The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-07


for any more, for she weighed 200
pounds, and he'd have been squashed
at the first step.
"I shall keep my eye on him.
said Mrs. Smith, and I'll tell Mr. Smith
to do 30. I'll step in tomorrow and tell
him our views about magnetism.
wonder If he's ever tried magnetism
Poor gentleman said Mrs. Jer-
rup. How he Is afflicted, to be sure.
I've had neuralgia myself, and know.
He ought to go to the Sulphur Springs;
that is what cured me. shall tell him
So
land shall pray for him. said
Rev. Mr.. Spicers widow. And I shall
take him my late husbands excellent
tract, on the uses OF Affiiction," to-
morrow.
"And I wouldn't mind reading the
Bible to him one Bit said Miss Annie
Spicer, If he liked it,
How you express yourself said
her mother. You should determine to
do so whether he liked it or not, and
you should rejoice to do it. Wouldn't
mind, indeed
Then we went to bed. There was a
light in his room still, and l called
through the keyhole Che slept in his
reclining chair: Mr.. Bolter, are you
comfortable for the night? and he
answered:
Thank you, ma'am, I am. I am
having an hour in meditation
Excuse me for interrupting you,'
says /.
"'oh, not at all, says he, and away
l went; and I went to sleep thinking
how glad l was, with all my troubles,
l was not an invalid.
I guess it was about o'clock when
walked up with noise Of bursting in
my ears, and there was a light in the
room. It was queer light, bright
all in one spot, and thought, thougl.
don't believe in 'em, it was a ghost.
And says I, out loud: oh, Lord!' and
covered my head with the sheet.
hadn't had it covered but a minute
though, when felt big hand on my
throat and just the toughest voice
ever heard growled in my ear:
Now, old lady, be sensible. /
amt goin' to hurt you If you're quiet.
Keep your head covered and lay still.
I've got six-shooter here, and If you
screech, fire.
Are you a burglar?' says I.
Form your own conclusions, says
he, only don't shrek. I shouldn't
want to live If was an old woman,
but p'aps you do
We'll, 1 kinder wondered what for
myself, but I did, and laid still and
only shrunk inwardly.
After a while there was no more
poking at the bureau and rattling in
the closet; and then I heard creaking
all over the house and a shrek some
where, and I didn't know but there
was murder done; and 1 thought of my |
poor invalid, and if he was in that
wretch's hands, poor man, and |
thought over all the stories I'd ever
read of dreadful tragedies, and I felt |
for all my boarders, but most of all
for the poor invalid that couldn't help
but it wasn't until all was
quiet as the grave that dared sit I'D.
and then it was daylight. And then
courage came to me, and l put my head /
put of the window and shrieked. No
body heard me at first, but at last
here were two policemen, with their
clubs, and then l put on my waterproof
md went down stairs.
You've been robbed, that's plain,
said the policeman; but is anybody
lurt?'
Murdered in their beds, I've no
loubt, says I. And thought it must
'e so; but it was better than that.
Some were gagged and some were
led, and dear little Mr.. Becker was
oiled up in blanket, like a rollypoly
and pinned in And diamonds
md clothes and everything was gone.
'oor dears. And even the Indian idol
rom Mrs. Smiths mantelpiece. And
Is for me, l hadn't a spoon left. and
lothing to put on but the waterproof
loak. But nothing dreadful had ham
ened except to the invalid gentleman.
lie had disappeared.
They've murdered him. says I.
They've carried him off for a ran
ON, says Mrs. Squizzle. The Italians
% that, you know {
Maybe he's thrown himself out Of ,
he window in fright says Mrs. !
mith.
There we all stood, mostly in blan- !
ets and such, and made suggestions.
, for one, knew l should find him
own cellar, weltering in his gore.
What did you say? Did we? Oh, no.