The National tribune., 1893-03-02

9k@EeYss about you, Ulysses" said Mrs. Muir
VJfAa(g free, as she brushed ont iler back
sG%ksS hair in front of the dresser glass;
euvsdsvuo preparatory to retiring for the night.
Not particle" she emphatioally repeated
have known you to be positively cowardly
at times"
Mr.. Murfree looked up in weary way from
the corner where hesat. "I am sure, my DEAR"
he began.
:" No you're not" snapped his better half,
You are not sure, you are never sure of any
thingyou only think. Bah / bate a man
who only thinks" and she jerked the tangles
out Of refractory auburn lock with addition
al force.
when Mrs. jerks was telling tonight
about that paragon of a husband of hers l was
simply consumed with envy. 1t shows how
much to believe in names. Look at you two
men-look, say !"
Yes, my DEAR responded MIR. Murfree,
pulling Off his boots in a resigned way, Pm
looking"
"Bah!" retorted his wife, ~ mean your
Names Ulysses Murfree-Peter Jenks-just
think of the difference and yet Peter jerks
knocked q burglar downstairs this week with
one fist. one, | assure one, and you, you are
afraid to go calling on the Simsongibbers after
dark, because they keep dog"
Well my dear" feebly expostulated Mr..
Murfree. it is very large dog, aud p
Here Mrs. Murfree suddenly turned around,
and through lips containing sundry hairpins.
combs and such trifing articles hissed Don't
talk to me in such an impressive and disgust
ed manner that Mr.. Murfrce subsidized Mt once,
and proceeded to finish pulling off his socks.
He was not disturbed again until the mo.
ment camo for retiring when, contrary to their
usual custom, Mrs. Murfree 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 Dir. Muir
free hated, it was to have the bedroom gas
turned off at night. but he climbed sadly into
bed, and lay cogitating plan whereby he
should be able to shoot o burglar in the dark
should one chance to visit his abode that night.
Just as the city clock was striking Mr..
Murfree awoke with a start and looked in
dazed way up into the darkness.
Whats the matter with me?" he muttered,
sensation of uneasness creeping over him.
8" 1 think-ba! what's that?" and, broad
awake now. with the cold perspraton starting
from every pore. he became conscious OF faint
rustic in the room, the cause Of which the
heavy portieres 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 care
lessly forgotten to replace it in its wonted spot.
oh, Lord oh, Lord - he chartered to him
nothing, and burglar sure as fate. Samantha
was right. l am coward what on earth
shall do If / awake Samantha will never
hear the last Of it-she will nag worse than
ever; besides, she is sure to yell, and then we
will all be murdered" and then the poor man
shook so that the springs creaked and sent him
into fresh fit of trembling.
Rnstle, rustic, it came again, and then soft
thump and elink
Hes got my pants" calculated Mr.. Murfree
to himself. as he cautiously sat up III bed aud
tried to calm himself
Thump!
Il can't stand this any longer" said Mr.. MUIR
free in whisper, beginning to get huffy. Pm
a fool No wonder Samantha said SO. / will
certainly find out what is outside Of those cur
tains and this time Samantha sha'n't have
chance to brag over me. Perhaps l shall be
able to do something for once"
Keeping well away from the separation be-
tween the portieres, he carefully let one foot
out Of bed.
As it touched the aoor the rustic sounded
again. and SO 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 marauders attention
to the alc0ve or awakened the sleeping Sa-
mantha.
But no; all was quiet and as he
plucked up sufficient amount of courage he
peered cautiously through the curtains.
With difficulty he repressed an exclamation
OF horror.
The moons rays fell across the dresser,
bringing out each article on it with a wierd
distinctness, and just in the shadow before the
cheval glass was the STOPPING figure of man.
He was evidently searching the upper drawer.
and Mr. Murfree gasped for JOY as he dis
tinguished on the top Of the cabinet to the
right of the glass the missing revolver.
"If / could only reach him." said Mr. Muir
free to himself, Jump him as he is bending
over. and secure the revolver before he RECEIVERS
himself-it's good plan, and the only one.
Pm getting kind of riled; / don't believe Pm
such coward after all"
With mighty effort he braced himself aud
advanced cautiously, keeping his eyes on the
bent figure.
In the uncertain light the man looked un-
naturally large and heavy, and seemed each
second to be on the point of rising. Indeed, as
Mr.. Murfree reached the center-table he
thought all was over, and shrank down behind
it despairingy.
But fortune was kind, the burglar still
searched busi!y, and Mr.. Murfree, gathering
himself for grand effort, and nerved to point
with terrific force upon the burglars shoulders,
grabbed the revolver, yelling "Poice!
thieves!--Oh! II"
Over he went, bumpety bump; and as he
found himself prostrate upon the floor, with
chair and something soft and thick over him,
he finished his exclamation with - it.
"Oh! Ulysses! Ulysses" screamed Mrs.
Murfree. tangling herself up in the bed-clothes
in her efforts to rise. Help! Where are you?"
Mr.. Murfree was on his feet in a flash. hold.
ing in his arms the harmless cause of his fright
and disturbance, Mrs. Murfree's fur CAPE which
she had hung over the char-back in front of
the dresser, and which, with it's high shoulders
and collar. had looked in the dim light like a
STOPPING figure
Men think quickly sometimes, and Mr.. MUIR
free realized the situation with remarkable
speed, and being on his mettle, determined not
to be made a fool of.
Knocking Mrs. Murfree's jewel-case from the
dresser as he fed, he rushed out of the room
pell-mell, 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 flew down the front stairs, and banged
the front door open and shut.
Then he painted breathlessly up again. sink
ing 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, excit.
eddy, half helping, half dragging him into the
room.
"Gone," he managed to say; knocked him
ouar-ont awav-fron d0Or--see there ~ nOnt.