The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-07-29
See here. Landlady was married
oeiore she ever married Mr.. Copper"
"Was she?" asked.

| Was she?'' l asked,
II ask you," said he.
wen, ! don't know. said I. "Sh,
was Mrs. Copper when first saw her !,
-" ID m'' said he. "Weu. if she wa
divorced from what's his name. wba
may have been the cause?''
nave you heard she wasp" asked
No" replied Spriggins. "No-
oRly she made the remark, first hus
nand'' yesterday. DO you remembe
any case in court - What t's-a-nam,
against What s-a-name, that might hay,
been landlady'sp''
eff could tell what YOU were dr;v
ing at,' said l, "I might be able to an
swer you.'' '''-
Well," said Spriggins, "here's ,
woman--nobody knows her first hus
oand. dono-I dono. Curious, um o.
I" Perhaps my grandmother may
know l said. beginning to feel sure
mat opIrIggins, whose occupation coulG
never discover. was a private detective
| II It's important. I'll ASK
Well, responded Spriggins, ssmighi
oe-again it mightn't. Ask, do; kind
The result of my inquiries was that
soon found myself able to mention tc
Sprlggins that Mrs. Copper had been a
hrs. Mapes, whose husband was mate
OF an ocean vessel lost ut sea in the firsl
year of her marriage.
When l told Spriggins this news. he
said; "well, that's settled toor' And
was certain he was a detective. I BEGAN
to be interested, but he was very close.
he asked questions but answered none.
One day he met me; he had evidently
been waiting for me some time, and
taking me by the cuff, said:
"See here, Perkins, does landlady
owe much in the neighborhoodp"
s"Net to my knowledge said I.
"Um! You mightn't know" said he.
copper leave her anything?''
1.-The house, l believe said l, .'and
l think enough to keep her from want.
grandmother says so"
Might have spent it, though . said
he. "Well, look here. Ever hear OF
any falling out with Copper-reproach-
ing him with not doing well enough by
herP Anything O. that sort?''
Never said l. ee--.
Grandmother likely to "a heard il
twas so, said Spriggins. . 4-
81 should judge so,'' said l.
"Well, that's settled, them" said he.
"Know her dentistg's :a{s3 ST :.
&c Yes; think Pve met her at G.'s,"
said I. ''
. The next day saw him coming out
OF G.'s, and what he said to me this
time was:
,..s Now look here; Perkins Ifgyou,
should hear anything curious about
landlady's past life, you tell me. Some
thing depends on it.
6 It's not likely; butsif Iade I'll men,
ton it, said |. And my curiosity be-
ing excited, / asked my female rela,.
tlons SO many questions about Mrs.
Copper that they soon began to accuse
me OF having fallen in love with her.
However, in the end Imade discovery.
As soon as L heard what am about to
tell you, fancied that l had clew to
Spriggins' conduct; that his suspicious
rested not on Mrs. Copper but on some
OF her boarders. Some young man who
had been robbing his employer, per-
haps; for my idea that Spriggins was a
detective had now become fixed belief.
Accordingly, ON returning from So
journ in the country, where had heard
this news, [ sought Spriggins out.
found him in the lunch room where /
knew he usually dined, and came be-
hind him and said:
"Spriggins, I've got something for
you at last 2xF ~ eel
"'Bout whatp" asked spriggins, put
ting down his, fork. .. -s,lN5..,s.1sz
Mrs. Copper" said 1.
UmP" asked Spriggihs. 'Eh?"
Well, it may show you where the
land lies," said I. '' One of your board
ers has gone up wheregpve been on; the
Sound, and she's been going on about
it. She says Mrs. Copper is in pretty
desperate position"
..Owe money?nh he asked turning
white.
"No," said I, "worse than that.
She's engaged to one of her boarders. |
Meets him round the corner and goes to |
with him. Lets him court her
n the back parlor. In fact, going to
De fool enough to marry him. An ugly
fellow the young lady says. /
She can't remember his name, but he's
! worthless creature, hasn't paid his
BOARD since he came and is going to
marry woman years older than him
elf for home. l say, Spriggins, if I
you can stop it do Arrest the fellow,
f that's what you're after, save the
Door old SOUL"
Spriggins was as red now as he had
,een pale before. He eestood up reached
lown his hat, banged it on the back OF |.
lis head where he always wore it, re-
marked: ;yss ,,-,...s as~gr
"Cuss your impudence," and stalked
nut OF the restaurant.
"He has gone crazy at last" thought;
'ut the eallI made on my grandmother
hat evening cleared the matter up!
Edward, who do you think is mar
ied?" asked grandmamma.
swell, tell me,'' asked.
Mrs. Copper said grandmamma.
She's married a gentleman named
priggins one of her boarders,"
So that was settled, as Spriggins
Tould have said. He was not a detec-
i've, he was only endeavoring to dis
over his chances of happiness with his
lture wife. Naturally we have never
pok an tn each other since M17.1J R,ile