Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-09

IgsBuRGLAR rRoNswEDEH

Now, Mile, you won't be afraid to
stay here alone, will you?" my aunt
asked me the morning she and my I'M
Gle were to start for few days trip
to the country.
Afraid? afraid of what?" | asked,
with little tinge of scorn. l, Mil
dred Colburn. IS years old, afraid to
stay in that big house in the city,
where people were passing at all
times, day and night?
II didn't exactly mean afraid" con.
tinued my aunt, attempting to modify
her first statement, II didn't mean
that; only l thought you might be
lonesome. just a little, as you have
never been left alone before. Anyhow,
It you do feel lonesome, you might
ask Edna Grover (who lived just
across the way) to come over and stay
with you nights"
Then they went on their, trip. The
remainder of the day did seem rather
long, as | had no one in the house
with whom ! could talk, except The.
reese, the Swede servant, and her Eng
fish was not of the best. Yes, | was
lonesome, but as to being afraid, that
thought was farthest from my mind.
| tried to busy myself by drawing
and piano practice, but as the even
ing shadows began to fall | thought
more than once that Edna wouldn't
be very bad company after all. And
she came. After that it was more
cheerful and by bedtime we were in
quite a jolly mood. hadn't said any,
thing to her about being afraid, but
just as we were locking the doors and
windows for the night she said.
"Nlillis" what if burglars should
break in here tonight?"
81 don't believe they will" replied;
but If they do, l am prepared for
them
80 am l." she responded, where
upon she pulled from her handbag an
old horse pistol that had evidently
seen its best days during the revolu.
ton.
What are you going to do with
thisY | asked, taking the old weapon
and examining its rusty barrel and
quantity carved handle, more in curl
osity than to discover if it could be
used in an emergency.
swell, I brought it thinking we
could use it to brighten away any one
who might come" she said. "and then,
too, you know, there have been several
burglaries in this section lately" Her
innocent manner of telling what that
great numbering. rusty, useless old
horse pistol would do set me to laugh.
ing, and just threw myself on the
couch near by and laughed until my
sides ached, But after it was over the
serious side came to me, There had
been burglaries, and our house might
be the next one. What if the burglars
should come? Therese wouldn't be
much of protector, because she was
woman. too, and slept up another
flight, and burglars begin at the bot
tom.
Then I armed myself. brought
forth modern revolver belonging to
my uncle. II had never been loaded to
my knowledge, and had been in the
family several years, and | thought
with these weapons would be able to
repel burglars, however formidable an
array might be pitted against us.
When we retired Edna put the old
horse pistol under her pillow and the
modern revolver under mine. The club
lay on the outside of the bed between
us, where the first to need it might
reach it. We lay and talked as girls
will, until long past midnight. The
street lights went out and left us in
darkness, and still we talked. We had
forgotten the empty house and pros
pective burglars.
Finally there came lull in our con-
versaton We were getting sleepy,
and just as we were mentally deciding
to curl down for the remainder of the
night Edna exclaimed.
"Millie, did you hear that?"
| did hear it, and would have asked
her the same question only she asked
it first. My heart was Immediately in
my mouth, and presume hers was.
The noise we had heard was creals,
as IT heavy person was ascending The
front stairs This was Immediately
followed by rattle Of paper, and
imagined some one was in the hall be.
low and had stepped on The evening
paper which had not picked from the
floor where threw it when the boy
brought it.
Neither OF us spoke for full min
ute, and then came that creaking
sound again, and this time it sounded
three or four steps nearer and consid.
erably louder. I was beginning to get
thoroughly frightened, and reached
for the revolver and club, while Edna
numbered her antique section Of ar
tillery. The suspense was awful, and
! couldn't stand It longer, as the
creaking and rafting continued, so
mastering my courage to top pitch
and assuming masculine voice /
asked:
who's there, and what do You
want?'
Even in our fright my attempt at
mascuhnity set Edna laughing, and
she was obliged to stuff the corner
Of the pillow in her mouth to keep
from frightening our nocturnal visitor
away before we had seen him. Then