Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-09-25
COBBLESBURY'S BURGLARS
Chicago Mail.

OUDDLESD Dun y DUhULAhS
Chicago Mail.
Mr.. Cobblesbury came home to sup
per looking very grave, and sat down t.
the table with one hand firmly pressed
over his breast pocket.
"What have you got in your pocket
pa" inquired the eldest daughter, Miss
Emeline.
"HushY' breathed MIR. Cobblesbury
as he felt in his poc,-et for the thirteenth
time in five minutes. Burglars"
Burglars in your pocket, pa?" cried
inquisitive Marmaduke Cobblesbury,
aged fourteen.
"No, son." said Mr.. Cobblesbury,
gravely, shut have $500 which John
Spriggs paid me after banking hours to-
day, and it is highly probable that our
house n ay be visited by burglars to-
night"
Mr.. Cobblesbury looked SO solemn
that the twins, aged five, began to evince
signs of indulging their favorite amuse-
ment of weeping in one another's arms.
All the family except Charles Simon, the
eldest son, who had just returned from
college, became very grave.
Il have been expecting visit from
burglars for many years." said Mr.. Cob
blesbury. ut is strange we have es-
capped SO leng.'
"True," asserted Charles Simon.
"Every well regulated family nowadays
must boast of visit from burglars be-
fore they can take their proper position
in society, learned that in college,"
Marmaduke thought it would be a
good idea to set steel traps in all parts
Of the house to catch the burglars.
"What 20 the newspapers say?' asked
Miss Emeline.
Mr.. Cobblesbury could not remember
having read any good recipe for catch
ing burglars. Charles Simon thought
he would write book on the subject as
soon as he graduated at college. But
the principal trouble seemed to be how
the family were to be awakened when
tie burglars came.
"The burglars will wake us fast
enough" said Charles Simon.
':But they might kill us first" said
Mrs. Cobblesbury, innocently.
81 read in paper that the safest way
MAS to fasten burglar alarm to every
door and window in the house." said
Miss Emeine.
"That would be waste of money!"
objected Mr.. Cobblesbury, ''for no
burglar would break in at every door
and window.
Besides" said Mrs. Cobblesbury, con-
vincingly; "the burglars would steal the
alarms"
"Why can't we put tar all over the
front stairs?'' inquired Marmaduke.
'sThen pa and 1 could kill them in the
morning as we go down to breakfast,
for all the burglars would get stuck on
the way up r
lido not wish to kill any depredator,
if he will surrender or leave peaceably,"
said Mr.. Cobblesbury. "The only ar
rangement possible is to arm ourselves
to the teeth, and will conceal the money
In safe place."
The family conceded with this, Mrs.
Cebblesbury thought they would retire
early in order to obtain some sleep be-
fore TIE burglars came. There was some
difficulty concerning the armament re-
quired. Both Mr.. Cobblesbury and
Charles Simon possessed revolvers.
Marmaduke took the fire tongs and an
old razor and tied leather belt around
his waist. Miss Emeline procured
small package of red pepper to throw in
the burglars eyes, but Mrs. Cobbles-
bury thought this would be cruel and
her daughter compromised on black
pepper, which would not be so strong
The twins wished to take the garden
hose to bed with them, feeling confident
that an icy stream Of water would drive
the intruders away. They were eventu-
ally obliged to be contented, however,
with their popguns and small pail
filed with beans.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Cobblesbury re-
tired the question arouse what should be
done with the revolver? Mrs. Cobbles-
bury declared she should die of fright if
the weapon were placed under the pillows,
and Mr.. Cobblesbury finally drew up a
chair beside the bed and laid the r.vol-
Ver upon it
"Shall we leave the gas burning ? in
Iuired Mrs. Cobblesbury, nervously.
Certainly not" answered her hus-
and. "The burglars would then be
'nabled to move around with perfect