The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-26
A QUICK
RECOVERY
By MARJORIE CLOUGH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911

widow with several children. Lucy, a
girl nearly my age, was the oldest
laughter 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 great deal about
them, and | thought that had 1t 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. l 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 a hemorrhage, and the doctor
dreaded her having another He told
me to keep her in the utmost quiet,
for she was in a dangerous condition.
Her hte depended on this.
In tbs middle of the night my mis-
tress asked me feebly for some cruel.
| 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
grufily.
II wunt the valuablesw
I was always a timid girl. but in
this case my mistress condition con-
uuered fear. | told the man that
there vas an invalid upstairs and If
she knew he was in the house II 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 a 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 l begged the man so hard to be-
lieve me. at the same time telling him
that I would bring him everything OF
value, that be permitted me to go for
them.
But how was I TO excuse myself 10
my mistress for carrying the things
out? II told her nothing OF what
had occurred would she not believe
that l was robbing her when she was
too Ill 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. must
think quickly. What put the plan /
adopted into my head I know not. 1t
came like a fash.
Going back into my mistress room,
began to turn the gas up and down,
finally turning 1t out as IL by mistake.
ooh. dear" I said. how unlucky!
And don't know where there are
matches"
While I pretended to be hunting for
the matches I was gathering some val
liable Jewels that 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 brought
him and remarked that there was
good lot Of swag. Then he ordered
me into the kitchen and, taking
clotheslne hanging against the wall,
tied me to a heavy table. In vain
begged him to let me go TO my mis-
tress. "Oh, nor he said. You'd call
the police"
He went away. and began at once
trying to free myself My joints were
very supple. and l soon slipped my
hands out Of the rope, after which II
was no great work to free myself.
Taking up the Cruel that was on the
range, went back to my mistress and.
relighting the gas. gave her what she
would take of It. Then, telling her to
try to get some sleep. l went down
stairs to the telephone and reported
the robbery TO the police Fortunately
the burglar had not had time to get
to a place Of safety with his swag,
and by communicating quickly with all
the policemen within range he was
The next morning when told Harry
and Lucy what had occurred they were
beside themselves with terror till !
reached the end. when Lucy sank down
into chair and Harry-well. shall
never forget the look Harry gave me
lust then there was a ring at the tele-
phone. and the police reported that
the robber had been taken with jewels
and silverware.
Mrs Woodward recovered. and the
Doctor said that I had certainly saved /
her life. Harry Woodward had moth
Ing more TO say about the girls he met /
In society. When he entered upon his /
profession he married me. and was