The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-11-08
The Fool Killer
-OriginaI.l

ner aunt. neEeronelcSS MIS-. CIelFer
supreme object, was to marry her
daughter to a rich man.
Mr. Algerpon Bedell was composed
Of two parts, man and money. There
was very little to the man, but great
iNal 10 tile tHOney, which his father had
Rl22e FOX h;;n out of bones. The only
notable thing Mr. Bedeil had ever done
WIS 70 -s..-S, q dinner to q dozen persons
costing ~ 1; S[' a covet. He was looking
ano!t f,r aaother opportunity to dis
ti4gI-:n ! self when he met and
wax! Carrie Cleaver She supplied
IL! %itl. Il ,nethOd Cor gaining a new
1i&llnctio0.
"A.an.3"l," said Miss Cleaver one day
aft" her .lother had taken ten pounds
OF flesh OF the girl in her efforts to in
6uCa her TO wed Mr. Bedell, II will
consent Ola one condition. I must be
abducted"
"AbductedT' exclaimed the mother.
Eyes am of romantic disposition
and Mr. Bedell has aspirations for dis
tinction An elopement would set all
the world agog."
Caroline" said Mrs. Cleaver amaz
ed, "have you taken leave of your
senses 2" And, she swept out of the
room.
But Mr. Bedell, though he feared the
absence of motive would render the
plan unsuitable to his purpose, still had
mind for it, and so told Mrs Cleaver
That lady, being absorbed in the main
object, the marriage, finally consented
to allow the pair ''to 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
Cleaver 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..
Bedell was to bring ladder and a
carriage. and the fugitive was to take
only a hand bag. An address was to
be left on Miss Bedelps pincushion to
which the trunks were to ne sent the
next day.
Soon after dark on the evening OF the
elOpement wagon drove up to the
Cleayer residence, a man carried q lad
der into the back yard, and the wagon
was driven away empty. Mrs Cleaver
looked out of the window, saw the pro-
eeeding 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. If 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 Algy, too?' drawled
Miss Cleayer.
MIR. Bedell only consents to this fol
" to humor YOU
''WelI, mother dear, if the fool killer
comes I hope he and Algy Will meet.
1t would be so romantic to have them
fight for me-
Romance, romance, nothing but ro-
nance [ call it idiocy"
Eleven o'clock was fixed for the
elOpement and as the cathedral clock
Mr.. Beden drove up to a corner OPP
posite the Cleaver mansion, alighted
and walked across to the Cleayer 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 it did not i'm
press him at the time-a carriage driy-
ing away from a 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 N before entering when he heard
poiicemans club strike the curb op-
posite SO he tumbIed 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
the same time there was loud ham
mering on the front door. The next
thing that happened was Mrs Cleaver
coming into her daughters room in her
nightdress. though this was simultane-
by the window. Mr.. Bedel made
dive under the bed
We've got him, ma'am," said the DO
liceman. Hes here. Lock the door"
Mr.. BedeI was dragged from under
the bed and stood looking at his in
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.
whats this?" he said, Kicking up a
bit Of paper fastened to pincushion.
Mrs. Cleaver snatched it from him,
ran her eye over it and held it, crushed,
Ia her cinched fist Meanwhile there
was renewed hammering at the door
go downstairs" she said to Mr. Be
dell, "and tell whoever Is at the door to
go away
Glad to escape the contemptuous look
she gave him, he departed at once
Mrs CieaVer eXDlaina6 tn the noIico-