Smyrna times., 1912-12-18
Burglars
By NELLIE D. SWIFT

=
''No WhereT
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 a 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
off the sideboard. He looked in a
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 of
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 1t
locked. But he found a 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 20 his room. where
he found his wife standing shivering
In the middle of the room. She had
expected every moment to hear 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 a burglar had been
somewhat trying to him, and his usu-
ally forid 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
fash 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 tt
leave any man to roam about his house
and carry away his property.
One night when he was wakeful an(
his wife was sound asleep Mr.. Blum
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 founC
the revolver, then to the mantel, wher,
he found the electric lamp. and taking
as before one in each hand he stealthil,
unlocked the bedroom door and felt hi
way by the banister. downstairs.
In the hall below he felt somethin
Jar against his leg. At the same tim
a street lamp throwing a faint ligh
into the drawing room showed him th
dim figure of a man on the other sid
Of the room. 1t occurred to Mr.. Blum
that he was standing in the dark an
while he could see the man indistinctl
the man couldn't see him at all. HI
first impulse was to run upstairs an
lock himself in his bedroom; his secon
was to shoot the intruder before th
fellow was aware Of his presence; otl
erwise he might be murdered by de
perate man. Raising his revolver, /
shut his eyes and let drive
He heard a shrek upstairs and soun(
made by something running away. III
hrst came from Mrs. Blunt; the secon
was like the fight of an animal an
came from the cat. Hearing nothin
further, Mr.. Blunt crouched behind
newell post and flashed his lamp in
the drawing room. He saw no on
but a hole with radiant cracks hs
been made in corner Of mirror res
ing on the mantel.
Don't be frightened. my dear. Con
down here"
Mrs. Blunt, who was hanging on
the banister above. responded faint
Heavens! Are you klled"
"Not exactly. I'm only fool"
"What is itT'
"Shot at reflection in the mirror"
ooh, dearl Did you break the mi
rorY'
81 made hole in it. That contour