The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-04

9HoN that for this sort OF work
theoretically, at least-there
should be no time so fitting as the
midnight hour; no place so prolific OF
spinal shiverings as n bare, dimly lit
room in rambling, deserted old
house. where cold draughts, and cerie,
unaccountable creakings conspire 10
add just the right flavor of ghostliness
TO the situation. II was exactly upon
this theory that | rented such room
in such house in lonely suburb Of
San Francisco, and on certain bitter
cold evening in December prepared 10
pass the night there.
My desire was 10 work up n vivid
account Cf burglary in all it's fas-
clnating details-depicting the entrance
of the burglar, the feelings OF the un-
fortunate individual whose lot il was
10 be the victim, and all that sort OF
thing. Naturally, / spared no pains
TO make my environment as suggesti' @
as possible. On the table at which |
intended 10 sit while recording my i'm.
pressions Of the situation. placed a
loaded magazine pistol. The blinds !
had drawn so closely that from the
outside the room must have seemed
20 be in darkness. Ny only light was
dark lantern, which ] had bought
that day from benevolcntlo looking
Hebrew patriarch. who recommended
the lantern most highly. He evidently
had mistaken my calling.
] did not at once feel in the mood
for writing. And so, as there was n
comfortable fire going in the old-fash-
ioned CRATE, ! got out my pipe and
smoked until the midnight hour-with
all the weird, fantastic images that IL
calls up in the lmagination-was almost
nj hand. At such time and such
place, sterile, indeed, were the imagina.
tion that did not feel itself aroused. |
was soon scratching away quite mer-
rily. | had been working thus for
perhaps twenty minutes. and had Just
reached the point where the burglar is
due 10 make his entry on the scene,
when ! fancied that ] heard faint
scrapiDg sound NJ one OF the windows.
IL startled me for ;he moment. Then
] concluded that il was nothing CON
graduated myself on having brought
my imagination 10 such n responsive
pitch. and laughed AT myself for hav.
ing been frightened by monster Of
my own creation.
| resumed my writing. But ] had
not completed n dozen lines when
something occurred which was not
down on my program. IL was a repe.
tition-tbis time unmistakably real
OF the sound which had startled me
few moments before. In fash l shot
the slide OF my lantern 10. picked up
my revolver. and slipped quickly and
noiselessly into n closet. pulled the
closet door almost shut-just leaving
sufficient opening 70 enable me 10
see what was going on in the room
without myself being seen did not
have long 10 wait. The window NJ
which ! had first heard that faint.
scraping sound was slowly. carefully
showed upward. The blind was then
cautiously thrust aside. and n mnsked
face appeared in the opening. Fo-
moment il glanced warily about the
room. Then, apparently satisfied with
what he saw. the provler raised the
blind and climbed in softly through
the open window. This was realism
with n vengeance
shifted my feet silently. and took
new grip on my revolver. For
moment ! thought 81 sallying forth
from my hiding place and giving battle
to my nocturnal visitor. On second con.
sideration il seemed better for me 10 re.
main where / was and await develop.
ments. Then IL the burglar did dis.
cover my hiding place. ! would have a
decided advantage.
While these speculatiors had been
forming in my mind. the burglar had
pulled an ugly-looking pistol from his
pocket. examined it. and put il back.
Then with the slide half closed he be.
gan TO Hash his lantern about the room.
He was in truth a burglar 10 satisfy
fbe requirements CT the most san.
CN'A'F sNNAh NhN ever ftNtItu IN n
dime novel. He was short and souat
OF figure. shabbily dressed. and nos.
sessed Of gait which for pure burglar.
iousness far surpassed anything hcve
ever seen on the stage. He wore n
soiled muffier about bis throat for
the night was bitter cold. Now catch.
ing sight OF my watch-whicb. in my
excitement, I had left lying on tho
table-he slid over 20 the table. picked
up The watch. and after n moments
scrutiny he thrust il into his potkat
with grunt OF satisfaction. He con.
hnued his search OF the room. I'm,
could End nothing else worthy Of nj.
attention. Once he seemed TO be look
ing rather queerly at the closet. rs n
ne thought IL might be profitably inves
ugated. i had a rather bad minute
just about this time, and felt greatly
relieved when he went silently fro..
The room. leaving the door open behin,
him. For some minutes afterward
could hear him walking down the bail
and through the rncarptted rooms O
the old place. ] was just beginnin
10 hope that be would find his InvtsQ
rason so barren OF results rs 10 cans
bic, to leave the house in disgust. whe
his footsteps now sounded In the pa
leading TO my room, and an instau