Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-11-14
The Fool Killer
tOriginal.1

Mr.. Algern0n Bedell was composed
Of two parts, man and money. There
was very little to the man, but grea
deal to the money, which his father hat
made for him out Of bones. The only
notable thing Mr. Bedell had ever done
was to give dinner to 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 u method for gaining q new
distinction.
Mamma" said Miss Cleaver one day
after her mother had taken ten pounds
Of flesh off the girl In her efforts to In
ducs her to wed Mr.. Bedell, II will
consent on one condition. 1 must be
abducted"
"Abductedw 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, "haye you taken leave Of your
senses" 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
a mind for 1t, 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 IL 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 a wing of the house, where her
mother would not be likely to become
aware Of her fight. Miss Cleaver In
sisted on carrying out all the details
the same as In real elopement. Mr..
Bedell was to bring ladder and
carriage, and the fugitive was to take
only hand bag. An address was to
be left Oh Miss Bedell's plncushion to
which the trunks were to be sent the
next day.
Soon after dark on the evening OF the
elopement wagon drove up to the
Cleaver residence a man carried lad
der into the back yard, and the wagon
was driven away empty. Mrs. Cleaver
looked out of the window, saw the pro
ceeding and wondered why her daugh-
ter preferred to see 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 1t
up to your window and carry you or
himself"
Would he take Algy, too?" drawled
Miss Cleaver.
"Mr. Bedell only consents to this fol
Iy to humor you"
"Well, mother dear, II the fool killer
comes l hope he and Algy will meet.
1t would be so romantic to have them
Sight for me-"
Romance, romance, nothing but ro-
nance call it idlocy."
Eleven o'clock was fixed for the
elopement, and as the cathedral clock
n the neighborhood struck that hour
Mr.. Bedell drove up to corner op-
)oslte the Cleaver mansion, allghted
Ind walked across to the CleaVer back
yard. He was surprised to see the lad
Ter standing up against the brick wall
Ind Miss Cleaver's window open. An
,ther thing he saw, but it did not i'm
,ress him at the tlme-a carriage drlv-
ng away from point near the gate,
ust as he allghted.
However, resolved to carry out the |
programme, he mounted the ladder to |
he open window and was about to |
ook in before entering when he heard |
pOllceman's club strike the curb op.
,Oslte, SO he tumbled in at once. The |
Dom was pitch dark. He called, but |
here was no answer. He heard some |
ne coming up the ladder and, looking
nut, saw the street lamp shining on
rass. A policeman was mounting. At
he same time there was loud ham,
nering on the front door. The next
hing that happened was Mrs. Cleaver
oming into her daughters room in her
lghtdress, though this was slmultane-
US with the entrance Of the policeman
y the window. Mr.. Bedell made a
i've under the bed.
We've got him, ma'am," said the po-
ceman. Hes here Lock the door"
Mr.. Bedell was dragged from under
be bed and stood looking at his In
ended mother-ln-law and the guardian
the city, who had stepped to the
resser brought his lantern to bear on
button and turned on the light.
whats thlsT he said, picking up q
it of paper fastened to plncushion.
Mrs Cleaver snatched 1t from him,
IN her eye over it and held it. crushed,
! her clinched fist Meanwhile there
as renewed hammerlng at the door.
"Go downstairs" she said tn Mr.. Be-
ell. land tell whoever Is at tie door to
D away"
Glad to escape the contemptuous look
he gave him, he departed at once
RS. Cleaver explained to the police
an that there had been n mistake,
lpped a bill into his hand, and he
ent downstairs to call off his CON-
Ides. When they had departed Mrs.
leaver stood with Mr.. Bedell in the
'awlng roosn, he In travelling suit, she
III In her nightdress. She handed
m the slip Of paper found on the
lesser. He smoothed it out and read:
The fool killer came first and carried
G off Send trunks to Mrs. Theodore (
iclswire, IT, s. Army Hotel st. A.. p. q.
CARRIE.
?. 6.-P.-D. Q.
THEODORE