The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-11-07
Burglars
By NELLIE D. SWIFT

whats that?" Mrs. Blunt sat up in
bed, at the same time clutching her
husbands arm in viselike grip.
'What's whatY' grunted Mr.. Blunt.
trying to wake himself up.
Burglars! Didn't you hear 'em?"
mo. Where?"
Downstairs. They've run against
some glassware and smashed it,
I'm going down." said Mr.. Blunt. at
tempting to rise. but his wife held
him. He broke away from her and.
going to a bureau. took revolver.
then, taking an electric light in his
left hand. pressed his thumb on the
button and descended the staircase.
He passed from the lower hall to the
drawing room and from the drawing
room to the dining room. where he
found the fragments on the floor of
cut glass dish that had been knocked
drawer in the sideboard where the
silver in daily use was kept, expect
ing to find it gone. 1t was all there
and he concluded that the burglar.
feeling in the dark. had knocked off
the dish and. fearing to have awakened
the household. had taken himself away
as soon as possible.
Mr.. Blunt opened a door that led
into the pantry. through which he
passed into the kitchen. All was silent
and empty. He tried the door leading
out on to a back stoop and found it
locked. But he found window sash
unlocked and made up his mind that
the burglar had found an entrance and
an exist through that window. He lock
ed it and, having satisfied himself that
the burglar had left the premises with
out having had time to take any
booty. went back to his room. where
he found his wife standing shivering
in the middle Of the room. She had
expected every moment to hear a report
and that her husband would be killed
"Are they gomez" she cried.
Eyes"
''How did they get in?'
''He or they must have entered and
gone out by the kitchen window.
Please caution Susan to be more care
full about locking the sashes'
Mrs. Blunt had lighted the gas. and
her husband. who was facing a mirror
was somewhat startled at his appear
ance as reflected in it. He was in his
nightshirt, with a revolver in one hand
and a tubular electric lamp in the
other. both the lamp and the revolver
looking equally terrible The expecta-
ton Of facing burglar had been
somewhat trying to him, and his usu-
ally ford face was pale. Nevertheless
he assured his wife that the burglar
had gone and there was no need for
her to feel frightened. They returned
to bed. but Mrs. Blunt would not con-
sent to the gas being turned off. To-
ward morning they fell into doze
The episode unhinged Mrs. Blunt's
nerves: and Mr.. Blunt. though he pooh
poOhed at her fears. never went to bed
without thinking how reckless he had
been in going down to face a burglar
with a light in his hand that would
show the villain just where he was
He would not be so foolish again. He
would carry the lamp. but would not
flash until occasion required. Mrs
Blunt declared that if there was again
evidence Of burglars in the house she
would lock her husband in their bed
room. But Mr.. Blunt declared that his
manliness would not permit him to
leave any man to roam about his house
and carry away his property.
One night when he was wakeful and
his wife was sound asleep Mr.. Blunt
was sure he heard sounds downstairs
Getting cautiously out of bed he slip
ped on his coat. for the house was cold,
tiptoed to the bureau. where he found
the revolver. then to the mantel. where
he found the electric lamp. and taking
as before one in each hand he stealthily
unlocked the bedroom door and felt his
way by the baniSter downstairs.
In the hall below he felt something
jar against his leg At the same time
a street lamp throwing a faint light