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Show UNDER THE BED. The Woman Who Looks for Burglar Rewarded at Last. -You've heard of that burglar under the bed," said Mrs. Westslde. "Well. I've just had the greatest scare of toy life. I've been looking for that burglar burg-lar under the bed ever since I waa a school girl, and my grown children long ago joined in the hunt" "" "And you found him at last?" "Wait I'll tell you. The other day I went to visit some friends in Washington. I stopped at the house of a couple of old maids the nicest people in the world, you know who had been recently bereft of a loved relative. He had died in the house. During the evening the conversation naturally turned upon tho character and last illness of this man. It was oftly a casual conversation. Nothing was remarkable about it and the subject sub-ject was quickly lost in the flood of other talk. We sat up late, and when we arose to retire one of the girls laughingly inquired whether I was afraid to sleep alone. ' -Because,' she said, 'wo have no man about the house now. If you are the least bit timid you can sleep here, though the best room is ready for you.' ' " 'Dear me,' said I, 'I'm not a child,' and I was shown up to a handsome bedroom. bed-room. "You know, I'm not a bit afraid of a man. I'm more afraid without " , , I'm not at all superstitious wouldntj be afraid to raise an umbrella in irrj room, to walk under a ladder or througl a graveyard. I b?gan to disrobo with I out ceremony as toon as my friend baddV me good night. I lor last remark re "V called tho conversation about tho man who died there 'probably iti thU very room,' I thought, looking around .perhaps in this bed.' Hut even if I J had been certain of that the fart 4 wouldn't have disturbed my rest. So J I went on with my preparations. Be- fore I jumped into bod and tnrnud out tho gas I did just what I had done from girlhood threw up tho overhanging coverlet and looked under the Lol for that burglar. "Heavens! The sight that mot my eyes fairly froze my blood! 1 was rooted to the spot with horror! "The long expected burglar? No. At that moment I would have welcomed the most desperato burglar that ever lived. I would havo embraced him. I saw a long, cloth-covered box, with brass drop handles on the side, and stubbed with brass headed tacki along the edges. "I was so frightened, so utterly astounded I couldn't scream, or I should have yelled loud enough to raise the neighborhood. Fortunately, I hoard a footstep at that n-ome it and a tap at the door. It was the other sister come to bid me good night. '"Good gracious!' she exclaimed, seeing my white face. "What i:i the world ' " 'I I oh, dear!' As soon as I could find my tongue. -Why do you k k keep that co cof fin undtr the bed?' "She burst into a hearty laugh. Running Run-ning quickly to the bed she pulled the thing out. It was a dress box. We sat down on the floor and laughed together. to-gether. I think I cried. I don't cafe. It would have scared a mule! Even after I knew what it was I couldn't sleep soundly a sinple night while there for dreaming it was a coffin!" |