The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1908-06-20
The LOvEJOYS'
BURGLAR.

The evening paper. Yes, they had been
married long enough to get used to
each other. Mrs. Lovejoy. after be-
ing shut up In fat all day, was
crazy to talk. but she had already
learned better than to ask her hus-
band any questions while he was deep
In newspaper story. Finally. how.
ever. as she saw his eyes switch to
another story, she dare to break the
silence.
WELL" she began tentatively, what
was going on downtown to-day?"
Thing mch,' came indistinctly
from behind the paper. There was
short silence and then she tried
again.
Have busy day down at the Of
fice?"
NM" replied her husband.
There was longer silence. and
Mrs Lovejoy set her teacup down In
desperation.
Henry" she said, have you got a
revolver"
Mr.. Lovejoy fell" for this all right.
He crumpled his paper up and stared
at her In establishment.
Have I got revolver? No, I have
not What made you ask such
question:"
Because" said Mrs. Lovejoy. put
hands. II think we ought to have one
in the fiat here"
What are we going to shoot with
itT" said Mr.. Lovejoy, picking up his
paper.
Burglars" said Mrs. Lovejoy de-
cisively.
Mr.. Lovejoy dropped his paper
again.
"Burglars!" he exclaimed. Why,
have you seen any accommodating
around here?"
mo. but they are moving up in
this direction. Some time ago the pa,
pers said they were robbing houses In
this neighborhood. Then they moved
up In the next block and frightened
an old lady nearly to death. Then I
saw yesterday where a house only
few doors away was entered, so next
they will land up here" she ended tri.
umphantly.
$50 you think we ought to have a
gun here to repel possible burglars"
said Mr.. Lovejoy, looking amused.
Yes, I do" she answered with con-
viction. 81 know l should feel much
safer II | knew there was one In the
house. Sometimes l wake up In the
night and hear all sorts OF creepy
sounds and noises. only sometimes
you snore so loud / can't hear them
distinctly"
well, / guess | can handle any
burglar that butts In here" said Mr..
Lovejoy confidently.
II suppose you could-if you walked
up in time" said his wife, who failed
to see the humor in her husbands
boast as contrasted with his ofiice-bred
physique.
"Oh, well, then" said Mr.. Lovejoy
with an .ndulgent air, IF II will make
you feel any better I'll get a gun and
keep 1t here. Anything to avoid an
argument" and he went back to his
paper.
Though Lovejoy would not admit
| II even to himself, his wife's argu-
ments had made an impression on
him. He had never owned q revolver
in his life, but he decided that he him
self would feel safer at night
hereafter II he had wea-
pom within reach. So on his
way home the next evening he bought
a secondhand revolver in a pawnshop
and carried 1t home. He showed II to
his wife and spoke boastfully Of ma
king any Rafiles that poked his head
In the room look like pepper box"
Mrs. Lovejoy declared herself de-
lighted and that hereafter she would
be able to sleep In peace. However.
she was dreadfully afraid of the weap-
on, and begged her husband to lock 1t
up where she couldn't stumble over 1t
and accidentally fire It of. So Mr..
Lovejoy laughingly showed the re-
volver into bureau drawer and
turned the key on 1t.
II was a Sunday afternoon a week
or two later that Mr.. and Mrs. Love-
JOY left their fiat for visit to friends
ht ihoipNOu Oh thCi
ing to dinner. so they did not reach
home till IL o'clock that night. Mrs
Lovejoy preceded her husband up the
stairs.
why, Henry" she exclaimed. I'VE
forgot to lock the door!"
did WEI" said her husband, only
mildly interested; why am sure
locked It,"
A shrek came from Mrs. Lovejoy,
who had gone within. Her husband
ran to her. She pointed In dumb hor-
ror. The sideboard In the dining.
room had been swept clear OF all port
able silverware. A hurried investiga-
ton revealed that the bedroom had
also been ransacked. The trail OF the
sneak-thief was everywhere evident.
Mr.. Lovejoy sprang for the bureau
drawer In which the pistol had lain