The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-27
A Robber in
the Room,

My plans had led me to leave the
boat at Cincinnati, and strike about
50 miles southerly into Kentucky.
found myself at the end OF the day in
question in a small hotel, waiting for
my supper. | had come TO this par
ticular house only by accident, and Ger.
tainly nothing but the lateness of the
hour. the rain that was falling heavily,
and my own tired, hungry condition.
prevented my sallying forth at once in
search OF better accommodations. The
house was quite apart from the rest
OF the town, and seemed to be one OF
those ill-kept, unattractive inns where
traveller only goes BY accident, and
where he never goes twice. ! could
not discover that there was any other
guest than myself present that night.
took my candle and carefully ex.
amined the room. 1t was a small,
square apartment, with no furniture
save the bed, a chair, and the wash
stand looked under the bed and
behind the stand. Nobody was there.
| spied closet, and explored it, with
the same result. The door of the room
fastened on the inside with heavy
bolt, but to make assurance doubly
sure, ! set the washstand against it
after sliding the bolt; and not yet
content, moved the bed around and
effectually barricaded It. The two
windows appeared to be about eight
feet from the ground; and these also
secured In 81 h a way that it would
be impossible to raise them from the
outside.
Pretty safe, this, think" was my
remark, as l looked around at my de.
lenses, and throwing Off my coat,
drew from the breast pocket a long
leather bill book, and proceeded to
count lis contents. Three thousand
three hundred dollars in notes-a large
amount to carry about ones person;
but the business in which | was en-
gagged demanded it.
placed my pocketbook beneath the
pillow and laid my pistol beside it;
then putting the candle on the stand,
went TO bed.
Usually l was a sound and ready
sleeper, but now lay wide awake, and
all the arts that | used to lull myself
to rest were unavailing. The house
was perfectly still. and there was no
noise from the street, save the steady
drip, drip of the rain, which seemed to
intensity the stiffness. l closed my
eyes, and at the end Of ten minutes
opened them again. perfectly sleep.
less.
+ turned on my side: my eye was
ought by my pistols lying by the pill.
low. l looked at them merely for
change of object, and as looked l
made discovery that sent chill Of
terror all over me. The caps had been
removed from both of them!
My heart sank within me, and ter
rOr like that of death seized me. Some
internal plot was on foot to destroy
me; the mysterious agency that was
to take my life might be In readiness
that instant | lay perfectly still, with
my eyes almost closed. not daring even
to turn upon my back. as had been
lying.
1t was we'll for me that did not.
heard no step, not even a breath; but
long, glitterlng knife was slowly pro.
jected from behind me and held sus.
pended by a human hand above my
head!
drew my breath quietly and regu.
larly-how, l know not, but l did It,
| even eounterfeited a slight snore.
The robber was apparently satisfied
The knife was still poised above me;
but l felt his hand cautiously feeling
beneath my pillow. 1t seized the
pocketbook and slowly drew Y forth
What followed passed with almos,
the speed Of thought. My right hand
few to the knife and grasped It %
rolled upon my back. With Q terrific
oath the robber started up and threw
himself upon me. He was q brawuy
muscular villain Of thrice my strength
but there was to be no trial Of tina,
kind between US. A he flung him
self at my throat turned the knife up
on him: the point took him in the
breast. and his weight and impetus
drove the blade right through him
With one spasmodic movement h<
rolled on from me and tumbled dead
on the door.
The horror Of his presence, and Tho
consciousness Of my peril had beer
so suddenly forced upon me that tho
shock was too great for mel fell
back fainting on the bed.
When awoke broad daylish, va.
streaming In at the windows. Littl,
by little | recalled the dreadful reali
ties OF my adventure. and Persuaded
, myself that 1t was not all a nightmare
l assured myself Of the safety of m,
money. and then put on NV clothe,
and hooked about me. The robber la,
on his face; his fall had broken IN,
knife. and a great pool Of blood wa,
oozing out on the floor. The myster,
of his preesnce there was soon OK
planned. A secret c'css- u-as