The daily Alaskan., 1905-07-11
A HUSBAND
 CATCHER
toriginall

kereSl tue uaAA. AAS AAHAt a. ' was turned very low. It was always left for me when I was out and, after depositing my hat and coat In the closet. I turned 1t out and started up to my room when suddenly from some where on the ground floor came the voice of young girl
 "Stopr
 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 Co know what the voice meant, went Into the living room and listened. It was pitch dark and as silent as the tomb There was something grewSomc In that silence. | certainly had heard a voice, and there was but one 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 l had lost my req son, the second if some one else had gone daft. was in no mood Co speak to this spiritual being not because | was frightened, for I was too well braced with champagne to be fright ened at anything but could not make out who was talking to me.
 'pOn the mautel Is a vase" the voice said after a brief silence, "in which you will dnd Sl0 Take the money, Co away and live a better lite.'
 This girl. who must Ue hiding in th, other room, had evidently mistaken me for a burglar. But who was she and how did she come into our houSeE ] fancied terror stricken miss In wrap per and curl papers crouching In the back room endeavoring to get rid Of a robber by preaching and bribery. She seemed to be firing her words at inter vals.
 "You had mother. She may be Nv. 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 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"
 Iwaited for a reply. l must give her time to collect her faculties, for de spite her calmneSS she must be very much frightened. Her answer came at last:
 Tt is drink that ruins so many young men. Doubtless drink has ruined you,
 Not yet" replied. T 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. won't hurt you"
 struck a match, lit the gas and stood astonished. By the furniture In the room I knew was In a strange house. Between povtieres I could look into a back room, and there on table stood photograph, I saw 1t all Quick as a flash I turned of the gas, stepped on tiptoe Into the hall, and as I passed out the front door the phonO- graphic miss said sweetly;
 Think how happy I shall be at hay ing saved a human soul"
 lived in a block of ten houses all alike and was constantly trying to get into any Of them that l miStook for my own. This was the first instance in which my key happened to ft an other lock.
 was going into my house one after noon soon after this eSpisode when saw 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. I recognized the voice l had heard on the night of my unlntentional houscbreaking.
 "Phonographr I cried.
 The girl started and turned.
 Think how happy shall be at hay Ing saved a human soul" I said loud enough for her to bear.
 Then we both smiled.
 That same evening | 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 phonograph, into which she and her niece had talked alternately, with a view to induce any intruder to go away. The instrument was wound and set going when they went to bed and would run till dawn. had hap pened in while the niece's voice was sounding words of warning.
 And so l was saved from a life of self indulgence for one of usefulness, though the warning photographic words had nothing to do with my con