The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-11-03
go. a..
COMPROMISED.
When . Man Undertakes to Get
the Better of . Girl, He Had
Better Leave His Heart
In q Safe Place.

tower Is mine still. and l intend to
keep it. Everything else they have
taken away from me, because some
loggerheaded old ancestor of mine
signed his name to a deed John B.
Robinson instead of John G. Robin
son. AS if one letter of the alphabet
could make any difference! I've no
patience with people! The majesty Of
the law. indeed! Pshaw"
But if the rest of the property be-
longs to your cousin Robinson SO does
the tower" suggested Mrs. Milroy.
II can't help that" said Miss Isidora.
Here / am, and here | to stay.
law or no law" "
Mrs. Milroy opened her weak eyes.
Feeble as a kitten herself, she could
scarcely comprehend such valiant reso-
luton in another.
but if they come here with tue
sheriff and a posse comitatus and a
writ Of habeas corpus? she faltered.
"Then." said Miss Isidora. they'll
have to clear out again. Common
sense Is common sense. The house Is
mine, and l mean to keep it. I've got
new potts and bars to all the doors,
and l keep a kettle of boiling water on
rhe stove night and day. and my friend.
Mr.. Jeffreys. who is a clerk in a law
office. has given me the hint neve to
let in a man with a bag"
"Why not% b~reathlessly questioned
Mrs. Milroy.
Don't you see?" said Miss Isidora
snappishly. Because it will be full of
law papers-writs and summonses and
all that sort of thing"
"Oh" said Mrs. Milroy.
The tower was hers. and the tower
she meant to keep. And Rebecca. her
little maid. was stricken with breath
less admiration for her warlike quail
ties. ...M.
But. of course, ma'am," said Rebec-
ca, nobody can stand against the
law"
"I,ll see whether they a or not"
said Miss Isidora Ives. "Be sure you
keep the kettles well filed, Rebecca,
and don't let the fires 60 out. day or
night.
And whenever she received through
the mail a letter with a legal appear.
ance. or an envelope crested with the
firm address of Messrs. Tape & String
ham, her cousin Robinson's lawyers,
she invariably poked it between the
bars of the crate and smiled vindictive-
ly to see it blaze.
"What are we to do with such a case
as this?" said Mr.. Tape. when he heard
all this.
"Put in a sheriff's officer at once"
said Stringham. "The woman Is q
trespasser and has been all her life."
"No, no, no." said Mr.. Tape blandly.
'She's a woman; no harsh measures.
1t is Gideon R~obinson's express injunc-
ton that all courtesy be shown to the
defendant. Well try something else be-
fore we proceed to extremities."
And one pleasant October afternoon,
when the air was all blue mist and the
setting u shone as if through a medi-
um of Opaque gold, the landlord Of the
Toplady Arms came putting up the hill
with a stout, pleasant faced gentleman,
and rang the bell. which echoed like a
double chime through the tiny tower.
go away" said Miss Isidora from
the window, spying the tops Of two
hats.
ooh. my, ma'am" squeaked Rebecca
Ove her shoulder. "Shall l get the
gun"
81 beg pardon, ma'am," said the
stranger. "but"-
go away. l say" sternly repeated
Miss Isidora Ives. "Rebecca, bring in
that kettle! III have you to understand
that ! am not to be trifed with"
But by this time mine host of the
Toplady Arms had simultaneously re-
covered his breath and his presence of
mind.
miss Ives" he puffed stertorously,
"don't be illustrated! It's only Israel
Jenkins"
"Bless the mans heart" said Miss
1sidora. "Why didn't he say so before?
And what on earth did you want here.
J~ehkins?"
"It's a ledger. Miss Ives" said Jen.
kins, who had married Miss Isidora's
old nurse. and somehow felt himself
to be connected with the family.
"A-lodger" repeated Miss Ives.
"This isn't a lodging house. man alive!"
"Yes'm-I'm quite aware of that"
said Israel meekly. "And where nc
offense Is intended. it's hoped as none
will be took. But. knowing ms you was
alone and unprotected
81 don't know what you call unpro-
tected." brusquely interrupted Miss
Ives. "Tve got a loaded gun and q sig
gallon kettle Of boiling water here"
and" mildly went on Israel Jen'
ikins. "this ere gentleman. a Mr.. Mar
shall Of Alabama. wanted a pleasant
lodging. In the neighborhood. which
meals could be took AT the Toplady
Arms-though our apartments is all &c