Foiled by a Woman. . .

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 23, 8 December 1900, Page 14

Foiled by a Woman. . .

By D covenant.

*• yr AM cleaned out — there's no doubt I about that — and I must settle down to work again." The speaker blew out a cloud of tobacco smoke, and gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. Then he rose, and opening a small desk, took out from it a pocket-book. He rapidly glanced down a list of entries, until he came to one that seemed to please him. -No. 24, Marshdean-avenue," he r ad. ''Small, double-fronted house; detached ■ unbarred windows on ground floor ; easy to enter, back or front ; servant ~ country girl, and ready to talk; no doo-: most of the plate kept m sate on first floor, mistress— a comfortable widow, with plenty of dust and a lot of newels in bed-room." "Yes, I think that ought to turn out well. I want an easy job after my long rest. From what Sarah Ann told me, there ought to be little difficulty in entering, and very little in finding the things. I think I will risk it tonight. 'Tis a pity I can't get round first so as to have another chat with that dear girl, Sarah Ann, but it cant be helped." In the small hours of the morning, the policeman stationed in the Mar&h-dean-?venue beat passed along ''7 No '2-L without observing anything wrong. Had he turned back, however, before he had gone fifty yards up the avenue, he might have observed a man throw up the window of one of the lower rooms of that house and lightly clamber "Shocking carelessness!" the intruder murmured. "Burgling will cease to be considered one of the high arts it people persist im being so careless. At the last house I entered— that was at Northridge— l found the back door ajar, actually asking people to step m and pick up whatever they wanted; and now, to-night, this window is unlatched. Those burglary insurance companies are ruining burgling as a science. If this goes on, we shall be having any fool— who can't earn a living in other ways taking to a profession that used to require real genius and skill." The burglar quietly closed the window, and carefully made his way to the "Unlocked, of course ! I really wonder people don't put their plate outside on the doorstep to save us professional gentlemen the trouble of entering. Gently turning the handle, he opened the door and passed out into the entrance hall. His eyes were becoming accustomed to the darkness, and it was without much difficulty that he discovered the position of the staircase Jeading to the floor above. "Now, which did Sarah Ann say — plate-room to the right and bed-room to the left, or vice versa?— as that clever chap who got me off said when he was addressing the jury the last time I was on trial." "I should like to attend to the plate first; but if luck's against me, and I enter the bedroom and disturb the old girl, it won't matter much. Shell want to scream a bit; but I've got something that will quickly soothe her. We'll go to the left and chance it." Stealthily turning the handle of the door, he peered into the room. To his disgust, he found that he had made a mistake. He had entered the bedroom. He as quickly withdrew, and, closing the door gently behind ham, crossed the landing, and entered the room on the right. Striking a match, he lighted a small candle. "I don't think any one from the outside will see this," he muttered, after having cast a look round at the windowfittings. "And as I have only two women to deal with, I haven't mucn to fear from any one inside the house. The dim light enabled him to discern a large cabinet in one corner of Cue room. The indiscreet servant hae" told her admirer that this contained the most valuable of the plate. It only remained for the burglar to force open the doors of the cabinet to have the silver at his disposal. He set about his task without delay, and seemed quite pleased to find that at last he had discovered a difficulty that would give play to his ingenuity and skill. In his contentment, he allowed himself to softly whistle. "It's against rules," he admitted; "but this affair is so absurdly simple that there is no use in going by rule." The task of opening the cabinet was arduous, and occupied his whole attention, but at last the cabinet was fOlf 01 ced, and its contents exposed to the burglar's covetous eyes. Selecting the most suitable, he placed the booty in his bag, and started pn the second part of his business. There was still the jewellery in the bed-room.

