The daily Alaskan., 1910-01-10
4 RETIRED
 BURG-AR'S STORY
nu mLLARp c. IRVING.
fcopyright. 1909. by American Press AssO
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 or, I've been chased over tin roofs I've been shot at, but never was ap- paled but once. and that was by si' lence
 I'd served a term for burglary spent what money I'd been given on getting out and was looking for a job-uot iob of honest work. I'd tried that on getting out once before and found 1t impractIcable. When an ex-convict knows that he's liable any moment to be spotted and discharged 1t takes the zest out of him for work I'd made up my mind there was nothing left for me to do but stick to my business, which was burglary. We'll as was saying, I was looking for a house to get into md. walking on the outskirts of a city, saw one that struck me as being very inviting. It was in the center of a six acre lot. with no uelghbors near enough to make 1t unpleasant for the burglar and a wood in the rear af- fording a safe retreat, made care full survey Of the premises. No one bappened to be visible in or about it at the time. but there was plenty of evi- dence that 1t was occupied. Newly washed clothes were hanging on the lines; smoke was Issuing from the chImneys; children's sleds and wagons were scattered about in the yard. The only thing didn't like about it was snow but lt was old snow.
 The night was cold and blustery, At about 10 o'clock I took position in the yard. shielded from che wind by car rlage shed. with view to determining by the lights what rooms were occu- pied. The whole house was lighted. got into vehicle and sat watching my quarry. The seat was comfortable. and some blankets and robes that had been left in 1t kept me warm. The result was that fell asleep
 When l awo6e every light in the house was out A distant clock struck 1. I got out. went to the house, took a pane of glass out of a kitchen window, turned the catch raised the sash softly. pulled myself up and crawled inside. Striking a match, lit my dark ] lantern and surveyed the room. Every thing had been put In order after tho evening meal. A fire was burning in the range. ! went through q pantry to the dining room. Here, too, all was in order
 Passing through the parlors, I en- tered the ball and went upstairs. talk Ing every precautIon against waking the inmates. A bedroom door near the landing stood ajar. | listened, but could hear no one breathing, ] went ! ln and felt of the bed. There was no one in it. There being nothing of value ] in the room. l passed on 10 the next examined 1t and found it also empty. ] Coming to one Of the front bedrooms, ! I certainly expected 10 Gud it occupied and entered 1t with all possible stealth, ! listening long for the sound of sleep ing being. That heard no such sound began to affect my nerves. An empty room Is a good dnd for burglar, but the advantage in this case was over come by the unexpected vacancy I groped my way to the bed, felt of 1t and found it unoccupied. Then, fash ing my lantern about, saw woman's clothing that had been evidently taken otf at bedtime lying on the chairs. The woman had vanished
 ] went to another room and another with the same result. In some of them found clothing that had been laid aside, but no one in the beds. None { of the beds showed signs of having been occupied went on to every story, and not a single living being did I Gnd. There was some plunder on the dressers, but not very much. ! did not think of taking 1t. My mind was fixed Upon the lights 1 had seen In the house few hours before and the present absence of those whom the lights had served.
 There is no similarity between day light and dark for weird impressions. One human being, even if a policeman, would have broken the spell, feared a haunted house, but feared more That something in my brain had gone wrong. Had that which l had seen in the afternoon and evening been an halucination or did : now experience something that was not? Coming toa window overlooking the rear yard, flashed my lantern down into it. There were the clothes still hanging on the line. | walked back through the hall, 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 response that add ed to my growing terror.
 Suddenly the rays of my lantern struck a living Ggure. At once my instinct of preservation ordered me to cover my light l did so and waited. ! There was no sound. Believing had been mistaken, I mustered courage to. raise the lantern again. There was the figure, but it was my own reflect ed from a mirror
 now had but one desire-tO get out and away. Descending to the main floor, saw piece of yellow paper on