Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-05-25
A HUSBAND
CATCHER
tOriginal.1

- "oull SOlllC LID IT'D
good end, but they were all unheeded
TILL at last l received n that changed
the whole course of my life.
Going home one night after a late
supper, I climbed the stone stems Of
my home, put my key in the lock Of the
front door, opened the door and en-
tered the hall. The light in the hall
was turned very low. 1t was alwavs
left for me when 1 was out, and. after
depositing my hat and coat in the
closet, 1 turned it out and started I'M
to my room when suddenly from some
Where on the ground floor came the
voice Of a young girl.
"Stop"
Now, there was no girl in the family,
not even a servant, for our only do
nestle was a m Of fifty, with an
Irish brogue. Curious to know what
the voice meant, 1 went into the living
room and listened. 1t was pitch dark
and as silent as the tomb. There was
something grewsome in that silence. I
certainly had heard a voice, and there
was but II explanation-that it was
from the dead. Suddenly it commenc-
ed again, coming from a rear room.
You cannot harm me-"
What astonished me most was that it
should be supposed that any one would
want to harm a person with so sweet
and childlike a voice.
"My innocence is my protection" the
voice went on. "Change your life, be-
come guileless and no one can harm
you"
The first question that arose in my
mind was whether 1 had lost my rea-
son, the second if some one else had
gone daft. 1 was in no mood to speak
to this spiritual being, not because I
was frightened, for I was too we'll
braced with champagne to be fright
ened at anything, but I could not make
out who was talking to me.
"On the mantel is a vase" the voice
said after a brief silence, Gin which
you will find $40. Take the money,
go away and live a better life"
This girl, who must be hiding in the
other room, had evidently mistaken me
for a burglar. But who was she and
how did she come into our house? I
fancied a terror stricken miss in wrap
per and curl papers crouching in the
back endeavoring to get rid Of a
robber by preaching and bribery. She
seemed to be firing her words at inter
walls.
"You had a mother. She may be liv-
ing now. Think how it would wiring
her heart to think Of her dear boy a
thief and a robber."
"My little girl" I said-my words
were slightly run together from the
wine 1 had drunk-'if you'll permit me
to come in there and turn up the light
I'll show you that I'm no robber, but a
young man in evening Dress"
I waited for q reply. I must give her
time to collect her faculties, for de-
spite her calmness she must be very
much frightened. Her answer came at
last:
"It is drink that ruins so many young
men. Doubtless drink has ruined YOU"
"Not yet" I replied. 81 wouldn't be
the worse for another bottle now. But
enough Of this. I'm going to find out
who you are. Don't be frightened. I
won't hurt you"
I struck a match, lit the gas and
stood astonished. By the furniture in
the room I knew 1 was in a strange
house. Between portieres I could look
into a back room, and there Oh a table
stood a monograph. 1 saw it all.
Quick as a flash I turned off the gas,
stepped on tiptoe into the hall, and as
1 passed out the front door the phono-
graphic miss said sweetly:
"Think how happy I shall be at hav-
ing saved a human SOUL"
1 lived in a block Of ten houses all
alike and was constantly trying to get
into any Of them that I mistook for
my own. This was the first instance
in which my key happened to fit an
other lock.
1 was going into my house one after
noon soon after this episode when 1
say a very pretty girl mounting the
steps Of one of the houses in the block
three doors from mine. Before enter
ing she called 'Goodby' to a friend
who had left her. 1 recognized the
voice I had heard on the night Of my
unintentional housebreaking.
"Phonograph" I cried.
The girl started and turned.
''Think how happy l shall be at hav-
ing saved a human SOUL" I said loud
enough for her to hear.
Then we both smiled.
That same evening l sent in my card
and received an explanation. She lived
with an old maid aunt who was terri
bly, afraid Of burglars. The aunt had
bought a monograph, into which she
and her niece had talked alternately,
with a view to induce any intruder to
20 away The instrument was wound
and set going when they went to bed
and would run till dawn. l had hap
pened in while the niece's voice was
sounding words Of warning.
And SO 1 was saved from a life OF