The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-10-30
The Fool Killer

supreme object was to marry her
daughter to rich man.
Mr.. Algernon Bedell was composed
Of two parts, man aud money. There
was very little to the man, but great
deal to the money, which bis father had
made for him out OF bones The only
notable thing Mr.. BedeIl Ind ever done
was to give d dinner to dozen persons
costing $1,000 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 new
distinction.
Mamma" said Miss Cleaver one day
after her mother had taken ten pounds
Of flesh of the girl In her efforts to in
duce her to wed Mr.. Bedell, II will
consent on one condition. must be
abducted
Abducted exclaimed the mother
YES. am OF romantic disposition,
and Mr.. Bcdell has aspirations for dis
tinction. An elopement would set all
the world agog"
Caroline said Mrs CIeaver, amaz-
ed, have You taken leave Of your
sensesa" And she swept out OF the
room.
But Mr. BedeI, though he feared the
absence OF motive would render the
plan unsuitable to his purpose, still had
mind for II, and 80 told Mrs. Cleaver.
That lady, being absorbed In the main
object, the marriage, finally consented
10 allow the pair ITO make fools Of
themselves II 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 fight, Miss Clcaver in
sisted ON carrying out all the details
the same as In real elopement. Mr..
Bedell was TO bring ladder and a
carriage. and the fugitive was 20 take
only 1 hand bag An address was TO
be leftson Miss sedeIi's fIinenshionl to
which The trunks were 70 be sent the
next day.
soon after dark on the evening or the
elopement wagon drove up to the
Cleaver residence man carried lad
der into the back yard, and the wagon
was driven sway empty. Mrs Cleayer
looked ont of the window, saw the pro-
ceeding and wondered why her daugh-
Ter preferred TO see a 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 by he might feel disposed to put it
up to your window and carry you Off
himself"
Would he take AIgy. tooy drawled
Miss Cleaver.
'Mr BedeIl only consents TO this fol-
ly to humor yon."
We'll. mother dear, IL the fool killer
comes | hope be and Algy will meet.
It would be so romantic to have them
fight for me.
Romance. romance, nothing but ro-
nance. call 1t idiocy."
Eleven O'Clock was fixed for the
elopement, and as the cathedral clock
in the nclghborhood struck that hour
Mr. Bedell drove up to corner OPP
posite the Cieavcr mansion, alighted
and walked across 10 the Cieaver back
yard He was surprised to see the lad
der standing up against the brick wall
and Miss Cleaver's window open. An
other thing he saw. but II did not i'm
I press him at the time-n carriage driy-
ing away from point near the gate,
| Just as he alighted.
/ However. resolved to carry out the
/ programme, he mounted the ladder TO
/ the open window and was about TO
look In before entering when he heard
a polIceman's club strike the curb op.
/ poste. so he tumbled in at 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. A policeman was mounting. AT
4 the same time there was loud ham
mering ON the front door. The next
thing that happened was Mrs. CIeaver
I coming into her daughters room In her
nightdress. though tliis was simultane-
Gus with the entrance Of the policeman
by the window Mr. Bedell made a
dive under the bed.
We've got him. ma'am,' said the pc
liccman. Hes here. Lock the door"
/ Mr.. Bedell was dragged from under
the bed and stood looking at his In
4 tended mother-in-law and the guardian
Of the city, who had stepped to the
dresser. brought his lantern to bear on
button and turned on the light
what's thisT' he said. picking up a
bit OF paper fastened to pincushion.
Mrs. Cleaver snatched II from him,
ran her eye over II and held II, crushe ed,
In her ellnched fist. Meanwhile there
was renewed hammering at the door.
Go downstairs she said to Mr.. Be
dell. ''nnd tell whoever is at the door to
go away"
Glad to escape the contemptuous look
she gave him, he departed at once.
/ Mrs. Cleaver explained to the police
man that there had been mistake.
slipped bin into his hand, and he
went downstairs to call off his com
rades. when they had departed Mrs.
Cleayer stood with Mr.. Bedell In the
drawing room he in travelling suit. she
still In her nlqhtdress. she handed
him the slip Of paper found on the
dresser. He smoothed it out and read.
The fool killer came first and carried