Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1908-06-25
THE LOvE:j')YS'
BURClZ- Ar

l E& W q a W u-la : 81
Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy we're sitting
with the remains of their evening
meal between them Mrs. Lovejoy,
with her elbows comfortably on the
table, was slipping 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 flat 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?"
A" Thing m'ch came indistinctly
from behind the paper. There was
a 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. Loveioy 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 a revolver? No, l have
not. What made you ask such
question?'
Because" said Mrs. Lovejoy, put
ting her chin down on her folded
hands, Il think we ought to have one
in the fiat here
What are we going to shoot with
it, said Mr.. Lovejoy, picking up his
paper
Burglars, said Mrs. Loveioy de-
cisively.
Mr. Lovejoy dropped his paper
again.
''Burglars!' he exclaimed. Why.
have you seen any accommodating
around here?"
No. but they are moving up in
this direction. Some time ago the pa
pers said they We're robbing houses in
this neighborhood Then they moved
up in the next block and frightened
an old lady nearly to death. Then
saw yesterday where house only
few doors away was entered, so next
they will land up here" she ended tri-
umphantly.
so you think we ought to have a
gun here to repel possible burglars,
said Mr.. Lovejoy, looking amused
Yes, do" she answered with con
viction. Il know | should feel much
safer if | knew there was one in the
house. Sometimes | 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"
We'll. l guess l can handle any
burglar that butts in here" said Mr..
Lovejoy confidently.
Il 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 office bred
physique.
oh, Well, then" said MIR. Lovejoy.
with an indulgent air, If it will make
you feel any better I'll get a gun a.d
keep it here. Anything to avoid an
argument" and he went back to his
paper.
Though Lovejoy would not admit
it even to himself, his wifes argu-
ments had made an impression on
him. He had never owned revolver
in his life but he decided that he him
self would feel safer at night
hereafter if he had a wea-
pom within reach So on his
way home the next evening he bought
a second hand revolver in pawnshop
and carried it home. He showed it to
his wife and spoke boastfully of ma
king any Rallies 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 it
up where she couldn't stumble over it
and accidentally fire it off. So Mr..
Lovejoy laushingly showed the re-
volver into a bureau drawer and
turned the key on it.
1t was Sunday afternoon a week
or two later that Mr.. and Mrs. Love
JOY left their flat for visit to friends.
The friends insisted on their remain
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. We
forgot to lock the door,"
Did WEI" said her husband, only
mildly interested; why l am sure l
locked it"
A shrek came from Mrs. Loveioy.
who had gone within. Her husband
her She poiptad -, Il,,,,L ~