Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-22

you've brought your pistols" she exclaimed
How splendid of you to think of them!"
DO not for instant think that you pre-
sumed in sending for me" said Pennington, as
he ran lightly up the steps and took Mrs Gra-
hams outstretched hand. "You know, Mrs.
Graham, that it can only be pleasure to me to
be of any service to you or Miss Clara
1T is very good of you, I'm sure, and l shall
never forget it; but now come right into the
library. Clara will be delighted to see an old
friend who has come in time of need. 1t was
she suggested sending for you," added Mrs. Gra-
ham, and Pennington blushed with pleasure. Its
very strange" went on the lady, that Clara
isn't half so worried about the burglars as l am,
when it generally takes so much to worry me.
Clara, here is DR.. Pennington, pistols and all;
as she entered the library. Clara forward
to greet Pennington, blushng slightly, and look
ing charming that he felt he would be glad
to have the burglars come, that he might have
the pleasure of defending her.
II have just told Mrs Graham Miss Clara "
said Pennington, that the goodness is all on her
side. You can't realize how pleasant it is to see
you again. As for my pistols he added, care
fully laying down his medicine case, ''it over
whelms me with modification to confess that ]
have left the key of my case behind"
Perhaps it is best that you did, said Mrs
Graham, while Clara laughed.
| Don't worry about that; DR.. Pennington" she
said, tapping the case lightly "Wait moment
and L will bring something that will do as well
as the pistols you have here" And she ran
from the room. When she returned, Mrs. Ora
ham insisting that Pennington should take
something to eat,
Here is weapon,' cried Clara, gayy, holding
up an old-tashioned muzzle-loading horse pistol
She handed it to Pennington, who colored as he
took 1t. Il think that will frighten the bur
glars, she painted, looking at Pennington and
laughing.
"Clara!" said Mrs. Graham 81 wouldn't have
that thing fired off in the house for the world
Your father fired it off once at a cat, and the
noise 1t made gave me a nervous shock / didnt
get for week. Besides it brought in al
the neighbors- and some of them were very com
mon people-who thought we had had a dynamit,
1 explosion here"
But this ancient frearm has no hammer,
said Pennington, after examining it, "a pisto
without hammer, Mrs. Graham, is like mar
without head-comparatively useless"
my ignorance of such things" said Mrs. Ora
ham, with shudder, is something stupendous
, and l hope you won't laugh at me when | asl
what the hammer of a pistol is"
: Let me show you, mamma" cried Clara
jumping up and taking the pistol from Penning
tons hands
'Be careful, Clara, be careful" cried Mrs
Graham, evidently alarmed at its proximity. "Ar
you quite sure that it won't go off by itself?"
Quite sure" answered the doctor But Mrs
Grahams fears could not be allayed until Pen
nington had placed the pistol on the bookcase
She gave sigh of relief
Il am sure that we shall not need a pistol
said Pennington, for burglars never come wher
1 they are expected"
! Perhaps that is so, answered Mrs. Graham
Il know that | am awfuy timd about them
q But, doctor-eould you-would you-do you min
/, sleeping on this lounge tonight"
Not IN the least" cried Pennington. "Why
Mrs. Graham, it looks extremely comfortable
: 1T is very comfortable" said Clara, gvin
it little pat by way of enforcing her remark
1T is quite out of the ordinary run of lounge.
L often take maps on it myself"
THAT settles it, cried Pennington "Noy
$ not even wild horses could drag me to a be-
of ease"