough
his wife here by the doctors advice
id She had been raised not far from this
er and it was thought her native ali
" would be Of some benefit; but the poo
,e thing seemed dying from some un
re known cause, and pined away day b.
lp day. tended her as if she had beer
le my own sister. and she died in N,
arms at last. Poor, poor thing! The,
C. said her disease was not consumption
d, but when she was laid out, her arm
I'd were no thicker than three months
I'd old baby's. Her husband took he
ut death real hard and he was such
be nice man, such q feeling man, and s.
gs thoughtful; he reminded me of An
lg thony so much.
IL He stayed on after his wife died, a
ty if he hated to go away without hel
be He was so kind to Hetty, too; every
ut thing that would save her trouble h
IS. was ready to do. And for me! well.
lg hate to think Of it now, but it di
We seem as if Anthony had come bacl
er again, and the old feeling of havin
at some one to depend on grew on m
mt unawares. I daresay it was foolish o
II; me to think he had taken a fancy t
Id me as I had to him. L see it all, nov
y that my eyes are fairly open; but deal
&C. dear, it was hard to bring myself t
believe the truth.
" Thoro vyac IN no frrond oononrf