The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-05-27
MuRFREE'S BURGLARS.

MuRFREE'S BURGLARS.
There is not a particle of heroism
about you, Ulysses" said Mrs. MUIR
free. as she brushed out her
back hair in front of the dresser
glass. preparatory to retiring for the
night. "Not a PARTICLE" she en-
phatically repeated. II have known
you to be positively cowardly at
times"
Mr.. Murfree looked up in a weary
way from the corner in which he sat.
II am sure, my DEAR" he began.
mo you're not" snapped his bet
ter half, ''you are not sure, you are
never sure of anything-you only
think. Bah! l hate a man who
only thinks" and she jerked the
tangles out of q refractory auburn
lock with additional force.
when Mrs. jerks was telling to-
night about that paragon of a hus-
band of hers l was consumed with
envy. 1t shows how much to believe
in names. Look at you two men
look, I say"
.'Yes, my DEAR" responded Mr..
Mdrfree. pulling of his boots in q re-
signed way, ''Im looking"
''Bah!" ~retorted his wife. Il mean
your names, Ulysses Murfree-Peter
Jenks-just think of the difference,
and yet Peter jerks knocked a burg
lar downstairs this week with one
fist, one. l assure you, and you, you
r afraid TO go calling on the Sim
songibbers after dark, because they
keep a dog"
Well, my DEAR" feebly expostu-
lated Mr.. Murfree, lit is a very large
dog, and Pr
Here Mrs. Murfree suddenly turned
around, and through lips containing
sundry hairpins, combs and such
trifing articles, Kissed Don't talk to
me- in such an impressive and dis
gusted manner that Mr.. Murfree sub
sided at once, and proceeded to finish
pulling off his socks.
He was not disturbed again until
the moment came for retiring when,
contrary to their usual custom, Mrs.
Murfree turned the gas entirely out,
leaving the room in darkness, save
where a streak of moonlight fell
through the window, open for ventila-
ton.
Now, if there was anything that
Mr.. Murfree hated, it was to hive the
bedroom gas turned off at night, but
he climbed sadly into bed, and lay
cogitating a plan whereby he should
be able to shoot a burglar in the dark
should one chance to visit his abode
that night.
Just as the city clock was striking
l Mr.. Mnrfree awoke with a start
and looked in q dazed way up into
the darkness.
whats the matter with me?" he
muttered, a sensation of uneasiness
creeping over him. II think-ha!
what's that?" and broad awake now,
with the cold p~erspiration starting
from every pore, he became conscious
of q faint rustic in the room, the cause
of which the heavy p~ortieres draping
the alcove prevented him ascertaining.
Cautiously he reached under the
mattress for his revolver, and, to his
horror, found that after cleaning it
On the previous day he had carelessly
forgotten to replace it in its wonted
spot
"Oh, Lord! oh, Lord" he chartered
to himself, trying to keep cool, mo
revolver, no nothing, and a burglar
sure as fate. Samantha was right. l
am a coward; what on earth shall I
do. If I awake Samantha I will never
hear the last of it-she will nag worse
than ever; besides, she is sure to yell,
ana then we will all be m%urdered;"
and then the poor man shook so that
the springs creaked and sent him into
q fresh fit Of trembling.
Rustic, rustic, it came again, and
then a soft thump and clink.
"He's get my pants" ejaculated
Mr.. Murfree to himself, as he eau
tiously sat up in bed and tried to
calm himself.
Thump!
Il can't stand this any longer"
said Mr.. Murfree in q whisper, be-
ginning to get hufy. "I'm a fool.
No wonder Samantha said so. I will
certainly find out what is outside of
those curtains, and this time Saman-
tina sha'n't have a chance to brag
over me. Perhaps I shall be. able to
do something for once" e
Kooripn 1uo11 ourou f,,o~o %ho co~
aration between the portieres, he
carefully let one foot out of bed.
Az it touched the floor the rustic
sounded again, and 80 near that Mr..
Murfree nearly lost his balance with
fright, and found himself on his feet
the next moment, shaking with alarm
lest he had provoked the marauder's
attention to the Above or awakened
the sleeping Samantha.
But no; all was quiet, a as soon
as he plueked up q sufficient amount
of courage no peered cautiously
through the curtains.
With difficulty he repressed an ex-
clamation of horror.
The moons rays fell across the
dresser. bringing out each article on
it with q weird distinctness, and just
in the s ,adow before the eheval glass
was the STOPPING figure of a man.
He was evidently searching the
upper drawer, and Mr.. Murfpee
gasped for JOY as he distinguished oh
top OF the cabinet to the right of the
| glass the missing revolver.
..If ] only could reach him, Thought