Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-04-22
MURFREE'S HEROISM.

about you, Ulysses" said Mrs. Murfree
as she brushed out her back hair in front
of the dresser glass preparatory to retir-
ing for the night. mot particle" she
emphatically repeated. What on earth
your mother was thinking about when
she named you can't imagine. am
sure that never saw a man more un-
like his namesake. have known you to
be positively cowardly at times"
Mr.. Murfree looked up in a weary
way from the corner where he sat- I'm
sure,my dear" he began.
mo, you're not" snapped his better
half, giving the pincushion whack
with the hairbrush to emphasize her
words; ''you are not sure; you are never
sure of anything only think. Bah!
hate man who only thinks And she
jerked the tangles out of refractory
auburn lock with additional force.
when Mrs. jerks was telling tonight
about that paragon of husband Of hers
was simply consumed with envy. It
cllOWo nOW AuCn W btilcN0 LII uttluCbs
Look at you two men; look, sayp
Yes, my DEAR" responded Mr.. Muir
free, pulling off his boots in resigned
way, "rm looking"
"Bahr' retorted his wife, 'I mean your
names-Ul Ulysses Murfree, Peter jerks
Just think of the difference, and yet Pc
ter jerks knocked burglar down stairs
this week with one fist; one, assure
you; and you--you are afraid to 60 CALI
ing on the Simsongibbers after dark be-
cause they keep dog" !
swell, my DEAR" feebly expostulated
Mr.. Murfree, ''it is very large dog and
p
Here Mrs. Murfree suddenly turned
around, and through lips containing sum
dry hairpins, combs and such trihing ar
ticles hissed, Don't talk to mer'' in
such an impressive and disgusted man
ner that Mr.. Murfree subsidized at once
and proceeded to finish pulling off his
socks.
He was not disturbed again until the
moment came for retiring, when, con-
trary to their usual custom, Mrs. Muir
free turned the gas entirely out, leaving
the room in darkness, save where streak
of moonlight fell through the window,
open for ventilation.
Now, if there was anything that Mr..
Murfree hated it was to have the bed
room gas turned off at night, but know
ing the defiant state of mind which
prompted his wife to- extinguish it, and
fearing to provoke another outburst he
climbed sadly into bed, and lay cogitat-
ing plan whereby he should be able to
shoot burglar in the dark should one
chance to visit his abode that night.
II don't see how could do it," he
sighed, turning uneasily.
"Are you ever going to lie still and let
a person sleepr' snapped the partner Of
his joys and sorrows as she founced
over, dragging half of the comfortable
with her, and thereby causing small
chills to chase one another down her hus-
bands vertebr@.
Mr.. Murfree laid still.
He held his breath, figuratively, until
the deep, not to say sonorous, breathing
of his amiable companion told that peace
and quietude had folded their downy
wings upon the bosom of Mrs. Murfree.
Then he sighed again.
II do hope no one will come tonight"
he murmured sleepily. Dear me-if-
r. And here his thoughts foated
vaguely off and he realized no more.
Quiet fell on the room for time,
broken only by the musical sounds from
the alcove, where slept the pair, and an
occasional snap as the willow rocker,
objecting to the strain of the day, tried
to contract to its former shape.
Just as the city clock was striking 1
Mr.. Murfree awoke with start and
looked in dazed way up into the dark
ness.
whats the matter with me?" he NUT
tered, sensation of uneasiness creeping
over him. ~ think-ha! What's that?''
And, broad awake now, with the cold
perspiration starting from every pore, he
became conscious of faint rustic in the
room, the cause OF which the heavy por-
there's draping the alcove prevented him
ascertaining.
Cautiously he reached under the mat
tress for his revolver, and to his horror
found that, after cleaning it on the pre-
vious day, he had carelessly forgotten to
replace it in its wonted spot.
"Oh, Lordl Oh, Lordl" he chartered to
himself, trying to keep cool. mo re-
volver, no nothing, and burglar, sure as
fate. Samantha was right; / am cow
ard. What on earth shall / do? If !
wake Samantha will never hear the last
of it; she will nag worse than ever; be-
sides, she is sure to yell, and then we will
all be murdered. And the poor man
shook 30 that the springs creaked and
sent him into fresh fit of trembling.
Rustic, rustic, it came again, and then
soft thump and clink.
Hes got my pants,' calculated Mr..
Murfree to himself as he cautiously sat
up in bed and tried to calm himself.
Thump. NA
II can't stand this any longer" said
Mr.. Murfree in whisper, beginning to
get huHy. I'm fool. No wonder
Samantha said 80. will certainly find
out what is outside of those curtains,
and this time Samantha shant have a
chance to brag over me. Perhaps l shall