The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-06-22
A QUICK
RECOVERY
BY MARJORIE CLOUCH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

! L found a position as governeSS in
the family of a Mrs. Woodward, a
widow with several children. Lucy, q
| girl nearly my age, was the Oldest
daughter and, of course, | had moth
Ing to do with her education. Then
there was a son, Harry, absent at
tending lectures He came home dur
Ing vacations, but paid me no atten-
ton whatever during these visits He
was interested in young ladies occu-
plying the social world in which | had
just made my debut and disappeared.
He used to talk a great deal about
them, and l thought that had it not
been for my misfortune had he met
me In the gay world he would have
spoken of me in the same way.
My duties were to take care Of the
little children who had only begun to
learn. | was something. but not much
better than a nurse
Mrs. Woodward was taken down
with typhoid fever. The doctor order
ed trained nurse. but when she came
the invalid directed that be with her
constantly while the nurse should only
attend her when necessary. This
threw upon me the brunt of the nurs-
ing, the trained nurse only carrying
out such work as the doctors assist
ant And just when she was most
needed she took herself off to accept
a permanent position.
The night the nurse left the patient
had had hemOrrhage, and the doctor
dreaded her having another. He told
me to keep her in the utmost quiet,
for she was in dangerous condition.
Her life depended on this.
In the middle of the night my mis-
tress asked me feebly for some Cruel
1 stepped into the hall and was sur
prised to find the lights that had been
left burning below were out and all
was In darkness. | returned for
matches and went down the staircase.
At the bottom light was flashed in
my face and a mans voice called
gruffly:
II want the valuablesw
l was always a timid girl, but In
this case my mistress condition con-
Quered fear. l told the man that
there was an invalid upstairs and If
she knew he was in the house it would
Kill her. He evidently did not believe
me. for he spoke very harshly to me.
holding a revolver right in front of
my face and ordering me to tell him
where the valuables were kept.
Now, there was not bit of silver
plate or jewelry in the house that was
not in the sickroom. My mistress had
always kept them there in health and
insisted on the silver being carried
there every evening after dinner
They were nothing to me beside her
life. I begged the man so hard to be-
lieve me. at the same time telling him
that would bring him everything of
value. that he permitted me to go for
them.
But how was l to excuse myself TO
my mistress for carrying the things
out? II told her nothing Of what
had occurred would she not believe
that was robbing her when she was
too i'll to stop me? Her son and
daughter were both in the house. but
to awaken either one of them would
be death to their mother. I must
think quickly. What put the plan I
into my head know not. 1t
came like a fash.
Going back into my mistress room.
I began to turn the gas up and down.
finally turning II out as If by mistake.
"Oh, DEAR" I said, chow unlucky! |
And I don't know where there are
While I pretended to be hunting for
the matches l was gathering some val
liable Jewels that I knew were kept |
In a drawer Of the bureau. Taking |
them and picking up the box In which |
the silver was kept, I went downstairs. |
The burglar was waiting for me. he |
turned his light on what I brought |
him and remarked that there was a
good lot Of swag. Then he ordered |
me into the kitchen and, taking a
clothesllne hanging against the wall.
tied me to a heavy table. In vain |
begged him to let me go to my mis-
tress. "Oh. no." he said You'd call |
the police"
He went away, and I began at once
trying to free myself. My joints were
very supple and / soon slipped my
hands out Of the rope, after which It
was no great work to free myself.
Taking up the cruel that was on the
range, I went back to my mistress and,
relighting the gas. gave her what she
would take Of 1t. Then, telling her to
try to get some sleep, I went down
stairs to the telephone and reported
he robbery to the police. Fortunately
the burglar had not had time to get
10 a place Of safety with his swag,
Ind by communicating quickly with all
he policemen within range he was
,aptured
The next morning when I told Harry
ind Lucy what had occurred they were
beside themselves with terror till
cached the end, when Lucy sank down
nto chair and Harry-well. I shall
never forget the look Harry gave me-
lust then there was a ring at the tele-
phone. and the police reported that
he robber had been taken with Jewels
Ind silverware.
Mrs. Woodward recovered. and the
loctor said that I had certainly saved
Ter life. Harry Woodward had moth
ng more to say about the girls he met