The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-01
BOGUS BOOk AGENT
Tries Selling Books and Rob-
bling at Same Time
BAFFLED BY A WOMAN
With a Revolver Mrs. Avery
Made Him Disgorge.

Book agents with their ready-made
spells and persistent demonstrations
would better steer clear Of the home OF
Milo Avery, 1901 South Pattie avenue
Mrs. Avery had an experience yesterday
with a man who claimed TO be book
agent, and she will not be very apt to
entertain any more such persons in the
future.
A bold rufaan, under the pretence of
being book agent gained entrance TO
the Avery home yesterday morning about
10 o'clock and engaged Mrs Avery in
very book agent style of talk When she
stepped from the room to get the baby
he grabbed her pocketbook from the
dresser and an overcoat belonging TO her
brother and was calmly walking out with
| them when she returned to the room.
Mrs. Avery was alone her husband hav-
ing gone to the farm, and the boldness of
the ruffian surprised her so that she
could not collect her thoughts for mo-
ment. Then, starting to demonstrate, the
fellow motioned her to stop. eff you
make a noise I will kill you,' he said
with APPARENT determination.
Mrs. Avery by this time had stepped
back into the kitchen, where a revolver
was kept and she grabbed 1t and hur-
riedly stepped to the door. Drop those
things" she cried quickly, raising her re-
volver and pointing it directly at the
mans breast. ''You will find that 1 can
kill as well as YOU
The woman had the drop on her guest,
and she exercised authority. The fellow
stood for a moment looking through the
pocketbook, while Mrs. Avery held her re-
volver on him. He laid the coat down
and again took his place at the door,
keeping steady eye on Mrs. Avery.
''These are mighty hard times" he said,
taking thirty cents out of the pocketbook
and putting it into his pocket.
'Well, you drop that pocketbook right
now or I will make hard times for you,'
she replied. Then she put her finger on
the trigger and began to draw with a
certain aim, while the fellow gazed at
her with a sickly grin and with remarka-
BILE nerve. Coolly tossing the pocketbook
at her feet he stepped out of the door TO
the ground. Mrs. Avery sprang to the
door and shut it, not looking to see in
which direction the ruffian went from
her house The baby in the back room
had by this time reached the high pitch
to which 1t had been gradually ascending
during the trying ordeal of its mother,
and as soon as it was quieted Mrs Az
cry notified her neighbors about the bold
incident. When her husband came home
at night he notified the police headquar-
tiers, but there is no clue to the would-be
robber. Mrs. Avery said he is man Of
medium size, about 80 years old, wore
black pants. His manner of operating Is
to first inquire if the husband or father
is at home, and where he is supposed to
be. If the man of the house is absent
he boldly pushes his way through the |
door and says he came to show delight |
full book of some kind, and deposits his |
supposed to be a package of |
books, on the floor at his feet He en- |
cages the woman in pleasant converse
the valuables such as jewelry box or
money purse. Then he makes his bluff to
get. whatever is in sight.
''Oh, came so near shooting the man."
said Mrs. Avery yesterday afternoon to
reporter for the Eagle to whom she re-
lated the foregoing statements, that 1
am frightened yet over the very thought
Of 1t. Once when he gazed at me so
cynically 1 got scared and was in the
very act OF pulling the trigger, but now
am glad 1 did not I should have hated
It awfully. for I know 1 could have hit
him. 1 am glad he got out of the way,
and he is welcome to the thirty cents. /
was lucky TO have just a while before
aiken my diamond ring out Of the pock-
etbook, together with a small roll OF
bile There would have been trouble had
le got hold Of my ring" and Mrs. Az
sry's eyes snapped with fire.
Mrs. Avery is the Miss Edith Corey.
Iho, before her marriage, created much
favorable comment by her appeal TO Pres
dent Mckinley for a position as field
nurse in the war with Spain. Her patri-
,tism and offer of so much personal sac
'ffce was worthy Of true woman whom
obbers and burglars had best pass by.
WORKING NIGHT ANDDAY.
The busiest ana m.shtiest little thing
hat ever was made is DR.. Kings New
Life Pts. Every pill IS a sugar-costed
slobule II health. that changes weakness
nto strength. lisuessuess into energy.
1ra.n-fag into mental poEer. They're
wonderful in building ID the health ONLY