The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-04
A SHOT IN THE DARK
BY CLARA INEZ DEACON.


One after another, these young men
had been invited down to Hazel
hurst" which was the country home
of the widow Forbes.
There were games on the lawn
motoring over the MISUNDERSTANDING
without getting a bite, and various
other diversions. And there was Miss
Frances, handsome, chatty, witty, and
treating all alike.
There was a hoodoo at Halle
hurst" Seven times in one year it
had been robbed.
OF course, Mr. Forbes had bought a
gun, and, of course. he had bought an
other for his sister. They practised
until they could hit barn door a rod
away. Each one of the young men
that came down brought a weapon.
Two bear traps were set under win
dows, and wires and alarm bells were
to give due notice. The burglar got
in just the same. A burglar alarm
had been suggested over and over,
and finally one was installed. The
day it was tested Jack Haines ap-
peared for three days visit.
Il don't know about it keeping them
out" he replied in doubtful tones.
But if you open a door or raise a
window it is bound to ring"
He took trip around the house
and returned to the veranda.
There's an outside cellar door that
is not wired at all" he said.
How careless of Guy not to see
to that" exclaimed the sister.
When the brother came home in
the evening and heard of the derelic-
ton, he replied:
L was talking with a detective to-
day"
'Well?"
"He advised me to sit up for a few
nights and watch and shoot. No bur-
glar gets to work before midnight, and
it is daylight at about four at this
season."
And you will sit up in your room?"
was asked
Yours truly
And in mine," said Mr.. Haines
Where do you think he will get
in" asked Mr.. Haines.
AT one of the bedroom windows"
And shall we shoot to kill?''
You bet.'
The girl didn't name the location
she would take, but she had it planned
out. Firstly, she didn't believe that
any burglar would show up that night,
or for many another night, either.
;< ~
by the cellar doors. 1t was the vul-
nerable point, and he would take no
risks in trying experiments. And she
laughed to herself over the sort of
watch the two men would keep. They
would sit down in rocking chairs. feet
up, and pipes a-going. and within half
an hour they would be sound asleep
to last till morning.
The girl was right in the main, but
she missed it in the case of Mr.
Haines. Not that he did not fall
asleep within the allotted half-hour,
but that he pitched to the floor about
midnight and was very much aroused
No sooner had he got his wits than
he got a plan. He would slip down
stairs and turn of the alarm, and
then go out by the back door and thus
he would pick up some bric-a-brac to
carry to his room until the joke was
ready to be exploded.
He had almost reached the door
leading into the kitchen when he
heard a movement and Strengthened
up. Then came fash of fire in his
face, followed by cries of Guy!
GUY" and the switching on of electric
lights.
What the devil is the row." de
manded the brother as he came tum-
bling down stairs.
His sister was crouched against the
front door and wringing her hands.
and she gasped out in answer:
Il have shot the BURGLAR
Where is he?"
''There-there-in the dining-room.
Bully for you! I'll have look at
him
There was the burglar, lying on his
face, and there was a trickle OF blood
on the parquet floor He drew up one
leg as the other man looked down On
him.
why, it's Mr. Haines." shrieked
Miss Frances. as she came running in.
'.Darned if it isn't"
Mr.. Haines opened his eyes and
family remarked that everything
could be explained, and then tainted
away and did not come to until the
doctor was probing for the bullet.
When the hustle and hurry were over,
the girl told her story.
Il thought 1 heard the burglar at
that cellar door. Then / was sure /
heard him creeping up the cellar
stairs and across the kitchen floor.
l wanted to scream and run away,
but l dared not move. Then the pis-
toI went off by accident I didn't even