The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-02-03

btOOltlAS b6oA0 VI
He was evidently searching the upper
drawer, and Mr.. Murfree gasped for joy
as he distinguished on the top of the cab
met to the right of the glass the missing
revolver.
IF | can only reach him." eaid Mr,
Murfree to himself, Jump on him as he
is bending over, and secure the revolver
before he RECEIVERS himself-it's u good
plan and the only one. I'm getting kind
Of riled; | don't believe I'm such a cow
ard after all"
With a mighty effort he braced him
self and advanced cautiously. keeping
his eyes on the bent figure.
In the uncertain light the man looked
unnaturally large and heavy, and seemed
each second to be on the point of rising.
Indeed, as Mr.. Murfree reached the zen
ter table he thought all was over. and
shrank down behind it despairingly.
But fortune was kind; the burglar still
searched busily, and Mr.. Murfree, gath
ering himself for a grand effort and
nerved to tie point of desperation, MAIDS
Il flying leap, and landing with terrific
ro'ce upon the burglars shoulders
.,tabbed the revolver. yelling. Police!
thieves! OH
Over he went, bumpety bump, and as
he found himself PROSTATE on the floor,
with a chairand something soft and thick
over him, he finished his exclamation
with - t!'
''Oh, Ulysses! Ulysses" screamed Mrs.
Murfree, tangling herself up in the bed
clothes in her efforts to rise. Help!
Where are your
Mr.. Murfree was Oh his feet in q 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 a
STOPPING figure.
Men think quickly sometimes, and MIR.
Murfree realized the situation with re-
markable speed, and being Oh his met
tie 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 pellmell, stepping III the
cat, the author of the mysterious noises
that had first awakened him.
With a 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,
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; knocked
him over-got a~way-front door-see
there%' pointing to the iewelry strewn
around the floor,
Mrs. Murfree gave Il 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.
He was too weak to hold her, and besides
he felt a fiendish e%xultation in glorying
in his superior strength Of mind, so when
she recovered he was picking up the
c~leverly scattered trinkets with as bored
an air as he could ssume.
'FWhat are YOU scared OFF, he said
scornfully. :'Man's gone; I'm here; !
rather think l have protected you even
if | am a 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 a few drops Of blood
trickling from a 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.
Vertically the tables were turned.
Mrs. Murfree looked at him a moment
in a 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.
"Tl never say such mean things
again." she sobbed, "never, never"
'tThere, 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 | will
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 a 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 q more ac-
commodating shape. ooh, Ulysses. III
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 mouth and
shook convulsively.
whats the matter, dearY' cried his
wife. Whats the matter, Uly:"
AS soon as he could speak he NUT
tered, "Only a ~chill-don't bother about