Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-25
A WOUNDED AMAZON.
WAS HE A COWARD?

tiers as they walked into the house from
the garden, 81 do wish Harry were not
such a coward. -
"Are you quite sure that your hus-
band is one?''
'sWell, last night thought I heard
burglars III the house, and do you know
positively believe he was afraid to 20
down stairs. -
Didn't he go?''
"No; he insisted that it was only the
cat and refused to get up
"And did it happen to be thieves,
after all?l
"Oh, no. As matter of fact, it was
the cat, as he suggested But l think it
would have been more manly if he had
gone, don't your
perhaps as he was convinced that it
was the cat it was not necessary
"Still l admire pluck in a man, and
I shan't have nearly SO much confidence
in Harry's bravery as I once had Now,
I want you to do me a great favor. Will
you promise?'
Anything in reason, my dear Kate. ~
"Well, I want you to play the bur-
glar tonight. l will give you the key to
the back door, and you must come in
between l and 2 O'Clock and put the
lower part Of the house in disorder, just
as if thieves had broken in and ran
sacked the place. %
''But suppose Harry hears me?"
II shall, Of course, see that he does.
But am sure we shall FIND that he will
be afraid to stir out of his room"
''Yet, if you should be mistaken, it
would be rather awkward for me. He
is powerful man. -
81 assure you it is perfectly safe,
George If Harry shows any disposition
to go down stairs, have only to insist
on his staying to protect me, and he is
certain to allow himself to be persuad-
ed"
"Might he not fire at me out of the
Window"
''There isn't such thing as arevolv-
Ell OF gun in the house. "
VERY we'll, Kate, will do as you
wish, but you must not blame me if
anything goes wrong"
ooh, it's so good of you, George. We
shall just see what Harry is made OF.
It will be such fun too. By the way,
Harry ought to be home before now.
Let US stroll down the road to meet
him. AS they passed out Of the house
Harry Filters rose from the high back
ed chair at the other end of the room,
where he was doing when they first en-
tered and from which place of conceal
ment he had heard, with great amuse-
oo1,f for, 1o
man-the whole conversation.
ga pretty little plot, Mrs. Flittersr'
he said to himself, with a laugh. "It
will, as you say, be such fun!'''
''Harry! HarryI'
"Ye-yes, DEAR What is it?''
ST am sure there's a burglar in the
house"
Listen! Yes, by Jove, you're right
this time. Keep quiet while put some
thing on. I'll make it hot for him. -
Harry, believe there are at least
three of them!"
"As long as they don't exceed that
number don't mind % ,...------.-..-
''But, Harry, they are sure to be well
armedr'
ST must take my chance about that. F"
Mr.. Filters was now moving toward
the door, and his wife realized that he
''meant business. -
"You mustn't endanger your life,
Harry! Harry, insist on your not go
ing. You will not desert your wife in
the hour of danger! Come back, Harry!'
But he had slipped out of the room
and closed the bedroom door, turning
the key on the outside, where he had
placed it few hours before.
Mrs Filters ratified the handle Of
the door and shrieked to her husband to
come back But there was determination
in his eye, and he went boldly forward
to meet the enemy.
Soon there was the most terrible up
roar in the kitchen, and the night air
was made hideous with the sound of the
smashing Of china and glass, of the
shouting of mems voices and of the
breaking of chairs and tables
Mrs. Filters stood in her room terri
fed and horror stricken. They would
kill one another! Why had she been so
foolish?
tits all over, Kate. Strike light.
Let me wash off some of the stains Of
the battle -
ooh, Harry, what has happenedr''
"a good deal, I am afraid, during the
last 10 minutes.
''Good heavens, there's blood on your
hands!''
eyes, it has been distributed pretty
freely down stairs. The painters and
paper hangers had better come in tomor
row. We shall be prosecuted for keep
ing unlicensed shambles. "
SIT was only one MANI"
''That is all, but he got the share of
three"
ssCould yoR see what he was like,
Ha1ry?''
sNo, but can imagine what he re-
sembles at the present moment
''But, Harry, dear, is he badly hurt?
I am SO frightened.
"Wel, 4 think they'll pull him
throughrwhanhe gets to the hospital. -
IT hope you haven't permanently in
jured him."
81 think not, but have permanently
instructed him in the wisdom Of keep
ing his hands off other peoples property.
sprang on him like a tiger, and before
he could utter q word he had been all
over the kitchen-under the table, into
the CRATE, among the pots and kettles
beneath the dresser-everywhere! He
ought to know his way around next
time. As for the crockery, don't be-
lieye there is awhole piece left We adj
journed to the scullery, where ] cleaned
the sink with him and kicked him out
of the door through the glass window Of
the conservatory"
sob, Harry! How could you be so
cruel? think you are a brute!'
f'Well, if that isn't rich! The other
dav YOU called me coward for not 60
inc down stairs in the middle of the
NIGHT to kick the cat. Now am brute
for attacking burglar empty handedr'
81 certainly think you ought to have
asked him who he was and what he was
doing there and to have given him an
opportunity Of explaining"
nFiddlesticks! While was waiting
for. his visiting card he might have