The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-08-28
MYSTERY OF TIE
DESERTED HOUSE
Strange Experience Of & Man
on Robbery Bent.

palieu but once ana that was by 81
lence
Id served q term for burglary, spent.
out and was booking for joD-not a
job of honest work. Id tried that on
getting out once before and found it
impracticablc. When an ex-convict
knows that he's liable any moment to
lie spotted and discharged it takes the
zest out OF him for work I'd made
up my mind there was nothing left for
me to do but stick to my business,
which was burglary. Well, as j was
saying, | WAS looking for Il house to
get into and, walking on the outskirts
Of city saw one that struck me as
being very inviting. 1t was in the
center Of a six acre lot, with no neigh
bors near enough to make it unpleasant
for the burglar and a wood in the rear
affording a safe retreat. l made Il
careful survey Of the premises. No
one happened to be visible in or about
it at the time. but there was plenty
Of evidence that it was occupied New
ly washed clothes We're hanging on
the lines: smoke was issuing from the
chimneyS; children's sleds and wagons
were scattered about in the yard.
The night was cold and blustery At
about 10 O'Clock took position in the
yard, shielded from the wind by Il car
rage shed. with a view to determining
by the lights what rooms We're occu-
pied. The whole house was lighted. |
got into Il vehicle and sat watching my
quarry. The seat was comfortable and
some blankets and robes that had been
left in it kept me warm. The result
was that fell asleep.
When | awoke every light in the
house was out A distant clock struck
I. | got out. went to the house, took a
pane of glass out of a Kitchen window,
turned the "catch," raised the sash
softly, pulled myself up and crawled
inside. Striking a match. I lit my dark
| lantern and surveyed the room. Every
thing had been put in order after the
evening meal. A fire was burning in
the range. | went through a pantry to
the dining room. Here, too, all was in
order
Passing through the parIors. l en-
tered the hall and went upstairs, TAX
ing every precaution against waking
the inmates. A bedroom door near the
landing stood ajar. l listened, but
could hear no one breathing l went
In and felt Of the bed There was no
;,,{ =,
i'll the room, l passed Oh to the next,
examined it and found it also empty.
Coming to one Of the front bedrooms,
l certainly expected to find it occupied
| and entered it with all possible stealth,
listening long for the sound Of sleep
| ing being. That heard no such sound
began to affect my nerves. An empty
room is a good find for burglar, but
| the advantage in this case was over
come by the unexpected vacancy. I
| CROPPED my way to the bed, felt Of it
| and found it unOccupied. Then, fash
| ing my lantern about, saw womanss
| clothing that had been evidently taken
off at bedtime lying Oh the chairs. The
| woman had vanished
| / went to another room and another
| with the same result In some of them
| l found clothing that had been laid
aside, but no one in the beds. None
| of the beds showed signs of having
| been occupied l went on to every
| story, and not single living being
did I find. There was some plumber
| on the dressers, but not very much.
| I did not think Of taking it. My mind
was fixed upon the lights I had seen
| in the house few hours before and
| the present absence Of those whom
| the lights had served.
There is no similarity between day.
light and dark for weird impressions.
| One human being, even if q policeman,
| would have broken the spell. | feared
| a haunted house, but | feared more
that something in my brain had gone
| wrong. Had that which l had seen in
the afternoon and evening been an
hallucination or did | now experience
something that was not? Coming to a
window overlooking the rear yard, l
| flashed my lantern down into it. There
| were the clothes still hanging on the
| line l walked back through the hall,
bringing my feet down heavily on the
| floor that | might hear a sound. The
carpet was thick, and there was but
faint response-a response that add
| ed to my growing terror.
| Suddenly the rays Of my lantern
struck living figure. At once my in
stinct Of preservation ordered me to
cover my light. | did so and waited.
There was no sound. Believing had
been mistaken, mustered courage to
raise the lantern again. There was
the figure, but it was my own reflect
ed from a mirror.
| now had but one desire-to get out
and away. Descending to the main
floor. l saw a piece Of yellow paper on
the floor. What prompted me to pick
| it up don't know, but ! did and read:
Mother dying. All come at once"
| Here was clew. The hour Of send
ing and receipt of the telegram was
written out and gave evidence that 1t
had been delivered while was asleep