The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-09-22
A HUSBAND
CATCHER
Ioriginal.1

good end, but they We're all unheeded
till at last received one that changed
the whole course Of my life.
Going home one night after n late
supper, l climbed the stone steps OF
Eiy home. put my key in the lock of the
front door, opened the door and cn-
tered the hall The light in the hall
was turned very low. 1t was always
left for me when was out, and, after
depositing my hat and coat i'll the
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 woman Of fifty, with an
Irish brogue. Curious to know what
the voice meant, went into the living
room and listened. 1t was pitch dark
and as silent as the tomb. There was
something grewsome in that silence.
certainly had heard voice, and there
was but one explanation--that 1t was
from the dead. Suddenly it commenc.
ed again, coming from u rear room.
You cannot harm me-"
What astonished me most was that II
should be supposed that any one would
want to harm person with so sweet
and childlike II 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 ! had lost my rea.
son, the second If some one else had
gone daft. l was in no mood to speak
to this spiritual being, not because
was frightened, for J was too well
braccd with champagne to be fright.
cned at anything, but could not make
out who was talking to me.
ION the mantel is q vase" the voice
said after brief silence, Sin which
you will find $40. Take the money,
go away and live better life
This girl, who must be hiding in the
other room. had evidently mistaken HE
for burglar. But who was she and
how did she come into our house? /
fancied terror stricken miss in wrap
per and curl papers crouchng in the
back room cndeavoring to get rid of IL
robber by preaching and bribery. She
seemed TO be firing her words at inter
vals.
you had a mother. She may be liv-
ing now. Think how it would wiring
her heart to think Of her dear boy
thief and robber."
My little girl" / said-my words
were slightly run together from the
wine 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
young man In evening Dress
l waited for reply. must give her
time to collect her faculties. for de-
spite her calmness she must be very
much frightened. Her answer came at
last:
1T is drink that ruins SO many young
men. Doubtless drink has ruined YOU"
Not Yet" / replied. II wouldn't be
the worse for another bottle now. But
enough Of this. I'm going to find out
VINO you are. Don't be frightened. l.
won't hurt YOU"
l struck match, lit the gas and
stood astonished. By the furniture in
the room I knew l was in a strange
house. Between portieres could look
INTO back room, and there on n fable
stood photograph. l saw it all.
quick as flash turned off the gas,
stepped on tiptoe into the hall, and as
! passed out the front door the phono-
graphic miss said sweetly:
Think how happy l shall be at hay
ing saved a human SOUL"
lived In block of ten houses all
alike and was constantly trying TO pet
into any Of them that | mistool, for
my own. This was the first instance
III which my key happened to fit an.
other lock.
was going into my house one after
noon soon after this episode when I
saw 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
VINO mad left her. l recognized the
voice | had heard ON the night OF nv
housebreaking.
monographs" 1 cried.
The girl started and turned.
Think how happy l shall be at hay-
Ing saved human SOUL 1 said loud
enough for her to hear
Then we both smiled.
That same evening sent in nv 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 view to induce any intruder to
90 away. The instrument was wound
md set going when they went to bed
ana would run till dawn. had hap
'ened in while the niece's voice was
sounding words of warning.
And so was saved from n life NJ
self indulgence for one of usefulness
hough the warning nhopo,ro,r,