The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-05-27
A MODERN INVENTION.
How It Came to the Rescue OF
Mrs. Bascomb.

II S@eO ~
| Mrs. Bascomb.
The telephone rang briskly in Mrs.
Howard Bascombs pleasant home,
and, stepping to it, she received this
message from her husband:
Hello! Is that you, Lottie? I've
concluded to leave for New York this
noon. The boy is on the way to the
house for my grip. You know what
I'll need for week or ten days alb
sence. Get your sister to stay with you
for company. Good-by, dear, s'long.
Take care of yourself"
Then he rung of, and Mrs. Bas-
comb went in search of the satchel,
which she packed with deft hand.
She was young woman, sensible,
well balanced, aud nothing ever dis
turbed or annoyed her to the extent of
making her fidgety or nervous. Being
in robust health, she hardly knew
what nerves meant She was self-re-
liant, but domestic, and absorbed in
her home life, which comprised her
world. She had perfect faith in her
husband, or else pretended to have,
and cheated herself comfortably with
the delusion. And she never crossed
any bridges until she came to them.
She knew that her husband had in
tended going to New York on the fol-
lowing day. and did not wonder or
ponder over his change of plans.
When the messenger came for the
satchel she sent it carefully packed.
just as she knew her husband wanted
II. She added nothing to its usual con-
tents, and subtracted nothing. Yes,
stay. She did take out his scven-shooter,
every chamber of which was loaded,
and laid it on the table under the
mirror, in the back parlor.
"Howdy has one revolver with him.
That will have to do him this trip. /
like to have one handy in case should
need it."
She smiled and smiled again without
being a villain. The idea of needing
firearms seemed so incongruous and
absurd.
In the afternoon she went up to her
home to borrow her sister," as she
expressed it. But Miss Madgie had
gone away with some young friends,
and was engaged to spend the night at
the house of a schoolmate. So Mrs.
Bascomb returned home alone.
Two men stood in the doorway of an
unused flight. of Office stairs and read
an evening paper.
They were much occupied in discuss
ing one item among the personal news.
l. was this:
''The Rubber Horseshoe company is
an assured fact Mr.. Howard Bas-
come drew sixteen thousand dollars
from the M. & NJ. bank to-day, the in
vestment of the branch company
formed here. and will leave for New
York tomorrow. A capital of eighty
thousand dollars is assured"
do y seer" CALCULATED the younger
and smaller of the two men. Drew
sixteen thousand dollars in spondulicks
Goes home with it in his vest pocket,
blow mo eff he don't"
Maybe not, pard. S'posin' it's
certified check?"
'Then there'll be a reward offered to
get it back-sec?"
"Jim, g'roun' to tn bank an find out
which and whether it were," suggest
ed the older man.
Bank clussed," remarked Jim, sen
tentiously
''S'pose it air. Did yer expect to send |
in yer card to the cashier, or the pres
ident? Get aroun' an interview tn |
janitor. Represent yerself as Mister |
confidential bizness man,
carn't yer?"
Jim started of at once without wait
ing to give his ''pard" any outline of
his plan. He was gone an hour, but |
when he returned he was freighted
with intelligence.
Bills" he chuckled, "five-hundred |
and one-thousand dollar bills-whew!
An he'll sleep with them about his
pusson to-night-mebbe"
docs yer know the house?" asked
he other man, after spell of silence.
II don't, pard. But I've looked it up
n the directory. and it's as handy as a
nitten on yer nose. Let's go and get
wet to improve our minds.
It's tween us this time-you outside,
ne in-savey?"
The rascals, who, in appearance at
east might. have passed for honest
men, walked out of the doorway and
'arted company, to avoid the eagle
ye OF the police, which would have
ecognized in their duality conspiracy
Igainst law and order.
When Mrs. Bascomb returned from
Ter visit it was dark. She had staid to
upper, and as the girl opened the
DOR she saw that she was somewhat
xcited.
What is it Kitty?" she asked,
ather gravely, because the girl was
Inclined TO get Illustrated easily.
''Oh. mem, what was the name of
he girl as lived here before l came?" ;
he responded with counter question.
"Her name? Sarah something, can.
ot remember just now-why?"
'Oh, there was young man here
boxing for his sister, but her name was
Innie Donovan. He said he hadn't
cen her in ten years, and she. was ,
rown up now, and he talked butch
nily about her. 1t would bring the
ears till your eyes. ma'am, to hev
card him."
kitty, wouldn't gossip with ,
trange men If 1 were you. 1t isn't
: r Y n