The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-24

jured him to wake up.
''Yes, my love!" cried he, leaping
up; give me the gun; I'll fix 'em!"
mo. no" said Mrs. Cobblesbury.
"lt isn't burglars-it's the pistol"
"What's the matter with the pis-
tol?" queried the husband, sarcastic
ally. "Is the pistol sick?"
II can't remember the way you laid
it, Samuel" explained Mrs. Cobbles-
bury, tremulously. Didn't you put
it with the pointer part toward the
bedr'
"Well, suppose l didp"
"Oh, Samuel" cried Mrs. Cobbles-
bury, turn it around quick: it may go
off at any minute and blow us all to
pieces!"
Mr.. Cobblesbury reached out sleepily
and turned the revolver around. It
was now aimed directly toward her,
but fortunately, Mrs. Cobblesbury
lacked tho power of seeing in the dark
ness, and was comforted.
Several hours later, Mr.. Cobbles-
bury awokc from thrilling dream in
which he had killed seven burglars sin
gle-handed and was wading about in
human gore. He awoke with . .vio-
lent start and for moment was hardly
able to decide whether he was still
dreaming or not. just as he arrived
at the satisfactory conclusion that he
was thoroughly awake, tremendous
crash down stairs came to his ears.
Rising in hi gh state of excitement
MIR. Cobblesbury grasped the barrel of
his revolver and felt his way cautiously
along to the door, his heart beating in a
most reprehensible manner. Unfortu-
nately, as he gained the doorway, he
stumbled over some object and struck
the floor with shock like an amateur
earthquake. Mrs. Cobblesbury had
thoughtfully placed chair against the
door to impede the progress Of the noe
tnrnal prowlers The noise awakened
her, and he could hear her muf1ed
voice, from beneath the sheets, shrek
ing: Samuel! Samuel! the .burglars
are here!"
80 am l." grunted Mr.. Cobbles-
bury. rubbing his injured foot, absent
mindedly, with the butt of his revol-
yer, on which he had maintained des-
perate hold.
Have you caught them?" cries Mrs.
Cobblesbury. "B it safe for me to get
up?"
"Stay where you are, and don't
move" said Mr. Cobblesbury, as he
limped into the hall, shivening with
cold and excitement. He was not
afraid, but nevertheless began to feel
willingness to let the burglars depart
peaceably, SO he Strengthened up by
the stairway, and yelled at the top of
his voice:
'.Pll give you two minutes to leave
the house! We are all armed to the
teeth! Turn the night latch and run
out of the front door if you value your
lives!"
Mr.. Cobblesbury could not help con-
graduating himself afterward when he
remembered having made this speech.
There was no answer but flash OF
light in the hall attracted his attention,
and Charles Simon. Marmaduke, and
Miss Emeline, all half dressed, appear
ed on the scene.
Where are they?' cried Charles
Simon and Marmaduke in breath, one
brandishing revolver and the other a
razor
Down stairs;" said Mr.. Cobbl sbury
in theatrical whisper.
'.Eme!ine, this is no place for you, !"
said Charles Simon. taking the light
from her hand. "You know l have
learned everything at college, and
know all about such things. Now, YOU
just 60 and get under the bed in moth
er's room, and don't let the twins make
g single peep till l call you"
"But the burglars may come in and
chloroform u.s. objected Miss Emeline.
II have read of such things in the
newspapers. y
.Hushr' said Mr.. Cobblesbury.
'You all talk too loud
Miss Emeline vanished and was heard
barricading the door. Mr.. Cobblesbury
then said that Marmaduke must go for
policeman.
Marmaduke objected decidedly and
begged to be allowed to live little
| longer.
II will CO." said Charles Simon.
But it would never do to 60 down
stairs among the burglars, and Mr..
Cobblesbury looked perplexcd.
II will swing myself out of the win
dow to the lower roof, crawl along to
the kitchen, and climb down the grape
arbor," said Charles Simon. II
learned that at college,
| Accordingly Mr.. Cobblesbury and
Marmaduke lowered Charles Simon
from the opened window to the roof be-
low; and he agreed to give three
whistles when he returned with the
police.
Mr. Cobblesbury then sat down on
the top stair with his revolver pointed
| ha1D Nfor oJ,,l, l,o
side him with the lamp. 1t was very
chilly on the top stair.
"Say, En-" shouted Marmaduke al
length, "give us a blanket; we're
frcezin'!"
Several repetitions of this resulted ir
the door being opened a few inches and
the required blanket was slipped out
Mr.. Cobblesbury and Marmaduke ac
cordingly wrapped themselves up in
aboriginal fashion and waited.
II declare" said Mr.. Cobblesbury,
''if Charles Simon doesn't return be-
fore long l shall 60 back to bed again. .
At this moment tremendous racket
occurred outside, which eliminated il
a violent ringing of the door bell anc
loud cries in Charles Simon's voice.
II tell you amt burglar" shout
ed Charles Simon without. "You LEI
me be! Pa, open the door!'
They are numbering sCharles,' y
shrieked Mrs. Cobblesbury from the
inner room, and Mr.. Cobblesbury
dragging the half frozen, badly fright
ened Marmaduke after him, ran dow1
stairs and unlocked the door.
II am coming, my sonp' yelled Mr.
Cobblesbury. "Hold 'em off minut.
longer!''
When the door was opened, however,
the three policemen who had Charlie!
Simon in custody had realized that h,
was not burglar and released him
} AS soon as they understood the state o