Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1905-10-27
THE LADY AND J,
THE PISTOL.

THE fTSIOL.
When Margaret Van Slycke moved
cut into the suburbs, Jack, her hus.
band, provided her with, revolver
1t wasn't much of weapon from the
Point of view of man-of- wars man or
a western cattle puncher. The caliber
was only %, it had a pearl handle and
was d-plated-the sort of thing real
cowboy would have thought of wearing
for a watch charm Jack told her so.
But he was something of shot him
self, and he began instructing her.
They were the proud occupants of cot
tage rather remote from the others in
the village-which was the reason for
the revolver-and they could practice
during the long summer evenings with
out annoying their neighbors. That
would not have been possible, of course,
If the caliber had been larger, with more
noise in the report and greater carry
ing power in the ball.
Beginning with tin cans and old bot
ties, Margaret was able within a few
weeks, once she had got herself past that
pretty terror with which the unaccus-
TONED woman regards all firearms.
to hit the end of yard-long rag flutter-
ing in the wind. Thereafter it was de-
cided that once week, just enough to
keep in good practice, would be all that
was needed.
Jack had taught her to fire with the
pistol dropped at her side and slightly
behind. pulling the trigger as the
weapon was rising and doing it quick.
When she had clipped off the end OF
the rag three times running and three
days in succession he had feeling that
she could take care of herself against
any old tramp. She would have the
drop.
Few things turn out the way they are
expected in this world, and it was true
of Margaret's target practice borne
out in real life. She had many friends
in the village, and several of them lived
In much more style than the Van
Slyckes could affOrd-yet: Margaret had
gone over to the spacious and delightful
house-still called a cottage though it.
was good-sized bungalow-of Mrs. Cul-
yer one morning to spend the day. 1t
had turned out sultry and oppressive, SO
gested that they should have a cool
shower before eating.
The two friends we're enjoying the
thrill and shock of cool water in adjoin-
ing rooms when they heard an agonized
scream and groans from without. Di-
rectly afterward came an excited call
from one of the maids for Mrs. Culver,
and an equally excited inquiry regard
ing the cause of the screams and groans
From the perturbed voice that came
through the door it was learned by de-
grees. agonizingly slow. that William,
the stable man, who had been discharged
the week before for drunkenness, had
returned and was in process of beating
up the inoffensive German farmer lad
who was taking temporary charge of
the horses and cattle until more impos-
ing man could be procured from the CITY,
'He has a whifletree, ma'am," said
the voice through the door. land poor
Chris is so scared that he can't make any
fight"
There was another scream-in wom-
ans voice this time-from below.
what is it, Katie?" shrieked Mrs.
Culver, hastily preparing an emergency
toilet
''Sure, ma'am," said the distracted
Katie, "cook says William says. says he
he is coming up to murder us all as soon
as he's done with Chris"
Margaret had brought her revolver
The way to the Culver house was
through some lonely woods, and it was
Jacks orders that she should never go
unprotected-he was going to get good
dog as soon as he could afford it. but
the revolver had to be relied upon
meanwhile. 1t was in her handbag in
Mrs. Culver's room adjoining. Mrs.
Culver's room was at the head of the
stairs going down into the reception
hall.
AS SOOu DIS Suc STdSpcu Iuc 1dCI CuaC
there was danger to the maids and chill
dren of the household itself, Margaret
replied to the hostess agonized query OF
what shall we do? Oh, what shall we
do?" by slipping on a bathrobe and
dashing after her artillery. That firmly
grasped in hand, she ran to the head of
the stairs and down.
Just as she made the turn in the STAIR
case she saw the bleeding Chris William
in the immediate background and un-
able to make rapid progress at the mo-
sment because of the weight of liquor he
was carrying, stumbling up the veranda
' Lie down, Chris" Margaret shouted,
and the obedient German saw the re-
volver and complied without hesita-
ton. Then Mrs. Van Slycke went into
action. In spite of the fact that the
screen door interviewed her first shot
took off Williams sorry-looking hat.
The second went through the mans coat
at the shoulder.
1t was surprising how sober that
drunken beast grew on the instant. He
+,,rnod n1ooro6 tho vorondo roll A. ..