The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1893-03-18
shadow before the cheval glass was the
STOPPING figure of man.

dS uc ulSllIlS SulSHeu On tNe Top OF the CAD
met to the right of the glass the missing
revolver.
"If | can only reach him. said Mr.,
Murfree to himself, Jump on him as he
is bending over. and secure the revolver
before he RECEIVERS himself-it's good
plan and the only one. I'm getting kind
of riled; don't believe I'm such IA cow
ard after ALL"
With mighty effort he braced him
self and advanced cautiously keeping
his eyes Oh 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 cen
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 IL grand effort and
nerved to the point of desperation made
a flying leap, and landing with terrific
force upon the burglars shoulders
grabbed the revolver. yelling Police,
thieves! OH
Over he went, bumpety bump and Us
he found himself PROSTATE on the floor.
with Il chair and something soft and thick
over him, he finished his exclamation
with - itr'
"Oh, Ulysses! Ulysses!'' screamed Mrs
Murfree, tangling herself up in the bed
clothes i'll her efforts to rise, Help
Where are your"
a., 20 -.
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 Mr.
markable speed, and being on his met
tie determined not to be made a 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 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 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 elner
gency, she proceeded to faint away.
Mr.. Murfree dumped her into chair
He was too weak to hold her, and besides
he felt a fiendish exultation in glorying
in his superior strength of 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 OFF, be said
scornfully. MANS gone: I'm here;
rather think | 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 a 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 is
possible with the small amount of mate
rial.
Veritably the tables were turned
Mrs. Murfree looked at him ii moment
in hysterica, 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"
"There, there" said her spouse,
up and putting Oh 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 dark corner,
returning with 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. Jenks,"
exclaimed Mrs. Murfree as she convul-
sively patted the pillow into a 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 mouth and
shook convulsively.
whats the matter, dear?' cried his
wife. What's the matter, UlyY"
AS soon as he could speak he NUT
tered, "Only chill-don't bother abont
it-guess took cold"
"Shan't | get you something hotT
asked his spouse anxiously.
Nonsense" he replied, controlling
himself with difficulty: Just go to
sleep. I'm tired"
"All right, DEAR responded she; II
do hope you won't be sick. It's very
funny, Ulysses, that the 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 Inc, if | didn't know you
had n chill | ShOuld think yOu xyara