Gloucester County Democrat., 1893-03-23

nerveu TO the point OF desperation, made
a flying leap, and landing with terrific
force upon the burglars shoulders
grabbed the revolver, yelling. "Policei
thievesl OBJ
Over he Went, bumpety bump, and as
he found himself prostrate on the floor,
with chair and something soft and thick
over him, he finished his exclamation
with S. itln
"Oh, Ulyssesl Ulyssesr' screamed Mrs.
Murfree, tangling herself up in the bed
clothes in her efforts to rise. ''Helpl
Where are you."
Mr.. Murfree was on his feet in flash,
holding in his arms the harmless cause
Of his fright and disturbance, Mrs. Muir
frees fur cape, which she had hung over
the chair back, in front Of the dresser,
and which, with its high shoulders and
collar, had looked in the dim light like
STOPPING figure
Men think quickly sometimes, and Mr..
Murfree realized the situation with re-
markable speed, and being on his met
tie determined not to be made fool of
Knocking Mrs. Murfree's jewel case
from the dresser as he fled he rushed out
Of the room pellmell, stepping on the
cat, the author Of the mysterious noises
that had first awakened him.
With savage kick he sent her ahead
of him, as he few down the front stairs,
and banged the front door open and shut.
Then he painted breathlessly up again,
sinking on the top stair, sore, bruised
and mad, just as his wife succeeded in
lighting the gas.
Burglar" he gasped.
Where, oh, where." she screamed ex-
citedly, half helping, half dragging him
into the room.
"Gone," he managed to say; "lznocked
him over-got away-front door-see
there?' pointing to the jewelry strewn
around the floor.
Mrs. Murfree gave one look, and then,
with that faithful sense Of obligation to
the tradition of her sex which the aver
age woman seems to possess in an emer-
gency, she proceeded to faint away.
Mr.. Murfree dumped her into a chair
Hewas too weak to hold her, and besides
he felt fiendish exultation in glorying
in his superior strengthen mind, SO when
she recovered he was picking up the
cleverly scattered trinkets with as bored
an air as he could assume.
"What are you scared of" he said
scornfully Mans gone; I'm here; ]
rather think l have protected you even
if am coward. Perhaps you will
kindly leave the light burning after this
so that shall not be obliged to struggle
for my life in the dark, and he wiped
from his forehead few drops of blood
trickling from scratch he received in
his encounter with the large pin on his
cape burglar, making his face as CORY as
possible with the small amount of mate
rial
Veritably the tables were turned.
Mrs. Murfree looked at him moment
in hysterical way. and then falling on
his neck alternately implored forgive
ness and wept over her former severity.
calling him her hero and all the de-
lightful names which Mr.. Murfree's soul
was thirsting for.
"Tll never say such mean things
again, she sobbed, never, never"
'sThere, there said her spouse,
Strengthening up and putting on a pa
tronizing air to conceal the nervous
shaking of his muscles scarce over their
recent shock. "You sit down and | viii
search the house, SO that we can feel
easy during the remainder Of the night. !"
So that while Mrs. Murfree hid behind
the bed curtains for fear of another visit
or, her Ulysses went out into the hall
and stayed five minutes in dark corner,
returning with a serious air and the as
surance that all was well
Locking their door, the couple once
more sought repose, but both were too
excited for sleep.
Wont | just gloat over Mrs. jerks, !"
exclaimed Mrs Murfree as she convul-
sively patted the pillow into more ac-
commodating shape. "Oh, Ulysses, I'll
tell every woman in the block"
Just then the ludicrous side of the
thing struck Mr.. Murfree, and he stuffed
the corner of the sheet in his month and
shook convulsively.
whats the matter, dearS1 cried his
wife. What's the matter, Uly?'
AS soon as he could speak he NUT
tered, ''Only chill-don't bother about
it--guess I took cold
''Shan't get you something hot?'
asked his spouse anxiously.
Nonsense, he replied, controlling
himself with difficulty; ''just go to
sleep. I'm tired"
"All right, DEAR" responded she; A
do hope you won't be sick. It's very
funny, Ulysses, that tho policeman on
our beat didn't hear anything or come
running up to the house when that
dreadful man made such noise at the
door Dear me, if 1 didn't know you
had chill should think you were
laughing"
And Mr.. Murfree was. Carolyn Wade
/ in Buffalo News.