The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
SCARED ALMOST
To DEATH
That's WhOt hGighbOr Stebbens'
Wife Was
Further Particulars Below

Mrs. Ezra Stebbins has been through a
experience last week that has kept her
a-taillin and a-vlsitin the nabcrs ever
sinst IL happened and she amt got over
the skare yet
While we was IN the middle OF runnln
off the Bugle last week. with the ink so
blamed cold we could hardly run the
roller through IT, Sam Winters Oldest boy
come rushin into our up-to-date job
/ printin offise and fell over hod Of ashes
we had agin the door 20 keep It shetland
/ told US all erbout It and wanted US to
stop and put the news in last week s
/ Bugle. We calkilated this week would
/ do jest as well, so here it Is.
! Il seems that Ezra Stebbins' boy had
/ a cousin from the Co seat a-vissitin him.
and fIndin things kinder dull he suggest
/ ed to Eben (Ezra's bOyl that they do
| something to make a little excitement
and he told Eben to pinch Bill Hen
shaw's pants and have some fun. Eben
! sed no not while Bill was in them Then
his cousin he told Eben that he ment
the ones that was hanging out on the
close line and for him to get them and
bring them To him. Eben was kindO
skeered to do this because only last week
he went up stairs into the open attic
huntin for a wasp nest and slipt often
rafter and fell through the plasterin into
the kitchen on top Of pan Of raised bis
cults his mother had jest baked. and got
the aufiredest trOuncin ne ever had in
his life; but finally he snuk up and stole
the pants often the line and give them
to bis cousin. who stuffed them fun OF
straw and put them in Mrs Stebbins'
barn About a hour later Mrs. StebbiDs
went to the pantry to get her aimanack
and almost tainted when she saw the fig
ger OF man stOOpin Outen the winder
as if tryin TO escape Mrs. Stebbins give
one look and a horrible scream and rund
outen the house through the back door
ker-slap into Ezra who was bringin in
pail Of worter from the pump. and the
next minnit they was both a-rollin often
the porch into the snow, clawin round
like couple Of cats. Ezra was turrible
surprised and mad clean through and
when he got his breth he desired 10 know
whot she ment by assault and battery on
mis- own premises, and told Mrs Stebbins
II she was a man he'd square off and
knock her where the snow was mighty
scarce artikei. When she got ouieted
down some she told Ezra whot she was
for, and then Ezra he sed he aIIus
was a man for peace and quiet and thort
this was g job for Seth Dewberry, our
heroick town constable, TO look up. an6
he gessed he wouldn't interfere. and let !
the law take its course. With that they |
started for Seth's house and made the !
trip in three minnits. which is purity good /
time consideTin how deep the snow Is |
But Seth wasn't TO home so they went /
to Bill Hepburn's blacksmith shop and |
told Bill all erbout 1t. After Bill had |
heard the story he hemmed and hawed a |
spell and went to the back Of his work /
shop where he shods oxen and got a slug
to help ketch the burglar with
After the two boys saw Ezra and his /
wife start for the square they went into /
the house and took away every vestage
Of the cOntTapshion and hid theirselfs
down reller and leffed till they was fiji /
to bust.
II a short time the news spread like
wildfire and a possey Q: brave citizens
led by Bill Hepburn started for the sene
Of the disaster. When they arrived at
the house Bill he went ahead and looked
1p to the pantry winder and hollered
back he didn't see nothin and for the
others to come on and look into the other
winders- After loolin in ali the winders
and seefn nothin but the family cat asleep
Bill went into the house while the rest of
The possey waite0 outside with baited