PLUCKY WOMAN'S ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1920, Page 6

PLUCKY WOMAN'S ACTION.

A MIDNIGHT INTRUDER. An unusual incident, which might have resulted far more seriously than in the biter's being merely badly bitten, took place at Midhirst on Thursday last. A fortnight ago, Mrs. Winiki, who was alone in the house with her two children during her husband's absence on business, was somewhat alarmed by a mysterious individual who was nosing around the baek of the building about midnight. She pluckily went out to discover the identity of the night prowler, a man of medium build and dressed in dark clothes. As she aprpoachud, this person seized her by the wrist and dragged her towards him, at the same time keeping his face turned well away. Fearlessly she tried her best to obtain a glimpse of his features in order to recognise th,? 'hoodlum, but realising that discretion was his next best play, he broke away and vanished into the night. Last Wednesday evening Mr. Winiki again left Midhirst on a visit to New Plymouth, and, about 1 a.m. Mrs. Winiki was awakened by the sound of someone attempting to force an entry through the back door. Arising from her bed, she buttoned on an overcoat, seized an axe which she had carefully placed near the bed, and went through to the door in question. Holding the axe behind her back, she quietly opened the door and asked: "Who's there, and what do you want?" She beheld a mysterious masked man, who held his hands towards her, and -said in lo\V tones: "I Want you. You're the girl I've been wanting for a long while!" Seizing one of his sleeves with her left hand, her rightly securely holding the axe behind hei back, she stepped through' the doorway one pace outside. Imitating the masked hoodlum's forced tones, she said: "And I want you. You're the man I've been wanting all these days." Thud. Her right hand swung the axe, and the butt of the axe head 'connected solidly with the midnight prowler's neck. Pained and shocked, that gallant worthy staggered a few paces backward, raising, his hands pleadingly, and s.'iying: '"Don't hurt me; please don't hurt me!" Mrs. Winiki made a swift rush at him, and tried hard to tear the mask from his face, but without success. She secured a grip of it between her fingers, but the mask wak solidly made of cloth or canvas and well tied on; the hoodlum turned and ran for his life, she pursuing him over the paddocks. He, however, made good use of his feet while the going- was still good, and. the lady was unable tc again make contact with him.

Her coolness and courage in dealing so courageously with an unexpected and alarming situation are admirable in the extreme, and that midnight intruder is to-day doubtless a sadder and a wiser man. The .good lady will sincerely welcome the next masked hoodlum with a 45~> Webley service revolver, in the use of which she is highly proficient!