Year: 1872

Sioyj Dup un Uuo JueIUlOlucJcr nlu
marked above the nnetes for sever
al days, | had little of value in my
room l preferred to risk that little
and leave my window open, although
OF easy access, rather than undergo
, partial suffocation. If an uninvited
guest made his appearance, and I
did not awake, he would not disturb
me; if | did awake, l could feign
sleep and let him take whatever he
might find.


This class of visitors" I reasoned
with myself, edo not generally COM
NIT personal violence, if they can
accomplish theft and make good
their escape without it.


These were my reflections every
night as | undressod and threw my
self on the bed; leaving my castle
open to the enemy. I had slept one
night about an hour, when l was
awakened by the falling of a small
china ornament; starting slightly and
opening my eyes, saw the gas
burning, and tall, broad shoulder
ed man, with his back toward me,
his face looking over his shoulder to
see whether the noise had awakened
me. Our eyes met, so that the plan
to feigning sleep would have been
useless. What followed illustrates
the value of presence of mind.


Opposite the side of my bed, and
about eight feet from me, was the
door ofmy room, two or three feet
from which were stairs leading to
the lower hall. The burglar must
have used a ladder in ascending the
roof, from which he entered the win
dow. 1t was some thirty feet from
the ground, and isolated. My plan
was, not only to escape harm myself,
but to capture him. 1 knew tho po-
liceman's beat, and he would pass it
in short time.


Sitting bolt upright, then, as l
opened my eyes and saw the burglar
looking very unpleasantly at me, l
said, rubbing my eyes drowsily-al-
though to tell the truth | was fright
ened nearly out Of my life: "Hello,
John, what are you looking for?
Cant you come into my room with
out making such confounded
noise?"


The fellow taken somewhat aback
at being addressed in this way, said
in n low but meaning voice, and
pointing revolver at me.


"Shut up What do you take me
for?"


"I took you for John!' replied
with well assumed nonchalence.


"But didn't suppose he was af-
ter anything valuable in my room,
except one thing, and-by the way,
if you are not the unluckiest fellow
in the world"


CLOVIS that?" growled my visitor.


"Well, I have a very good watch:
but if you want to get it, you must
pay visit to the watchmakers after
YOU leave here, for I had what | con-
sidered the bad, but what seems the
good fortune, to break the handspring
yesterday, and left it for repairs. i


"You are u precious cool one!'
said he, evidently astonished at my
Indifference.


"What's the use of getting excited
Or attempting to resist you? You are
armed, and you see am not. And
if you had no weapon your fighting
weight must be at least thirteen
stone, while mine is not more than
nine and half. | have no idea OF
interfering with you. If the room
were fill diamonds, would not lift
my finger to save them. Take all
you can find, 1 am going to sleep, so
don't make any moro noise


"Hold on" said the fellow; where
are your keys?'


al suppose you want to make as
much of haul as you can," l. said;
$50 look in my pants hanging over
the bed-post there, and you'll find
nv pocket-book, with few stamps
in it,"


1t was nearly time for the police
man to pass, and paused to listen.
T must in few moments put my
plan into execution.


A glance quick as lightning show
ed me that the key OF the door was
on the outside.


Nv listening expression did not
escape the practiced eye OF my grim
visitor. It was curious scene no
doubt. l sitting in my bed, in my
night clothes, unarmed, and this
stalwart ruffian, pistol in hand, glar-
ing half suspiciously, half ferocious-
ly at me, and almost IN the crouchln!g
attitude of o tiger about to spring
upon his prey. But there sat, very
cool conversing with him, the neces-
sity of the moment keeping my wits
too wide awake to allow my fears to
get the upper hand for an instant.
. "What are you listening to-" asked
the burglar.


II thought 1 heard q cry OF fire"


In that instant and in the dead
stiffness of the night, l heard the
tramp of the policeman. 1t was
some distance off.


"You will fnd," 1 said, "some
clothes of mine in the press; they
will, however, be too small TOR you
Good night; the keys are in the mid
die drawer"


He turned to the drawer indica-
ted, and as he did 50, with one tre-
mendous bound 1 cleared the space
between my bed and the door, slam
mod the door and locked it upon him.