The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-11-22


gain. And serve him right, too p
in aggrieved anticipation of a pos
sible intruder.
Myrtle's round eyes we're round
er than ever.
"Oh, ma, it's worse than dyna-
mite amt it? Oh, ma, you're an
awful smart woman! Amt you,
ma?
Miranda Pierce smiled The smile
of appreciated supremacy. But
she only answered modestly:
II have genus for expedients,
Myrtle"
When after having made final
reviewing round OF the house they
went upstairs to bed, the spouse of
David Pierce produced a revolver,
which she tucked under her pillow.
Nov if we hear a crash IN the
kitchen, Myrtle, I'll Ju,t open The
window, fire off the revolver and
yell Police y
Myrtle shuddered reverentially
at such heroic resolution.
"Oh, ma, you're awful brave !"
she whispered, as she got into bed
and covered her head up tightly
in the clothes.
The night wore on-a warm,
moist, dark August night. Mrs.
Pierce, profoundly confident of the
success of her barrlcade, should an
entrance be attempted-or rather
assured in such case she would
be aroused, and brimIul of other
equally clever eXpedients-went
placidly TO sleep. But wide awake,
half suffocated, shaking with ter
ror. Myrtle covered by her side.
Eleven !
How could her mother sleep
when those terrible burglars might
even now be creeping up the back
yard? Another hour of agony
dragged by.
Twelve
There wgs a clink of a bell as it
clatter to the floor, an appalling
rattle of falling tins, and then Sc
rieS Of yells and groans and howls.
"Oh, ma y quavered Myrtle, as
a tremendous sneeze from the floor
below terminated in a below of
pain.
"Il's the red pepper getting in its
work, my dear" explained Mrs.
Pierce, as she grabbed her weapon
and sprang out Of bed.
Across The room she rushed,
flung up the window, fired off The
revolver as she had resolved, and
shouted, "Police /! burglars! pa
troll !" at The top oil her shrill, sharp
voice.
From the houses on either side
heads popped out.
"Whal is it Z" cried The neighbOrs.
"II's burglars, burglars, bur
glars /" screamed Mrs. Pierce.
A hall-garbed male figure went
flying down the steps of an adjoin-
ing house, and ran rapidly toward
the patrol box on the corner.
And still the AOundering, noisy !
stampede in the kitchen
continued.
ave never would have caught !
the scOundrel-neveT" !" cried Mi |
randa Pierce, her black eyes gilt
tering with eXullation, ''if | had |
not happened TO be a woman of
eXpedients! J"
The neighborS were fOcking up
the steps now.
Mrs. Pierce was not reckless, if
extraordinarily prompt in emer-
yencies. She did not rush down TO
meet them. She threw the door
key out OF the window and told |
hem to open the door.
When she did so, she slipped q
wrapper over her night gown and
Joined them.
Beyond her, holding to the tail
1f her gown, skunk poor little Myr-
lie, her teeth chaltering like casta-
nets, and the great big frightened
Jumps in her throat almost choking
ler.
Where is he ~
"Oh, the rascal ~
ais Mr.. Pierce out of town Y
"What keeps the patrols"
"Can he have escaped W
"No, | hear him."
"Just listen to that !"
"That" was a perfect tusilade of
yroans, kicks, oathS, sneezes.
Despite the excited chatter GO
ng on around her, Mrs. Pierce was
;ool. Mrs. Pierce was collected.
indeed, she was actually beamlng.
What did men do, who, unlike
Dave, had incapable and brainless
Ylvesg
Her burglar alarm had been el-
-ective. The scamp was most like
v so blinded by the red pepper he
,ould not find his way out.
Who was it said a woman had no
inventive gcniuss
She would be praised for her
brilliant prudence. Perhaps-ec-
static thought she might even
be written up in the papers under
he caption of "HerOic Mrs.
Pierce. or "a Braye, Brainy Wo-
man."
"Harkl some one said; "here is
.he patrol wagOnp
And there il was, to be sure,
iashing up 10 the door with great
IlOuush.
The officers leaped out-enlered
Ihe Pierce residence.
All fho ernrrdiny half clad indi-