Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-01-27
MY ROOMMATE
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bed when | went to the room, and |
did not see him, for while was I'M
dressing he had sheet drawn up over
his face and was apparently sound
asleep. / placed my money in my in
side vest pocket and. rolling up the
vest, placed it under my pillow. This
being done. | locked the door, which
was near my bed. lay down and went
to sleep.
/ was awakened in the night by the
sound of some metallic substance drop
ping on wood and by light shining in
the court saw the dim figure of 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 l felt under my pillow
for my vest. 1t was gone!
Surely | had been robbed, and it was
evident that my gold had been depos-
tied in the bureau drawer. But why
had the robber not kept it on 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 few feet of my
head and l remembered that the bolt
went into the socket with some diff
Guilty and noisily. Doubtless the man
feared 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.
I lay awake long while deliberat-
ing what to do. l had no arms with
me; besides, l am 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.
/ must use artifce. Should / wait till
l could hear the man drawing the
heavy breath of 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
90 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 l did not
know where the button was located.
Besides, the robber might finish me
before l 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
my money.
A plan came to me, on which l acted
at once. l groaned. The man stood
still in dark corner. Evidently he
had not calculated on my being awake.
i groaned again, this time as though in
excruciating agony. Still the man
stood mOtionless and silent.
IL say" l cried, you in the other
bed. Call for help. I'm dyingv'
"Um-ah! What is it?' in the tone
Of one suddenly awakened.
Il want doctor"
whats the matter with you?"
At this point | was taken with such
severe paroXysms that / couldn't an
swer at once. For heavens sake,
strike light | said as soon as /
could speak.
In few moments the gas was Lit,
and man in his nightshirt stood near
the foot of my bed.
What should be my next move? If
asked him to rouse the house he might
expect to lose his plumber and would
probably takesit with him.
Cant you go downstairs" l 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
at him. / did this that he might not
take the contents of the drawer unless
he did 1t before my eyes.
stop your yelling" he said. "I'll
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 my vest
A coin had fallen from the pocket, and
IT was this that had awakened me.
put the gold in my trousers pocket and
the vest back in the drawer.
Should l get away or await his re-
turn? had made up my mind to hus-
tie on my clothes and go and was part
~ dressed when / heard the man re-
turning. | tumbled into bed and re-
commenced my groans
"The bars closed" he said.
as that SOP | asked despairingly.
"Then ! must get up and go out to
drug store or die"
He did not offer to 20 for me, and,
getting out of bed, | put on my clothes,
writing all the while. When needed
my vest looked aimlessly about for