The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-12-27
REVOLVER DIDN'T
BRING BRAVERY
An Interesting Physiological Study Of
Youths Experience For
Five Days.

Five Days.
This story belongs in the archives
OF the Society for Psychical Research
or the Association for Metaphysical
Investigation, or something of that
sort. Actually it is not news story
at all. Save in it's final scene 1t was
not enacted in the public view, and
probably it would never come to light
il the young man hadn't told 1t him
self.
1t all started with the purchase of
revolver. There was nothing extraor-
binary about the gun. The pawnbrok-
er assured the youth that ii was valued
at something over ten spot, but in
consideration of his customers posit-
ion in society he--the pawnbroker-
was willing to let it go at "a. Ihat
the young man subsequently discoy-
cred that the gun might have been
purchased new Tor the sum OF S42o
does not detract from it's merit as a
weapon of offense, nor from the pres
ent tale.
The young man had heard that there
were thieves at large in the city, and
that their ways were those of blood
and violence. Up to the date of his
purchase, he had been accustomed, like
other young men, to rely chiefly upon
his fists for protection and similar uses
and had, until then, no cause to doubt
their efficiency. But he bought the
revolver to be on the safe side.
That night he went home after dark.
He was very conscious of the heavy
weight in his oveTCoat pocket, and he
held his hand upon the gun to ease the
pull upon the garment. Reflections
on the possible fate Of highwaymen led
him to speculate on their probable
presence behind trees and the high
fence half way to his house.
Then he stopped a moment to eX-
anime a box used for the tools of con-
struction laborers. 1t had assumed a
sinister aspect, quite new, and its
shadows were certainly peculiar. The
young man gTasped the handle of the
gun more firmly. Back yards loomed
with shadows on the remainder of his
journey, and the flight of five steps at
his home were made in two bounds.
That night when he descended into
the dark cellar for the purpose Of
applying a modicum of coal to the fire,
he carried the gun with him and de-
termined to fix the cellar window. The
clasp had been broken for five months
and burglars might get in.
The revolver reposed that night be-
he sat bolt upright in bed to analyze
he sat bolt upright in bed to analize
suspicious noises.
Daylight brought returning courage,
but with the shadows of evening fell
also his spirits 1t was worse than the
night previous. He ran the greater
part of the way home from the car
and this time the revolver was IN his
band.
Three days this thing kept up.
From-a strong nerved and healthy
youth he yerged upon hysteria. He left
off his gloves the better to cope with
sudden assaults, and his hands became
much chapped. He Ieft off his biweek-
is call on a certain house in the East
End because of the prevalence of hold
up men. She would be disappointed
Of course, but was his life to be thrown
iway merely to satisfy a girl.
1t was on a Monday that he bought
The revolver. BY Friday it had become
ais inseparable companion, and was
beginning to show rust marks on the
nickled parts from excessive holding
IN his perspiring hand.
That Friday night, at the urgent call
Of business, he yentured into the gloom
that ordinarily appertains to 6 p. m.
In early December. The way was lone
ly and not one solitary figure could
ne see far up and down the street This
If anything, was worse than hold up
men in the flesh. He was ashamed to
admit it to himself, but he trembled--
actually trembled, and his teeth chat
tered to an extent entirely uncalled
for by the cold. He hastened his steps
but pursuing shades made hideous his
way.
There was a common on the road
and he dreaded beyond all utterancC
to pass it. He buried his head in his
overcoat collar, and drew the gun
That was now no frequent occurrence
A far off light glimmered family anC
between 1t and the youth tall weeds
Bwayed fantastically.
Then, suddenly, culmination-em
bodiment of horrors, out from thu
common emerged man
Say, young feller gimme"
The sentence was never finished
Half block away fleeing figure rap
Idly diminished in the perspective be
fore the astonished eyes of the inter
rogator, until it was swallowed in tn
night The figure was that of the bolt
young man with the gun, purchases
especially for hold ups, and he wa
running away
Saturday morning form, strangel!
pip1ilar m urbfc boH aba q,