Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-11-08
The Fool Killer
tOriginal.I

her aunt; nevertheless Mrs Cleayers
supreme object was to marry her
daughter - ric. man.
Mr.. Algernon Bedell was composed
OF two parts. man and money. There
was very little to the man, but great
deal to the money, which his father had
made for him out OF bones. The only
notable thing Mr.. Bcdell had ever done
was to give IL dinner to n dozen persons
costing 81 900 cover. He was looking
about for another opportunity to dis
tinguish himself when he met and
wooed Carrie Cleaver. She supplied
him with method for gaining a new
distinction.
Mamma" said Miss Cleavcr one day
after her mother had taken ten pounds
Of flesh off the girl in her efforts TO IN
ducc her to we'd Mr. Bedell. II will
consent on one condition. | must be
abducted.
"AbducteG"' exclaimed the mother.
Eyes. | am OF romantic disposition,
and Mr. Bedell has aspirations for dis
tlnction. An clopement would set all
the world agog
Caroline" said Mrs. Cleaver, amaz-
ed 'have you taken leave Of your
senses?" And she swept out OF the
room.
But Mr.. Bedcll, though he feared the
absence Of motive would render the
plan unsuitable to his purpose, still had
mind for it. and so told Mrs. Cleayer.
That lady, being absorbed In the main
object. the marriage. finally consented
to allow the pair ito make fools Of
themselves if they liked"
All things must end. even engage
ment periods. and the day finally ar
rived. or, rather, the night, when Miss
Cleayer was to be abducted. She was to
sleep In wing OF the house, where her
mother would not be likely to become
aware of her flight Miss Cleaver in
sisted on carrying out all the details
the same as in real elopement. Mr..
Ecdel was to bring a ladder and
carriage. aud the fugitive was to take
only Il hand bag. An address was to
be left on Miss Bedells plncushion to
next day.
Soon after dark on the evening of the
clopement a wagon drove up to the
ClenHer residence. man carried lad
der into the back yard, and the wagon
was driven away empty Mrs Cleaver
looked ont OF the window, saw the pro
cecGing and wondered why her daugh-
ter preferrch to see II ladder carried
into the back yard to numerous costly
presents carried in at the front door.
Carrie, she called, the ladder has
come. II the fool killer should hap
pen 10y he might feel disposed to put 1t
up to your window and carry you off
himself"
Would he take Algy, too" drawled
Miss Cleaver
Mr.. Bedell only consents to this fol
ly TO humor YOU"
We'll mother dear, II the fool killer
comes hope he and Algy will meet.
fight for me"
Romance, romance. nothing but ro-
nance. call it idlocy,
Eleven O'Clock was fixed for the
elopement, and rs the cathedral clock
in the ncighborhood struck that hour
Mr. Bedcll drove up to corner OPP
posite the Cleayer mausioa, alighted
ana walked across to the Clcaver back
yard. lie was surprised to see the lad
der standing up against the brick wall
and Miss Clcaver's window open An
other thing he saw, but ii did not i'm
press him at the time-a carriage driy-
ing away from a point near the gate,
just as he alightcd
However, resolved to carry ont the
programme, he mounted the ladder to
the open window and was about to
look in before entering when he heard
Il policcman's club strike the curb Cd.
posite, so he tumbled In mt once. The
room was pitch dark. He called, but
there was no answer He heard some
one coming up the ladder and, looking
out, saw the street lamp shining on
brass. \ policeman was mounting. At
the same time there was Il loud ham
merlng on the front door The next
''NllH NidA AbIitiltu WIS NES. tlpitNer
coming into her daughters room in her
nightdresS. though this was simultane-
Gus with the entrance OF the policeman
by the window MIR. Bedell made a
dive under the bed
We've got him, ma'am," said the po.
liceman Hes here Loci, the door"
Mr.. i'edell was dragged from under
the bed and stood looking MT his IN
tended mother-n-aW and the guardian
of the city who had stepped to the
dresser, brought his lantern TO hea- on
button and turned on the light
Whats thjs| he said picking up
bit of paper fastened Ia pncuShion
Mrs. Cloaver Suatched II from him.
ran hcr eve over II and ho'd IT, crushed
m hcr cnnchru inst Meanwhile there
"a~ Fl Fcuewc1 wumcriNg at the door
Go downstairs" she said to MIR Be
dcll, and tell whoever is nj the door to
20 away"
clad 10 escape the coutcmptuous look
she gave him, he departed II once
Mrs Cleaycr explained 10 the police.
muu that there had been mistake.
slipped a bin into his hand. ana ne
went downstairs to oall on his com
rJleS. when they had der3rted Mrs