Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-06-12
HER GREAT CAPTURE
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~AAS WeA AAeHs& N GA& mouse, auo ane
bad warning that burglars were com
Ing. There had been q ring At the
doorbell. She had answered Il, but
found no Ona. Azblt Of paper nnttered
down as she opened the door, and.
picking IL ~. she read. Burglars to.
night"
This bare statement Of the fact was
enough to put Miss Petsengsll In q
usmoR. She was not interested to
know why OF By whom she had been
warned, butthe thought dashed through
her mind that some one OF the gang
had turned against his fellows either
through q stricken consetence OF re-
venge.
But what was she 70 dor The fam
NY had left her for the night with
only q maid, and the maid had disap-
peared. Had she anything to do with
the proposed burgiaryi Probably. She
was new sir and had 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 FubbeFs, took an
umbrella and was about to 70 for as
sistance when abe heard voices with
out. She stood still In the hail. para
ly1ed with terror Then came a ring
at the doOrbell.
To refuse admittance 20 any one who
proposed to rob the house was absurd.
An entrance could be forced at any
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 and watch an opportunity-that Il,
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 man in a rubber suit
from which the rain was dripping.
Il would like" be said. ''tO get shell
ter for awhile. It's a bad night and
| can't 60 on"
Certainly" said Miss PettengIll. dis
sembling. ''Come in"
where shall l put this wet suItY'
he asked. II don't wish to spoIl your
rugs"
go right up on to the third door,
There il n bathroom there. You can
lay your suit In the tub"
The man looked tribe surprised.
but made no objection. Miss Petten-
GIL 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 a small
opening in the roof. The man entered
and was throwing on bis rubber coat
when Miss Pettengill. who had gone
a little ahead and changed the key
from inside to outside. closed the door
and locked It. Then she proceeded to
faint.
When she came TO herself she heard
loud knocking at the bathroom door.
She got on her feet and staggered
downstairs. Doubtless the man she
had shut up had been sent In to rec
onnOiter. His pals would probably
wait for q signal. She sat down TO
think.
She sat perfectly stIll for a long
while. an hour perhaps. but beard no
sound except an occasional knocking
above. After awhile even 1t 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 Il was broad day
light. She was surprised to see the
sash OF a window raised There was
also a peculiar smell. which she soon
recognized as ehloFOfoFm. 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 ran
sacked.
She listened for a sound from the
bathroom. where she had Gagged the
advance burglar. Hearing nothing, she
ran upstairs. tripped lightly TO the
door. listened. triad the knob and
found II stIll locked There was a
faint sound Is Of one breathing in
sleep.
Miss PettengflI ran alI the way 20
the nearest house. where she found
the family at breakfast.
''Our house has been robbedg' she
exclaimed aud dropped into . chair.
Are you Miss PettengilIF' asked a
lady at the head u tia table eEcitediy.
yea"
"oh. heavens, Has my son been
killed.
~Your s0nF'
Yes. A bit Of papeF WIS left here
last night saylng that yoar hOass
would be robbed during the night. Ny
son thought Il might BE q hoax. but
concluded to 50 20 y0uF protection He
said be wouldn't brighten yOu b. tell
ing yOu about the robbers. He'd Just
20 In and be there In case they eame. +"
'-0h. my goodneas graciOusr
Tel ne qulek II be deadr
NO
where Il heF