Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-12-30

I've had every avenue OF escape cut
off. I've been chased over tin roofs.
I've been shot AT. but | never was APP
palled hut once and that was by 81
lenre.
I'd served Il term for burglary. spent
wha, money i'd been given on getting
out aud was looking for Il job-not IL
job of honest work.. I'd tried that on
getting out once before and found 1T
impracticahlr. When an eN-convict
knows that he's liable amy moment to
be spotted and discharged it takes the
zest out of him for work. Id made up
my mind there was nothing left for me
to do but stick to my business. which
was burglary. Well. rs | was saying.
| was looking for a house to get into
and. walking on the outskirts of a city.
saw one that struck me as being very
inviting. 1t WAS i'm the center of Il six
acre lot. with no n%eighbors near
enough to make it unpleasant for the
burglar and Il wood in the rear af-
fordin@ Il safe retreat. | made a care
full survey "f the premises. No n
happened To be visible in or about it at
the time. but there was plenty of evil
dence that it was occupied. Newly
washed clothes were hanging on the
lines: smoke was issuing from the
chimncyS; children'S sledS and wagons
were scattered about in the yard. The
only thing | didn't like about it was
snow. but it was old snow.
The night was cold and blustery. At
about 10 o'clock | took position in the
yard. shielded from the wine by a car
riagc shed. with a view to determining
by the lights what rooms were occu-
pied. The whole house was lighted. [
got into a vehicle and sat watching my
quarry. The seat was comfortable. and
some blankets and robes that had been
left in it kept me warm. The result
was that | fell asleep.
When l awoke every light in the
house was out. \. distant clock struck
I. | got out. went to the house, took q
pane of glass out of a Kitchen window.
turned the "catch." raised the sash
softly. pulled myself up and crawlcd
inside. Striking a match. | lit my dark
lantern and surveyed the room. Every
thing had been put in order after the
evening meal. \ fire was burning in
the range l went through a pantry to
the dining room. Hero. too. all was i'm
order.
Passing through the parlors. ! en-
tered the hall and went upstairs. talk
ing every precaution against waking
the inmates. \ bedroom door near the
landing stood aiar. | listened. but
could hear no one breathing. Went
in and felt of the bed. There WAS no
one in it. There being nothing of value
in the room. | passed on To the next.
examined it and found it also empty.
Coming to one of the front bedrooms,
I certainly expected to find it occupied
and entered il with all possible stealth.
listening long for the sound of q sleep
ing being. That | heard no Such sound
began 10 affect my nerves. An empty
room is Il good find for Il burglar. but
the advantage in this case was over
come by the unexpected vacancy.
CROPPED my way to the bed. felt of it
and found it u%Moccupied. Then. fash
ing my lantern about. | saw q woman'S
clothing that had been evidently taken
off at bedtime lying on the chairs. The
woman had vanished.
| Went to another room and another
with the same result. In some of them
I found clothing that had been laid
aside. but no one in the beds. Zone
of the beds showed signs of having
been occupied. | went on to every
story, and not Il single living being
did | find. There was some plumber
on the dreSSerS. but not very much.
/ did not think of taking it. My mind
was fixed upon the lights | had seen
in the house IL few hours before and
the present absence of those whom
the lights had served.
There is 10 similarity between day
light and dark for weird Impressions.
One human being. even if a policeman.
would nave broken the spell. | feared
a haunted house. but | feared more
that Somethin" in my brain had gone
wrong. Had tina which l had seen in
the afternoon and evening been an
hallucination or did | now experience
something that was not? Coming to 4
window overlooking the rear yard,
flashed my lantern down into it. There
> were the clothes still hanging on the
1llS. L NdiHtQ bilh uIouSI lIS utli.
, bringing my feet down heavily on the
) floor that might hear a sound. The
carpet was thick. and there was but
a faint reSponse-a esponse that add
ed to my growing terror.
! Suddenly the rays of my lantern
: struck q living figure. At once my
instinct of preservation ordered me to
cover my light. did so and waited.
There was no sound. Believing | had
been mistaken. | mustered courage to
raise the lantern again. There was
the figure. hut it was my own reflect
ed from Il mirror.
. now had but one desire-to get out
and away. Descending to the main
. floor. | saw a piece of yellow paper on
the floor. What prompted me to pick
it up | don't know. but l did and read:
! g ~,, -.~~. II $3.50