El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-25


Eyes" She was twisting her hand
kerchief into little wads and ropes.
and he knew by that that she was dis
tracted about something.
Il know you think I'm 4 silly to feel
this way when IT'S not even twilight
yet. But l know positively that some
body tried the kitchen windows while l
was lying down, and ] just couldn't
get over it 7 always was afraid OF
burglars and ghosts And then she
had a nervous chill.
John said nothing. He took out a
copy of Spencer and lighted a cigar.
After n time the baby was brought
home and put to bed. Mrs. Trumbull
had recovered from her nervousness
and was peekins out from behind
window shade listening to a converse
ton that was going on in the court
The servant employed by the family
in the apartment just below the Trum-
bulls abode was in the fiat opposite
telling the occupants of that place that
she was unable to get into the house.
Il can't turn the key, and if you
don't mind. nam, III go through your
window"
The people didn't mind At all They
even held the girls parasol and pocket
book while she clambered from one
window sill to the other.
Then came q crash. 1t was n terrific
crash. Had the girl fallen into the
courtI No. The sounds that came
from the door below were unlike those
heard when Hendrix Hudson played
ninepins in the Adirondacks. At that
point came a shrek. such as the stage
heroine gives vent to when the villain
gets after her with a butcher knife.
1t was sickening. Mrs. Trumbull wait
ed half second. then stuck her head
out of the window and with the help
of half dozen other feminine voices
called: MARY, Maryl WHAT'S the mat
teri"
The reply was a volley of sobs and
squeals winding up with, The flats
been robbed
Mr.. Trumbull was surprised TO see
his wife with hair streaming down her
back and hands clutching the folds of
a bath robe go Scooting through the
library out into the hall and down the
stairs.
In ten minutes she returned Her
eyes were big and black and scared.
Her teeth were chattering, and her
curied up on the divan and looked nj
her husband.
John. what 10 you think: The
Smiths Nat has been robbed. and
there's hardly scrap Of anything left.
They cam. through the kitchen win
dow. They even took some Persian
rugs AMI Mrs. Smiths ScalSkin. And
the silvcr'> all gone. AMI the house
OIL it,S il, l.
deep with the things that they've pull
ed out of the dreSscrs and wardrobeS.
John continued to read his Spencer.
''ThatS too bad" he said.
Silence of five minutes.
John" she spoke very softly.
s ''YcS2" lac asked. not looking up from
Spencer.
John, do You know I'd just bc
scared stiff if you weren't here:''
John smiled sadly.
you won't go off on that hunting
trip. will you:"
'.Wellll-ll.' he drawled uncertainty.
Il just won't let you, now. They
might come in and take my old candle
stick or the baby or my grandmother
when you're hrrc-honeSt. I'm not
Johns chest Swclled up. This was
something new He threw Spencer or
the floor ana went ana looked ut his
revolver. Then he tried the dining
room windows. After that he threw
his arms out AMI doubled them up to
see il his muscle Swelcd mp as il did
when he WAS Il lad at school.
He walked back and forth through
their bit VI HAT and held his head
up high. Then he sat down beside that
little tyrant of a wife and looked her
In the eyes.
She giSglrd Historically and ran her
fingers across his muStacfe. just as she
used To do when poor John was 81 cra-
~ with love for her that she could
have pulled out every hair of his head
and he'd never have known it
Dear John said softly, Il never
knew before that there WIS any place
for me in this house. that l filled any
want here. But now l find that | am
useful. that l am burglar Scarer
God bless the man that stole those
things down stairs. Itll be hard Oh
the Smiths, but it's a mighty fine thing
for me-
Aud they lived happy ever after or
had for Il week. as the burglary only
took place that far hack. - Chicago
Times Herald.