The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-07-20
THE LOVEJOYS'
BURGLAR

Mr.. and Mrs. Lovejoy were sitting
with the remains of their evening
meal between them. Mrs. Lovejoy,
with her elbows comfortably on the
table, was slipping a cup Of tea and
wistfully looking across the table at
her husband, who was immersed in
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 a 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 m'ch,' came indistinctly |
from behind the paper. There was
short silence and then she tried |
again.
Have busy day down at the Of
fce?"
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 got revolver? No, have
not. What made you ask such a
question:"
II Because" said Mrs. Lovejoy, put
ting her chin down on her folded
hands. 81 think we ought to have one
/ in the fiat here"
II What are we going to shoot with
H it," said Mr.. Lovejoy, picking up his
H paper.
Il Burglars" said Mrs. Lovejoy de-
II cisively.
II Mr.. Lovejoy dropped his paper
II again.
II "Burglars!" he exclaimed. Why,
II have you seen any accommodating
II around here?"
Il mo, but they are moving up in
II this direction. Some time ago the pa
II pers said they were robbing houses in
II this neighborhood. Then they moved
up in the next block and frightened
an old lady nearly to death. Then
: saw yesterday where a house only a
a few doors away was entered, so next
n they will land up here" she ended tri-
:, umphantly.
$50 you think we ought to have
st gun here to repel possible burglars"
~ said Mr.. Lovejoy, looking amused
"Yes do" she answered with con-
viction. Il know l should feel much
r. safer If | knew there was one in the
70 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"
lie well, l guess l can handle any
at burglar that butts in here" said Mr.
le Lovejoy confidently.
II suppose you could-if you walked
up in time" said his wife, who failed
to see the humor in her husbands
IL boast as contrasted with his office-bred
~ physique.
ey "Oh, well, then" said Mr.. Lovejoy
Mt with an indulgent air, "if it will make
keep 1t here. Anything to avoid al
argument" and he went back to his
lv paper.
-, Though Lovejoy would not admit
It even to himself, his wife's argu
vi ments had made an impression OF
es him. He had never owned revolver
mt in his life, but he decided that he him
self would feel safer at nigh
hereafter IL he had wea
&c pom within reach. So on hi'
!. way home the next evening he bough
secondhand revolver In pawnshol
and carried it home. He showed it II
his wife and spoke boastfully of ma
king any Rallies that poked his hea'
in the room look like pepper box
Mrs. Lovejoy declared herself de
lighted and that hereafter she woul'
- be able to sleep in peace. However
she was dreadfully afraid of the wear
on. and begged her husband to lock
up where she couldn't stumble over
and accidentally fire it off. So MI
Lovejoy laughingly showed the re
yolver into a bureau drawer an
turned the key on it. :.
ION 1t was a Sunday afternoon wee
or two later that Mr.. and Mrs. Love
Joy left their fiat for visit to friends
au. The friends insisted on their remain
ion ing to dinner, so they did not reac
les home till IL O'Clock that night. Mr.
BED Loyeioy preceded her husband up tn
ley stairs.
the "why, Henry!" she exclaimed. wv
tod forgot to lock the door!"
49, did WEI" said her husband, onl
mildly interested; why l am sure
locked It,"
A shrek came from Mrs. Lovejo,
..sAor-had oona within Her huShan