The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-21
HER GREAT CAPTURE
81 lRMA 8. WILSON.

Copyright, 1909. BY American Press Asso-
olation-l
Miss Amy Pettengin was in a dread
ful position. 1t was O'Clock at night
She was alone in the house, and she
had warning that burglars were com
ing. There had been a ring at the
doorbea. She had answered It. but
found no one. A bit Of paper fluttered
down as she opened the door, and,
picking it up, she read, Burglars To-
night"
This bare statement Of the fact was
enough to put Miss Pettengill Ia a
tremor. She was not interested to
know why or by whom she had been
warned but the thought flashed through
her mind that some one OF the gang
had turned against his fellows either
through q stricken conscience or re-
yenRe.
But what was she to dor The fam
fly had left her for the night with
only a maid, and the maid bad disap-
peared Had she anything to do with
the proposed burglary Probably. She
was a new girl and bad been employed
without a character There was no
telephone connection, the house stood
half a mile from any other, and the
night was stormy. Nevertheless Miss
Pettengill put on her rubbers, took an
umbrella and was about to 80 for as
sistanoe when she heard voices with.
out. She stood still In the bah. para.
ly5ed with terror. Then came a ring
at the doorbeil.
To refuse admittance to any one who
proposed to rob the house was absurd
An entrance could be forced at ans
opening. The front door even was not
locked. Her only defense was strata
gem. she would admit the burglar
pretend not to know what he had come
for aud watch an opportunity that is.
II be did not bind and gag her-in the
hope Of putting him in a corner. Sum
moning all the resolution there was
left In her, she opened the door
There stood q man In a rubber suit
from which the rain was dripping
Il would Ike" he said. ito get shell
ter for awhile. It's bad night and
I can't 20 ON
@Certafnly," said Miss Pettengill, dis
senbfing. Come m"
Where shall / put this wet suitg
he asked. Il don't wish to spoil your
rugs
Go right up on to the third door
There IS bathroom there. You can
lay your suit in the tub
The man looked a tribe surprised,
but made no objection. Miss Petten-
gill led the way The prospect Of sue.
cess OF a trap she was laying gave
her courage, and she became momen-
tarily elated The bathroom was in
the center Of the house, with no win
dow. ventilated and lighted BY d small
opening ID the roof The man entered
and was throwing OF his rubber coat
when Miss Pettengiil, who had gone
a little ahead and changed the key
from inside to outside, closed the door
and locked II. Then she proceeded to
faint
Wnen she came 70 herself she heard
loud knocking at the bathroom door.
She got on her feet aud staggered
downstairs. Doubtless the man she
had shut up had been sent in to rec
onnoiter. His pals would probably
wait for signal She sat down to
think.
She sat perfectly still for a long
while, an hour perhaps, but heard no
sound except an occasional knocking /
above. After awhile even it ceased.
Midnight came. Being tired and worn
with excitement, she threw herself on
q lounge. The excitement kept her
awake for awhile but in time she
fell asleep.
When she awoke 1t was broad day +
light She was surprised to see the I
sash Of a window raised. There was
also q peculiar smell. which she soon
recognized as chloroform. Getting up, /
she went across the hall into the din +
ing room. The drawers Of the side
board were open and what silver had
been left there was gone Running
upstairs. she found that the bureau
drawers, closets. etc. had been ram
sacked.
She listened for a sound from the
bathroom. where she had Gagged the
advance burglar Hearing nothing. she
ran nnstairS trimmed Hahtlv 80 ia