The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-01-20
he reflected the intruder's foot came into
contact with a stool. The colonel hes.


downward. Then, swiftly seizing his
wrists, he held them in II grip of iron,
twisted the arms upward and sat down
on his back.
The burglar struggled. evidently striv-
ing to free one hand to use his knife.
but the colonel was now fighting for his
life. His clutch Of the wrists did not re-
lax. When the struggle grew weaker
and Pitblado had got back his breath he
Kissed:
You villain. If you don't keep your
hands still. I'll drive my knife through
your vitals. One motion and you are a
dead man"
The burglar made no reply. Hepanted.
and sounds came from him which to
Riblado's ear sounded strangely like Il
sob. The colonel derived n qualified
satisfaction from his stiffness. If he had
dared to loose his clutch of the fellows
wrists he would have tried to throttle
him. but the danger of a stab in the side
if he moved his hands to the burglars
throat was too obvious.
He thought of shouting for help. But
that would have betrayed his presence
in C~onstance's drawing room after the
lights were out and when her uncle was
in bed. He would rather risk the knife
than compromise her. He supposed that
she had fled upstairs, whereas in fact
she was in a dead faint on the sofa.
What was be to do? Was he to stay
sitting on that burglar all night?
Whi1a ho rnpc,rLa1 bic k,,ip for ~,
%expedient. a deep groan came from the
man under him. The burglar gasped
and at last muttered:
IF you'll let me up I'll show you
Yes. | dare say" said Pithlado,
you'll show US lots of things. That
cock won't fight. It's | that am going
to show you the door of the other world"
The colonel could feel Il culver go
through the frame IN which he sat. The
burglar went on:
''Tll show you
Haven't l told you that | am going to
do all the showing in this menagerie!"
"If you'll only lift your weight off my
lungs SO | can breathe."sa the burglar
You'd make use of your breath to
drive a knife into me. wouldn't you?
Not much. I'm just thinking how | shall
kill you so as not to ruin the carpet
"Oh! oh! OH" came from the PROSTATE
body.
What an unreasonable fellow YOU
are!' said the colonel: here I've let you
live for ever so many minutes while
have been studying how to put you to
death"
Spare my life" gurgled the burglar
why should r.
"Tll-Il show you where the silver
You'll show me-" repeated the colo
mel, puzzled.
''Oh. | see" said Pitblado; you want
to divide. 1t won't do"
What more do you want"
Il don't intend" said the colonel, that
you shall have a single spoon"
Take them all: take them all. Only
let me keep Comics christening cup"
"By George" muttered Pitblado.
a burglar"
1t had by this time become manifest
to the colonel that the situation could
not be prolonged forever. He could not
sit on that burglars back till morning
the tension Of the muscles of his arms
was weakening. He must somehow get
him to the nearest police station. If he
only had a ray of light!
At that moment a faint groan came
from the sofa.
by the Lord" muttered the colonel.
hes got an accomplish"
Another sound from the sofa and Pit
blado saw that time was up. The new
conner might at any moment rush to the
rescue of his accomplish. Pitblado had
noticed a poker and shovel in front Of
the drawing room CRATE. With a sudden
spring he regained his feet, let the bur
glar go. leaped to the CRATE and seized
the poker.
A wild shrek came from the sofa and
simultaneously the colonel struck a
match. By it's flare he saw to his amaze
ment Connie sitting upon the sofa and
the burglar lying motionless on the floor.
Had he killed the scoundrel?
Another match lit the gas and Connie
sprang to the burglar, took his head in
her arms and screamed to Pitblado:
You have killed my uncle"
Your uncle? Why, that's tine bur-
glar."
Its my uncle. and you have choked
him to death. He's insensible. Oh.
help me to bring him to-"
The PROSTATE man revived. and. seq
ing Connie, muttered:
"Let him take all the silver, Connie.
except your christening cup. If he will
spare our lives. we'll not prosecute"
1t did not take long to get MI. Tim
minis upon the sofa, and. as he was not
hurt, a glass Of rum. administered by
the tender hands of Connie, restored him
to his senses. His mind was still con-
fused. He murmured:
Il have had a narrow escape, my poor
Constance; seemed to hear a noise in
this Don and stepped in, when a man
of gigantic strength leaped on me, and
was about to kill me when you must
have appeared and frightened him
away"