He silently stole in and closed the door. Listening attentively, he could hear the regular breathing of the feleeper. Approaching the dressing-table, he, with wonderful skill, pried open tlie jewel-drawer, and drew out the valuable contents. "Now for a speedy departure," he thought. "I'll be home in time for a good night's rest." But before he could reach the door there was a quick movement in the bed, and next moment the startled man was almost blinded by the electric light which was switched on. "Who are you ? What do you want ? " demanded the lady, whose slumbers had been so rudely broken. The burglar muttered an ugly oath, whilst his hand sought his trousers pocket. But, remembering that it was a woman who had discovered him, he quickly resumed his customary coolness. "The first question, ma'am, I must decline to answer, because wp are always told that we need not incriminate ourselves — and it might possibly be awkward for me, if I was so foolish as to tell you my name. Call me Bill — it isn't my name, but that's no matter; it'll do as well as another. As for my business, it's one that's like a doctor's — it involves a good deal of night work. The fact is, ma'am, I'm a dealer in valuable stones, and I get them wherever I can." "A burglar?" "That's what they call me when they forget to be polite. But now, ma'am, I'm sure you'll see the necessity for keeping quiet while I pack up these things." "You intend, then, to rob me?" "Certainly, ma'am ; you've just guessed my intentions. I made careful in quiries about you before I entered on this night expedition. You have heaps of money and won't miss these little things ; but they will be most useful to your humble servant." "Your speech would mark you for a gentleman," said the woman ; "but your actions are those of a scoundrel ! Put up your hands, you villain!" And when the burglar looked up he found a little revolver levelled at his head. He made an ineffectual attempt to draw out his own revolver; but the woman's sharp stern voice warned him that a bullet would be in his brain if he did not obey her order. Up went his hands. "The tables are turned!" he observed, with a half-hearted attempt at a laugh. "I always was a reasonable man, and I don't profess to stand against such odds." Suddenly his arms fell, and he pulled out his revolver. "Snakes! but you fairly had me fixed for a moment," he chuckled. "I had quite forgotten that Sarah Ann had told me of your little trick of sleeping over an unloaded revolver. Go on, ma'am, why don't you fire?" But the woman's revolver fell harmlessly from her hand on to the coverlet. "The tables are re-turned," laughed the burglar, as he affectionately patted his revolver. "Make no mistake, I don't carry one of these things for ornament. If you attempt to move it will speak, I can assure you." "But you dare not use it. The neighbours and the police wonld be roused. Oh, do put it down, for mercy's sake!" she cried as the "man pointed the weapon carelessly at her head. "It might go off accidentally." The burglar laughed again as he lowered the deadly instrument. "Women" are all alike — they always fear this sort of toy. You were saucy enough a moment ago, and didn't consider my feelings when you held your little popgun at my head." "You are a pitiful coward to triumph in a woman's fears." "Now, shut up! You're rather too smart with your tongue, but I know how to tame more obstinate cattle than you. Now, I'm sorry to hare spoiled your night's rest, but I'm just going. I must put a little gag in your pretty mouth , but first, as some compensation for my fright just now, I'll have a kiss." "Put that dreadful thing down, then," said the poor woman, who had fear depicted in every feature of her face. "Quite right," answered the burglai, once more restored to good humour. "If you're going to knuckle under I shan't want to use the tiling." He bent over the bed to kiss the woman. Before his lips had touched her face a pair of arms flashed from under the bedclothes and fastened round him. Almost paralysed by surprise, he struggled vainly. It was as though he had been clasped in a grip of iron. His back was breaking and his lungs were unable to expand to take in

fresh air. Every moment the pressure became stronger, while his powers of resistance decreased, a film came over his _eye», and a thunderous noise sounded in his ears. When he again became conscious he was lying on the ground, securely tied hand and foot, while his former victim was seated on a chair watching him with great satisfaction. "What has happened?" he helplessly asked. "A slight mistake," his oaptor replied. "My servant correctly informed you that I slept with an unloaded revolver beneath my pillow. I have, like most of my sex, a mortal dread of loaded firearms. But for her treachery — intentional or otherwise — the sight of the weapon would have cured you of any desire to match your strength against

mine. I think I could hare tackled two of you, had it been necessary." "Who the devil are youP" the other sulkily asked. "Are you a man, after 9ii r "Oh, no, certainly not. You won't be able to console yourself by that thought." "You must be the devil himself 1 I never met such a woman before." "To my neighbours I am known as Mrs. Dakin, but my professional name is 'The Lady Samson,"" the Strong Woman,' and I am performing every night at the Frivolity. But I think I hear my servant returning with the police." The burglar gnashed his teeth. "I would gladly give you a pass for my entertainment at the Frivolity, but I am seriously afraid you will be otherwise engaged for the next few years !"