Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1910-08-12
Observation-Disclosures
Aunt Ellen's Captive
BY Lawrence Alfred Clay

got you, and that is enough Keep
your hands on your knees. We are
going to sit right here till the folks
come home. Then wen have con-
stable from the village and youTl be-
taken to Jail"
Who are the folks?" gently IN
quired the young man.
None of your businessl have told
you who | am. and that's enough
This is certainly what is called
contretemps,"
Il don't know anything about con-
tretemps, but ! do about shotguns and
robbers. and don't you try to play any
game on me. used to live out in
Kansas, | did, and I've killed rattle
snakes and coyotes When my Peter
died they sent for me to come on and
live with them. I've made things
hum around here since. That tin
peddler got the best Of me, but I've
made up for II by capturing Rallies. as
they call you"
Madam" replied Mr.. Semple In his
softest tones. 'let us look at the stu
alton as II is. ! am a gentleman
friend OF mine at the club wagered
500 against $50 that ! could not
drive my auto 10 miles and back
have lost. II stands out there as dead
as Julius Caesar. really came In
here to borrow a wrench TO make re-
pairs. II | am arrested can easily
prove who | am, but II the club gets
hold of the matter | shall be guyed to
death. Can't you tell by my looks that
| am no robbery"
mo, sir. can't!" was the Arm re
ply. "out In Kansas could tell
preacher from q lightning-rod man.
but here In the east everybody 10
mixed up. And don't you be purring
as soft as an old cat. thinking to BAN
boozle me and get me of my guardi
There are 90 buckshot in this gun. and
II pull the trigger they will blow
hole through you as big as red
parasol!"
And Mr. Semple talked no more
not out loud. What he said to him
self is as sacred as the account books
of the beef trust.
II was the longest two hours he
o.
and her daughter Florence returned In
their auto from a ride They saw the
dead machine I'm front and were
| trifle curious, but they we're hardly
/ prepared for the sight that met them
In the sitting room. There was Aunt
Ellen, gun in hand. and looking as
large as she could and there was
gentleman with his hands on his
knees. trying to look as small as he
felt.
Il was holding him till you got back,
and now you can telephone for the
constable" proudly announced the
woman of the shotgun.
But there was no telephoning. There
were questions and answers and ex-
plantations, and the woman and the
gun passed into the kitchen, though
very grudgingly II isn't very hard to
Identify a gentleman and an honest
man who has the documents with him.
Everybody had the sense to treat the
affair as a Joke, and that made things
easy. No wrench was needed TO re-
pair thai dead auto. Miss Florence
had been driving her own for a year.
She went out with Mr.. Semple to spy
on, the trouble and II was soon found
and rectifed. Then they took spin
for a mile or so. to be sure. Then they
laughed again over the Rallies bust
ness. and Mr.. Semple begged the
privilege of coming down now and
then to take lesson, and when he got
back to the city he paid that wager
with smile on his face The boys at
the club wondered why he should
smile. and II was months before they
were made wise Some one In tho
club read the engagements In a soci-
ETY. paper and called out:
Say, yor fellows, no wonder Fred
Semple smiled when he forked over
that hundred Looks to me as II he
WAS million dollars ahead of the
gamel"