The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-08-02
HANSON & EMERSON.

us OIu IrlenQ were DISCUSSING some
particularly exciting college scrimmage
that had taken place Is years back the
telephone bell rang, and a woman's
voice begged to speak to Mr.. TrumbuIL
He went to. the phone.
lis that you. GertrudeT
yes. John. And won't you come
home, please? I let Sadie take baby
over to your mothers. and everybody
In the building is out, and I'm having
the fdgets. 1 don't know what I'm
scared about, but I'm just nervous"
"AH right, DEAR" said John, and
home be went, not stopping long
enough to finish up the recoIlections Of
the college fight.
At home he found his wife sitting
curled up on a little settee looking
very much as she had looked when
five years before he had begged and en-
treated and kissed her into saying
"Yes." She was twisting her hand
kerchief lJto little wads and ropes,
and he knsw by that that she was dis
tracted ali Jut something.
Il know you think I'm a silly to feel
this way when it's not even twilight
yet. But 1 know positively that some
body tried the kitchen windows while
was lying down, and l just couldn't
get over it I always was afraid of
burglars and ghosts" And then she
had a nervous chill
John said nothing. He took out
copy of Spencer and lighted a cigar.
After a time the baby was brought
home and put to bed. Mrs. TrumbuIl
had recovered from her nervousness
and was peeking out from behind a
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 fat opposite
telling the occupants Ct that place that
she was unable to get into the house.
Il can't turn the key, and if you
don't mind, mann, I'll go through your
window"
= The people didn't mind at all They
even held the girls parasol and pocket
window sill to the other. ~.
Then came a crash. 1t was terrific
crash. Had the girl fallen into the
court? 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. TrumbulI wait
ed half a second, then stuck her head
out of the window and v it'll the help
of half a dozen other feminine voices
called: MARY! Mary! What's the mat
teri?
The reply was volley of sobs and
squeals winding up with. 1.-The fats
been robbedr'
Mr.. Trumbu1 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
hands were busy with each other. She
curled up on the divan and looked at
her husband
"John, what do you think? The
Smiths fiat has been robbed, and
there's hardly scrap of anything left.
They came through the kitchen win
dow. They even took some Persian
rugs and Mrs. Smiths sealskin. And
the silver's all gone. and the house
oh, you just should see 1t! It's knee
deep with the things that they've pull
ed out of the dressers and wardrobes."
John continued to read his Spencer.
THAT'S too bad" he said.
Silence of five minutes.
"John," she spoke very softly.
"YesY' he asked, not looking up from
Spencer.
"John, do you know I'd just be
scared stiff if you weren't herew
John smiled sadly.
"You won't go off on that hunting
trip, will your"
"WeII-Il-II," he drawled uncertainty.
81 just won't let you, now. They
might come In and cake my old candle
stick or the baby or my grandmothers
set Of china. And-Pm not bit afraid
when you're here-honest, Pm not"
Johns chest sweIled up. This was
something new. He threw Spencer on
the floor and went and looked at his
revolver Then he tried the dining
room windows. After that he threw
his arms out and doubled them up to
see IL his muscle swelled up as It did
when he was lad at school.
He walked back and forth through
their bit of fiat and held his head
up high. Then he sat down beside that
little tyrant of a wife and looked her
In the eyes.
She giggled Historically and ran her
fingers across his mustache, Just as she
used to do when poor John was 50 era
w 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, II never
knew before that there was any place
for me in this house, that filed any
want here. But now find that am
useful. that I am o burglar scarer.