Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-05-17
]: /: +: A +: +: /:
Narrow Escape
Never Sleep Two In a
Room al a Hotel
BY ANDREW c. EWING

During n political convention in Chi.
,ago WAS obliged 10 so there on bnsi.
ness The matter that engaged my II
tention was the settlement OF debt
owed about which there had been q
quarrel. In order 10 be prepared To-
pay as soon as we should arrive az 4
stated amount provided myself with
81 900 IN bank bills. | arrived IN Chi
cagO nj 8 o'clock and went 10 several
hotels without being able 10 secure n
room. Finally | was told at second
class house that | might have one OF
two beds Ia a room. the other bed
being occupied By n man
was tired and sleepy. and ! accept
ed the offer | had to decide whether
would deposit my money with the
landlord or take ii to my room with
me. Had the house been first class
would certainly have adopted the for
mer course. AS II was. concluded 10
keep my money with me. II was ~
o'clock when went TO bed My room
mate was not there. so | had choice
of beds The apartment was long and
narrow one bed was beside the door
which could be opened and shut by the
person occupying the bed by reaching
out an arm The other bed was 1T the
other end OF the room. near window
selected the bed By the door. which
besides the lock was provided with Il
bolt left the door unlocked and IN.
bolted so that my roommate could get
in when he came. My pocketbook.
containing my bills. | put directly I'M
der my pillow turned the gas low
and lay down. hoping the occupant OF
the other bed would soon come In. for
] was tired and wished TO 90 to sleep.
But despite my efforts 10 keep awake
] failed
was awakened by his coming. or,
rather. the turning up Of the gas jet
which shone In my eyes. could see
the man very plainly. and the moment
l did so wished was anywhere than
where | was. ! did not like the mans
appearance He addressed himself
without paying any attention to me.
so far as | could see. and. turning ont
the gas. got into bed had expected
that he would lock the door. but he
didn't
tried to satisfy myself that had
imagined the man to look worse than
he really was. II also seemed to me
| that had he any designs upon me he
would have noticed me while he was
undressing While thinking about him
fell asleep.
| | was awakened by sound at the
other end OF the room. could not
tell what caused II. but thought that
something had fallen listened. but
all was still Then | put my hand
under my pillow to make sure that my
purse was still there II was not
Should reach ont and lock the door
thus combining myself with robher.
or leave him free egress from the
room?
My first impulse was 10 let him 90
My life was worth more TO me- than
hitting 10 robbery II was not the
money was about 10 lose. but tamelv
suffering wrong As thought about
the latter NV courage began 10 rise
and reached ont and locked and
bottled the door.
| I presumed the man 10 he armed.
but he had no means Of ascertaining II
! had weapon until should attempt
TO use II upon him. My locking the
door might act in several different
ways First II might seem Ia hin
that. having been awakened by thu
sound | had heard. even without feel
ing for my pocketbool. | had reached
out 10 learn II the door had been lock
ed. and not finding II So. | had locked
and bolted IL: secondly. II might mean
TO him that | had missed my money
and had resolved 10 lock him In aud
| fight for II In the latter ease h.
would he likely 10 infer that ! was
armed
After throwing the bolts | lay per
fectly still II occurred 20 me tlH'
whether the man were In bed or som.
whore else IN the room. he Womb
1
son 10 suppose | was nj least not med
itafinc any overt act In order 10 Sa'
isfy him ~ this | began 10 breath"
hard. like one asleep Nevertheless
did NOT change the direction ~ INV
vision for n moment from the other EN-
OF the room
There was faint light comiua
thrnmsh the window. and presently
saw hgnre ;larken the latter Wheth
er II faced me- or the window | enr'1
not tell. hut ! knew my enemy WIS nn'
OF he'd That he was near the window
was eyidcn, from his apparent Si2"
Was hr examining an escape from TIM
end ~ the room;
The silhouette disappeared from he
fore the window. coming. II seemed
toward me But except when II stool
out between me and the window
could not tell where II was could
hear no sound ~ the man getting int