The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-18
THE falling Of your club aroused

| me.
From Sleep"
Perhaps"
! Matte AMI her mother scOc arrived
on the scene. hut Icne OF us coult
Offer solution to the mystery.
/, Daylight cane. The organ stop
were replaced. the organ relocked. an
every picture riShted. The next n'GE
Mrs. Wilters and myself were to go ol
guard. she to remain In the parlor. a.
George had done the night previously
and l in bed. rs was not quite stron;
enough yet TO remain up.
At midnight the house was agail
quiet. Mrs Wilters on guard. heart
the clock struck twelve. then one
and
| NV hair stood on end. A scream
came from the parlor. Hastily lightin:
a lamp. I beheld Mrs. Wilters standing
| in a corner. swinging the club franti
cally. and screaming.
Eleanor. what in Heavens name are
you dolng:"
You nearly frightened ne to death!
she gasped.
"I!"
What did you fire att"
had discharged the Gun anC Ii lay
smoking against the footboard. the Du
reau looking glass aavins a round hole
through 1t.
Did I fire."
did you: Mr.. Wilters. tomorrow
nig:,t Matte s.iall be on guard. and
neither you nor Your gun can friShten
herr
Great Heaven. sce!'
Every picture was again turned to-
ward the wall and the crgan was
open.
Eleanor, what mystery Is this:"
NY wife was speechless. Just at that
moment George and Matte appeared.
Father, We will try 1t tomorrow
night. and failing. we'll call in the po.
lice to watch for u.s." George said.
when the situation had been ex.
p,ailed.
And 50 once ore the pictures were
turned back.
81 prefer q revolver to a club" Mat.
tie said stoutly.
Thus armed we again awaited events.
Singular that I should hear the clock
striking every Eight toward morning!
But so 1t was. 1t struck twelve, then
one. then two. and
leaped from bed. Matte was firing
her revolver rapidly. the light reveal.
ing her In an attitude of despair.
We'll. Matte. what have you hit?'
"Nothing" she said doggedly. throw
inc her s.noking revolver into cor
ner.
"Oh, yes you have! You've shot
four holes through my new oil paint
ins. costing five hundred dollars. One
hole in the perspective. one In the
background. two through the noun.
tain. Good! Just one hundred and
twenty-five dollars shot Matte.
you'll do"
As We came back to q normal coa.
dition Of mind we found that the pic.
lures had been reversed as before.
ut Is terriblew said Matte.
"But why did you shoot?"
Il heard footsteps
"Whose!
II do not know"
Leave me to watch tomorrow
night. said my wife. determinedly.
We'll and good; We will" l an.
swered.
When the fatal hour came Mrs. VIII.
ters commanded:
Mfr. Wilters. you viii. now retire as
usual"
l retired gun In hand.
"George-Mattie-yOur father has
gone to bed. Come"
The three left the room. going to the
spare chambers above. What it meant
had no means CT knowing at the time.
but 1t all came out afterward. When
fell asleep they returned to the sitting
roo; each holding n revolver and u
dal.. 'antern- Mrs. Wllters was ut the
head Of the undertaking, her idea be-
ing to fash the bulls eyes full upon the
parlor adjoining at the slightest noise.
and should q person be discovered
tamperlng with the organ or pictures.
to shoot him.
As usual I heard the clock strike
twelve. one. two. and The next
knew the parlor was suddenly illum.
mated. and crack! crack! crack! went
the three revolvers. They had sur
prised the man In the very act Of dis.
placing the pictures. and after firing
excitedly. rushed into the room.
Great Heavens" cried my wife.
falnting and falling.
Are you hurt:" gasped George.
I'VE have shot father" screamed
Matte. springing forward and clasping
me In her arms.
Matters were soon righted. but II
my bold warriors had not been too
badly frightened TO shoot straight I
should not be telling this story. 1t
is all explained by the fact that was
somnambulist. and did these things
In my sleep.-Waver!ey.