Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

TONG distance wants you,' said
4 . the sweet voiced operator
- when answered the phone.
"Long distance" proved to be my
uncle, who was calling me from y NJ
Rochester, where he and his wife N0@(G~nA =
had gone to attend to some legal / &NMAN-:>EnI
business. He informed me that N
they had missed the afternoon IN @|'sN ~,
train for Auburn and, as the next MunA All
train would not get them home / W/MMIMAMJ
until around midnight, they had \ | WENw"I
concluded to stay and go to NJ Eh "A
the theater and return home on the Mh-
! ! y
morning train. Would turn down MN ~
the chairs on the front porch give WM (lnsE
the canary some fresh seed and M ~ J
water feed Velvy the cat, and ,lNMA 0M2fS
that the cebox was closed? | NNWWNMRN
would. 1MhV Ms
l found myself master pro tenn \WNNA M
pore of a cottage in the outskirts of /NVANAl
Auburn New York, said cottage III E1rY "
being the property of my uncle WEGIHI
whom l visiting for a fort I'M
night prior to the opening of the ~
theatrical season. Having spent NJ
most of the last sixteen years in w
single rooms IN various hotels and
actors clubs, felt quite respon- G[
sibhty at being the sole guardian
of an entire house -
After executing the domestic
commissions intrusted to me over
the telephone lit my pipe and settled down in of
the chairs on the veranda for goodnight smoke
chair to be turned down later 1t certainly was
lonesome The few clouds left by the thunderstorm of
the afternoon were laz1y drifting away. half-moon
climbing the eastern sky its pale light serving
to bring into relief the somber walls and buildings of
the State Prison, about mile and half distant. A
lone katydid in tree in front of the porch added no
joviality to the occasion; about eleven O'Clock
reversed my chair and went inside.
l had the gueStTOOm, which on the ground floor,
with window opening the veranda. 1t was close
and mury after the Storm neCeSsitatng my leaving the
window open to get the benefit of such air there
did not feel quite comfortable sleeping with this
unguarded entrance, especially my aunt had very
good collection of table silver well Jewelry of
small vaue-and was responsible for the safety
of everything.
bethought me of an old pistol in my theaer trunk.
had used it @prop" in play and, although there
only blank cartridges to load it with felt that
these would be sufficient frghten away any prower
who might come around and, as | am light sleeper,
confident that could enter the without
waking So placed the old Colt chair beside
my bed and fell asleep, to dream of starring tours and
audiences that would not leave the theater until ap
peared before the curtain and spoke "a few appropriate
words"
THE sharp, quick snap of a twig brought to sitting
posture the side of the bed with the revolver in
my hand. shadow tell across the window, followed
by the form of a The stepped across the sill.
Hands up!" | commanded before he had penetrated
three feet into the room.
"Don't shootE he gasped, with strange, pleading
tone, taking step and extending his hands
appealingly.
Il WILL if you don't put EN- up and stay down stage,
replied, still covering him with the revolver which he
could plainly by the light of the that fell full
upon the polished barrel.
The hands went up this time. am not thief he
said with the culver his voice 1t occurred to
that of the stage burglars had encountered
and they the only with whom had any &C
quaintance-had used pleading tone it struck me as
odd.
Il suppose you are Sunday school superintendent
come around to invite me to Join the Bible class"
joined in my best light comedy vein.
u victim of circumstances quavered the in
truder.