Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-17

tention was the settlement of debt
owed about which there had been
quarrel. In order to he prepared to
pay as soon as we should arrive at a
stated amount | provided myself with
81 600 in bank bills. | arrived in Chi
cago al Q O'Clock and went TO several
hotels without being able to secure
room. Finally was told at Il second
class house that | might have one OF
two beds in room. the other bed
being occupied by man.
l was tired and sleepy, and accept. .
ed the offer l had to decide whether .
would deposit my money with the
landlord or take it TO my room with .
me. Had the house been first class | .
would certainly have adopted the for
mer course. As il was, concluded TO
keep my money with me. 1t was 10
O'Clock when l 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 he'd was at the
other end Of the room, near a window.
selected the bed by the door, which
besides the lock was provided with a
bolt. | left the door unlocked and I'M
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
was tired and wished TO so to sleep.
But despite my efforts to keep awake
failed.
was awakened by his coming, or.
rather. the turning M of the gas Jet
which shone in my eyes. | could see
the man very plainly. and the moment
did so wished | was anywhere than
where | was. did not like the mans
appearance. He undreSSed himself
without paying any attention to me,
so far as l 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. 1t 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 Ivy a sound NJ the
other end Of the room. could MT
tell what caused 1t, but thought that
something had fallen. | listened. but
all was still Then I put my hand
under my pillow to make sure that my
purse was still there. It was not.
Should | reach out and lock the door.
thus combining myself with robber.
or leave him free egress from the
room?
My first impulse was to let him go
My life was worth more to me than
the 81 .0G0. hut did not feel like sub
hitting to robbery. II was not the
money I was about to lose. but tamely
suffering wrong. As thought about
the latter my courage began TO rise
and | reached out and locked and
bolted the door
| presumed the man to he armed.
but be had no means of aScertaininC IL
I had 2 weapon until | should attempt
70 use Il unOn him. MY locking the
door might act in several different
WAYS. First, it might seem to him
that. havin" been awakened ny the
sound. ! had heard. even without feel
ing for my pocketbook. had reached
ont 70 learn If the door had been lock-
ed and. not finding it SO. I had locked
and holtei it. secondly. it might mean
n him that ! had missed my money
and had resolved to lock him I'm and
fight 20" It In the latter case he
would be likely to infer that | was
armed
After throwing the bolts I lay per
fcct'y s-iH l. occurred 70 me that
whether the man were in bed or some
where else IN the room. he would
make no movement until he had rea-
son To- supro>e was mt least not med
i'atig- any overt act I'm order 10 sat.
isfy him of this | began - breathe
hard. like on" asleep. Nevertheless |
did not chang" the direction ~ my
vision for moment from the other end
4 the room
There was faint light coming
through the window. and presently I
eaw a@Gra darkcn the latter Whcth-
or il faced me or the window | could
not tp J. hut knew my enemy was ont
~ boa Th2t hc was near the window
vas evident from his apparent size
Was J." examining an es ape from that
end o. the room:
Tie :! Silhouette disappeared from bn-
fore tho window. coming n seemed