La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-07-09
staircase. a.sermined o .nnihil..e the

staircase. determined o annihilats the
thief
moment They stopped and listened
Wash thought he heard the burglar in
the parlor. Simpson felt sure the rascal
wns in the dining room focketing the
spoons So. while Wash trod noiselessly
froptward. Simpson stepped stealthily
to the rear. Midway in the hall they
came into collision. Each felt perfectly
certain that the other was the burglar.
Wash grappled with his antagonist
instantly. Simpson knew that death
struggle had begun, so he took hold
with all his might Neither lad =
chance to draw his weapons
Wash strove to throw his burglar
down. and Simpson. perceiving the
game, made u huge effort to prostrate
Wash. They pushed and pulled and
Jerked and showed and painted, humping
up against the wall, kicking up the car
pet and making such q hubbub that Mira
Simpson. up stairs in her room and
afraid to come out. lifted up her voice
and screamed with awful vehemence.
After fearful and desperate strug-
gle, during which Wash had his coat
torn to rags and couple of handfuls Of
hair pulled out and Simpson had his
nose jsmmed against chair until it
felt as if it had swelled to the size Of a
watermelon, Wash let go a moment to
get his breath
Thereupon Simpson made q rush for
the front stairs quietly in tie dark. and
Wash, pretty well scared and tired Of
war. dashed off up the k.ck stairs, re-
solved to go and see WY Simpson didn Z
out.
As Simpson got to the landing he saw
Wash's form by the dim light from the
bathroom in the back entry
who's that?" shouted Simpson,
nervouslV feeling for his revolver
"Me-Wash. replied the brother
in-law.
Simpson went up tu fim and said:
Thunder and lightning. Wash |
Why didn't you come down sooner?''
'.Sooner! Why, where've you beenl
I've had the most awful time you ever
heard Of"
"So'veI, replied Simpson. There's
q burglar in the house. and I've been
tearing him to pieces.
lyon don't say so? Why. my gra-
cious, I've had fight with one, too. and
think / laid him out!''
"You did? Where?''
"Why, down stairs there. in the front
entry"
mot in the entry, you don't mean?n
eyes" said Wash, "in the entry.
Nearly banged the head of of him.
Where was your mani"
"Why, in the entry too. Queer I
didn': hear you-
'It is queer" replied Wash. "be-
cause ! hammered his nose against q
chair until IL must be mashed fiat. -
"Whose nose:"
"The burglars And he tore my coat
to rags and pretty yearly scalped me. -
"Who did?'
"The burglar.
Simpson was silent a minute and
then he said:
''Come here to the light
They entered the bathroom, and Wash
looked at Simpson and Simpson looked
at Wash.
WashE said sampson.
"What?' said Wash.
"Wash, you're the biggest idiot in
the state. Hang me II don't believe
you've been fighting with me! Look at
my nose!"
''Noi You don't say? Did You pull
out your burglars hair and splinter up
his coat?''
II am afraid I did, said Simpson.
Mr.. Simpson, y said Wash calmly
III there Is q bigger ass on the CONT
nent than j am, think can lay my
hand on the man-a party by the name
Of Jim Simpson
Just at this juncture Mrs Simpson
few from her room down the hallway
and into the bathroom, where abe fell
on her knees and ciasped her hands and
Ghrieked:
"Save me. Jamesi Oh. save me,
Washington, save me! Don't let me be
murderedi Don'tl Don't. oh, don't!'
Simpson looked sheepishly at Wash
then. without saying word. he seized
ArA simpson By the arm, ran her over
y