Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-11-06
Clutch-grasp-lay- hold-on--catch--

seize.
This was the last line that met my
gaze. laughed, threw the book or
the table and began to undress.
IF any one enters my room tonight,
I thought, as I folded up my vest and
placed 1t under the pillow, "I'll clutch
him, grasp him, lay hold on him
catch him, seize him, and yell for
help"
When I went to sleep dreamt that
I was wading up a trout stream fishing
for black bass with wad of money
for bait and that as fast as I caught
fish / was robbed of them by red
headed horse.
From the number Of fish I had
caught I judge that must have slept
two or three hours; then I found my
self suddenly awake, listening intently,
and anxiously snuffing the air. I was
certain of two things. Some one was
moving in the room, and I smelled
horse.
1t is easy to write of this thing now
In spirit of levity, but had no such
feeling as 1 lay there straining my
eyes to no purpose in the inky dark
ness, but hearing that fellow move
about the room boldly, without caution,
as though it mattered nothing to him
whether slept or Weakened.
III l move" 1 thought, "he is ready
with his knife or club to silence me
forever"
did not know whether or not he
had already taken the vest from under
my pillow and did not care just then
to investigate. I moved not muscle.
but when the first tumult Of sudden
fright had subsidized l tried to think
to reason.
II am here for my health" thought.
Now won't it be healthier to lie still
and let him take my money than to
move finger and let him take my life
what little have? How did he get
in here? All, of course! the window.
l couldn't bulge it, but he is muscular.
l should have thought Of that"
What was the man doing? The
sounds he made were exactly such as a
man makes in dressing. Heavens!
would he exchange clothes with me,
leaving his horsey old suit in the
room? He was at the washstand pour
ing out water-washing his hands. My
fright was giving way to anger at the
cool impudence of the man. Doubtless
he had on my clothes now, including
the vest, with the wad of bills in the
inside pocket Coward that I was to
lie there and let him take my prop
erty.
I hesitated no longer but sprang
from the bed and with the cry OF
"Helpw rushed with resistless fury
slam bang against the partition over
where thought the man stood.
Some one tried to open my door, then
knocked on it for admittance. Backing
toward 1t so as to guard myself from an
attack by the burglar. found the bolt
and lock and threw the door open. A
food of light filled the room; the win
dow was closed and the only persons
present were myself and my visitor-a
gentleman fully dressed, with lighted
lamp in his hand and trout basket
slung over his shoulder.
"There was burglar in my ROOM"
I began. 81 couldn't see the scoundrel.
but heard him washing his hands and
putting on my"
I stopped, for saw my clothes hang
ing where I had left them.
81 think you must have heard me
washing and dressing" said the gen
tleman, land 1 must ask you to pardon
me for disturbing you. l should have
that the walls between
these rooms are very thin"
That is my burglar story. I might
devise better ending for it If my i'm
aginative powers were equally distrib-
uted but they seem mostly to center in
my olfactory nerves. | could have
sworn that l smelled horse.
C. H. AUGUR.