The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-23
The Burglar that Tom Caught

m ON SANDERS felt a bit awkward and out Of
place in the big Madison avenue mansion. Back
in his native New England village, where he
son Of and assistant to the postmaster he was
counted a big gum and held his head hlgh but LII
the Smithson home, which seemed palace to him. he
distinctly uncomfortable and wished he hadn't
come. The smithsons formerly lived in the same vii
lage with Tom and he was great chum of the two
Smthson boys, about his age The Smithsons sud
denly inherited money, moved to New York and be-
came members of a fashionable set Tom had always
kept correspondence with the boys and last week
accepted oft-repeated invitation to visit them for
few days prior to their departure for Europe on
long continental tour.
7 Tom was observing chap and managed to
duct himself without an appreciable break He was
glad tho when the long, ceremonous dinner was over
and he could escape from the censorous eyes OF the
we'll groomed butler who seemed eager to detect him
in some slight breach Of etiquet.
After an evening spent pleasantly at roof garden
and bite and sup in one Of the big Broadway res
taurants, Tom was escorted back to the avenue man
sion. Being weared by the unaccustomed gayety, no
fell asleep almost he tumbled into the big
brass.posted bed. 1t was daylight when he sud
stnctively he felt there was something wrong
too early Tor any member of the family to be astr.
In fact, far Tom could judge by the faint light
which filtered in thru the drawn curtains it was only
trife after daybreak.
The noise at the door continued. It tho
some one was cropping on the floor. Then Tom heard
the knob turn and the door was softly opened few
inches at a time. Tom closed his eyes and feigned
sleep. His heart began to beat loudly he
the intruder must hear it. Cautiously he opened
eye just trihe, and in the dim light saw the wooly
head Of a negro protruding into the room Evidently
satisfied that Tom asleep the negro entered the
room and stole softly toward the bed. Fl j
Tom scared-badly scared-as- he afterward
admitted. He had read of negro burglars and how
desperate they seemed to be than white ones
This one was evidently making the rounds of bed
rooms gathering up every article Of value he could
find Tom could tell he at the foot of the bed
now, just where he had laid his trousers which con-
tanned all the money he possessed
He cautiously opened eye again and the
negro tiptoeing toward the door and carrying some
bulky object in his hand. Tom coward, but he
felt how helpless he without weapon of any
kind Yet the possible loss of his little stock of money
and his watch nerved him to- desperation and he de-
clded upon plan OF action He figured that the negro
would close the door softly he had opened it. That
brief space Of time would enable Tom to spring out
of bed, yank the door open and pounce upon the in
truder before be had time to draw weapon.
The negroes hand had not left the doorknob when
Tom grasped it from the inside threw the door
open and the next instant had grappled with the thief
his fingers cutchng the thick neck of the negro and
his shouts for help ringing thru the house. The negro
struggled to free his throat from Tom $ fingers but
the country boy was unusually strong and his grip
not easily loosened = 1881 ~ .@.~:.
Meanwhile the house was soon in an uproar. Femi-
nine shreks responded to Tom shouts. From room
further down the hall Mr. Smthson, revolver in
hand followed by his from their respective
near by: All were demanding to know the cause of
the trouble -" ~*~~
Give got him!'' said Tom painting, but trium-
plant . He was sneaking out Of my room and I fol-
lowed and jumped on him. Hold that gun ready, Mr.
Smthson, and if he tries to run, shoot him!' With
that, Tom arose from his PROSTATE foe. : ~ -
Get up, you dog said Mr.. smithson, advancing
with weapon ready to use. "I1l teach you to break
into-Why, it's Sam" he CALCULATED as the negro
crawled slowly to his feet rnbbing his neck. What Is
the meaning Of all this9'' s2a s =
r. Dunno sir, said Sam, swallowing with an effort
ode gemmen done forgot to leave his shoes outside
de doah an All went in to get 'em to clean Jes' as
All got out in de hall, he done jumped me::''
Polite as he was, Mr.. smithson could hardly hide
the annoyance in his voice he explained sThis il
our general utility man, Tom Sorry you did not
know him. And the old gentleman hurried away te
folk, leaving Tom to square matters az
best he could.-New York Press. ~ p" .