Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-09-17
HER ONE *
OPPORTUNITY
BY JAMES BASC0MB
CopYRaHr, 1868, ny r. c. MCCLURE

BakerSVille, was all alone on that
Thursday evening. The hired man had
gone in one direction and the hired girl
In another, and neither was expected
back before midnight. The widow
worked away at crazy quilt until Q
o'clock and had just put away her sew
ing to make ready for bed when she
heard the kitchen door open and shut.
Then some one walked across the room
and opened the sitting room door and
ep.ered, and she looked up to find a
stranger present. He was a man OF
middle age fairly well dressed. His
| face was not at all wicked, though II
had dissipated look.
81 beg your pardon for this intru-
sion," he said as she regarded him with
| puzzled look, but my excuse is that
/ have called on business and am in
something of hurry. l want what
money you have In the house, and the
sooner you hand 1t over the sooner III
be gone"
you don't mean that you are rob
ber?" queried the woman.
That's what l anu. l know you are
alone in the house, and hope you will
hand over the money like sensible
woman and not provoke me to anger"
won't you sit down? I shall not
scream or anything. ] have heard
about robbers ever since l was a child,
but you are the first one | ever saw.
Won ,,,,,ot oxcpco mo &c bova N nat
ural curiosity about the matter. Is this
your first experienceT'
Not by long chalk. It's nearer my
fftieth."
81 am somewhat glad of that" said
Aunt Mary. "A man who had just
turned robber broke into my sisters
house IN Taylorville q few weeks ago,
and | can't tell you of the mistakes he
made She had 50 cents in her purse,
and he took that and left $40 in one OF
the drawers of the sewing machine
She has real solid silver spoons. and
yet he laid them aside and took the
plated. The sheriff said he was moth
Ing but bungler."
"Ill try to clean up things in good
shape" replied the robber, who had
taken seat on the edge of a chair
and was twirling his hat.
"Our supper was over three hours
ago, but l can bring you a glass of
milk and a piece of pie. will leave
the door open 80 that you can see all
the time. You'll feel better for some
thing to eat The robber spoke OF
drank a whole pitcher Of sour milk,
when there We're two pans of sweet on
the huttery shelves before him. He
must have been very awkward fell
low
The robber nodded his head, and the
woman fetched him a generous piece
Of pumpkin pie and large glass of
milk and materially observed;
Just make yourself right at home
while you eat and drink. Did l under
stand YOU TO say you were a married
MANI"
"No'm. I was married once, but my
wife Is dead"
"Was that before you became a rob
ber?"
Yes"
II am rather glad of that. If I had
robber for q husband should always
be worried about him. Have you any
children
"No'm." he sulkily admitted. He APP
peared dissatisfied with the situation.
THAT'S good. If you had children
you couldn't be with them much of the
time, and If you got arrested they
would feel bad about it. / don't want
TO ask too many questions, but rs we
are here alone I'd like to ask how you
happened to become a robber."
Look here, woman, want what
money you hare in the house. I didn't
come here to gossip
"Of course you didn't" she pleasant
ly replied ~ know enough about rob
bers TO know that they are always In n
hurry, but | thought you might take
time to answer few questions just
the same. You must remember that I
never had a chance to talk to a robber
before"
We'll then, l couldn't make money
ct anything else, and 40 turned rob
Der"
''Oh, I see. Well, I'm paying my
hired man SIC month and board. but
he complains that # IS not enough lie
may turn robber any day. If he does /
don't believe he VIII make any great
success at #, as he is too slow. The
only time he ever hustles is when he ia
washing w fog dinner. ! have been
wondering if you wouldn'T advise me
about certain matter"
Madam, do you understand why /
am hereT'
Yes, to rob me-"
Then hand me over what You can
lay hands on. I can't SIT here Cabling
like an old woman"
"Rut there's lots Of time" she pro-
tested "Youn be clear 70 Spooners-
vile before any one knows I've been
robbed What l wanted to ask you
about IS this: I've been widow for
six years I've had three offers TO
marry again. The last one IS from
Deacon Warner and I've been consider
ing IT, He's pretty good man, guess.
but he's got ways about him and three
children to boot. He wants everybody
In the house TO go to bed at s o'clock
and get up at =. He wants fried pork
every morning for breakfast and fried
rnueh eypt-y- rrfpbt for c,7vr,or To r,,,.,