, 1903-07-29
MY ROOMMATE


I stopped overnight at a hotel 50
crowded that | was Obliged to take II
room with another man. lie was in
bed when | went to the room, and |
did not see him, for while | was un-
dressing he had n sheet drawn up over
his face and was apparently sound
asleep. | placed my money in my i'll
side vest pocket and, rolling up the
vest, placed it under my pillow. This
being done, / locked the door, which
was neal my bed, lay down and went
to sleep.
l was awakened in the night by the
sound of some metallic substance drop
ping on wood and by II light shining in
athe court saw the dim figure of a man
near the window placing something IN
a drawer of the bureau. Then | heard
him shut the drawer very cautiously
SO as to make the least possible sound.
Instinctively | felt under my pillow
for my vest. 1t was gonel
Surely | had peer robbed, and it was
evident that my gold had been depos-
tied in the bureau drawer. But why
had the robber not kept ii OH his per-
son? And why had he not taken it
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 Il few feet of my
head, and ! remembered that the bolt
went into the socket with some diff
Guilty and noisily. Doubtless the man
feared to awaken me? lie 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 IA long while deliberat-
ing what to do. | had no arms with
me; besides, l I'm not disposed to risk
my life with one of these desperate
fellows. One doesn't know when they
may consider it TO their interest to kill.
/ could hear the man drawing the
heavy breath of a sleeper, then crawl
to the bureau, open the drawer, take
the money, crawl back to the door,
open it and bolt? l 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, Tor l did not
know where the button was located.
Besides, the robber might finish me
before l could accomplish the purpose.
While | was Illuminating l heard the
man turning In bed He was evident
ly 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
my money.
A plan came to me, on which l acted
at once. l groaned. The man stood
still in u dark corner. Evidently he
had not calculated on my being awake.
l groaned again, this time as though i'll
excruciating agony. Still the man
stood motionless and silent.
Il say" l cried, you in the other
bed! Call for help. I'm dying!'
"Um-ah! What is it," in the tone
of one suddenly awakened.
Il want II DOCTOR
whats the matter with you?'
AT this point l was taken with such
severe paroXysms that | couldn't an
swer at once. For heavens sake,
strike Il light" l said us SOC as |
could speak.
In a few moments the gas was lit,
and a mar in his nightshirt stood neal
the foot of my bed.
What should be my next move! II |
asked him to rouse the house he might
expect to lose his plumber and would
probably take 1t with linn.
Cant you go downstairs" / said,
ito the bar and bring me up a stiff
glass of brandy with Jamaica gin
ger?'
He hesitated, apparently not certain
of the best course for him to pursue. |
began to groan again, this time fairly
shrieking with pain, at the same time
sitting up in bed and staring straight
ut him. | did this that he might not
take the contents of the drawer unless
he did it before my eyes.
stop your yelling" he said. "I1l
get what you want"
He put ON some of his clothes and
went out listened till | could hear
his footsteps no longer, then got UP.
went to the bureau and found Iny vest.
A coin had fallen from the pocket, and
1t was this that had awakened me. l
put the gold in my trousers pocket and
the vest back in the drawer.
Should | get away or await his re-
turn? | had made up my mind to hus-
tie on my clothes and go and was part
ly dressed when | heard the man re-
turning. l tumbled into bed and re