MARK TWAIN AND BURGLARS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2352, 19 November 1908, Page 3

MARK TWAIN AND BURGLARS.

“PLEASE CLOSE THE DOOR.” Mark Twain, who had retired from the hurry and hustle of New York during September to his idylCic country residence at Redding, Connecticut. which he had christened “Innocent’si Home,” had his slumbers rudely disturbed early one morning by two burglars. It was Miss Lyons, the , humorist's secretary, who first discovered the intruders. “I sat up in bed,” she subsequently informed me over the longdistance telephone, “with a dim perception that something was wrong. Hearing a window shut, I stole downstairs to the dining room. Outside on the verandah were two twinkling lights. “I soon saw they were electric pocket lamps carried by two men who were in the act of emptying some drawers, which flicy had removed from the room, of a quantity of valuable family silver. “I immediately called the butler, who came downstairs armed with a revolver, and .soon Mark Twain and his neighbors joined in the hunt.” Miss Lyons, fearful for the aged humorist’s health, insisted on his returning to bed, which, -after a few characteristic witticisms, he did. But not to sleep.' Calling for a large piece of cardboard, the author amused himself by writing in large Setters the following notice, which ho subsequently nailed l to the front door:

NOTICE TO THE NEXT BURGLAR There is nothing but plated ware in. this house now and henceforth. You will find it in that brass thing in the dining-room over in the corner by the basket of kittens. If you want tlio basket, put the kittens in the brass thing. Do nob make, a noise. It disturbs the family. You will find goloshes in the front hall by that thing which has umbrellas -in it — a chiffonier I think they call it, or a pergola, or something'jiko that. Please close the door. Yours truly, S. L. CLEMENS.

While Mark Twain was completing this necessary piece of -humor a sheriff and others tracked the burglars to the Bethel railway station, where they entered a train. The burglars showed fight, one of them pulling out a revolver, while the other, carrying a hag of silver, jumped into a ditch. There a well-directed shot from the sheriff placed him hors de combat and he was captured, though not before his companions had sent bullets through the sheriff’s leg and hand.