The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-02-28
A BURGLAR
EPISODE IF,
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

me was Alexis Fisher. stood first
on his list of nurses, and I have known
him to pay me what would be earn
ing in order to have me disengaged
when he expected to need me for a spe-
cial case.
One day DR.. Fisher sent. me to nurse
q nervous old lady who was very Ill.
She was very rich. and, although the
doctor was as diligent with a poor pa
tent as a rich one. he made his In
come out of the latter, never charging
those whom he knew were very poor.
He told me that my patient, Miss Bar
tow, must not meet with any shock.
for there was a heart complication in
her case, and even the violent slam
ming Of a door might cause her death.
Imagine my horror at having bur-
glars in the house with my patient.
About midnight l was going from her
room to my own when a dazzling light
was flashed in my eyes. ] was I'M
PEELED to run somewhere, but the MEM
ory that 1t was my duty to prevent any
one causing Miss Bartow's death pre-
vented me-.
stood still while this vas passing
through my mind and when l had
nerved myself walked toward where
l had seen the light. lear the head OF
the staircase. leaned yer the ban
lister and waited. In another moment
the light was flashed again. Then ]
said:
''There is a sick lady up here at the
point Of death. Stay downstairs. and
will go down and turn ver what val
uables l a find"
"All right" said a mans voice.
'Come down."
He flashed his light ON me. and
went down the stairs. feeling TINT he
might shoot me as l walked or stab
me when | reached him. He went
down into the hall backward, and
when reached it ordered INT to so
into the dining room. and there he
lighted the gas. l saw a short. thick
set man. masked. who said to me:
Nov, what have you gOt?"
Miss Barlow had been used to taking
the silver upstairs. and had not been
able to quiet her before settling for
the night until I had brought it up to
her and put it in a closet in her room.
where she was used to keeping 1t.
Had it been in any other room would
have turned it owe to the burglar at
once. AS it was, l was obliged to plan.
To gain time l opened the %sideboard
as though I expected to find 1t there.
then told the burglar that it was up
in the sick chamber.
He didn't believe me and. placing
the cold muzzle of n revolver or my
ear. said that If l didn't produce some
valuables he would kill me. I was SO
terrified that l told him l would get
some jewelry at ICE but since Miss
Barlow had both silver and jewelry in
her room I could do nothing. Finally
desperation steadied me. andsI reiter-
ated what l had said. telling him that
to remove anything from that room
would inform the sick woman that
there was a burglar in the house and
that would give her a shock from
which she would die.
"Go and get it." he said. but at once
reconsidered. where's your tele-
phone?" be asked.
I'm there" l said and pointed to an
instrument in the hall. He went to it
and looked at it. then ordered me to
bring him the valuables. saying that IL
I was not back in four minutes he
would get them himself and xiii. every
one in the room.
A great hope sprang up in my breast.
Miss Barton, who was very timid. had
always had a telephone instrument be-
side her bed. l had begged her to per.
NIT me to move it into the closet. and
when the doctor commanded she con.
scented. ! told the burglar that I would
bring him the valuables II he would
only go away on getting them and
went upstairs. He followed me with a
fashlight till 1 had gone into the room.
but could not very well follow, me
further without going in with me.
went straight to the closet, shut
the door and called .Police" severa!
times, giving the location.
As I came out Miss Barlow, who had
been asleep. awakened and asked for
water. I went out and found the bur
glar waiting at the door. He had
heard the call for water. but, seeing
me empty handed. seemed to be b
doubt whether. to order me back. 90. In
the room himself or let me get. the
water. Perhaps he preferred not to
make a disturbances; perhaps he be-
lieyed my story about the invalid's
condition. He ordered me Ito hurry
up" and, going into the bathroom. I
drew y glass Of water and took 1t into
the sickroom. MI
l dreaded for my patient the COM
ing Of the police and the disturbance
and what would follow. must take
an awful risk. Going out into the hall.
I beckoned the man to follow me a
short distance from the sickroomS and
said:
There's a telephone in the closet 10
there, and ! have called the police"
He went down the stairs three OF
four steps at a time and out of the
house. When the police arrived l told
them of the invalid and that the bird