Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-07-26
A WEAPON
Of DEFENSE
BY FIE STEW EMS


the pages of her book mechanically
Her mind was too intent upon GER
tain intensely important episode in
her own life story to care whether the |
fictitious woes of Elizabeth Or Regin-
aid eliminated happily or not, and she
finally let the novel fall unheeded to
her lap.
A fire blazed cheerily on the hearth,
and the rose-shaded lamp on the Ia
BILE at her side diffused soft radi
ance over all, but SO far as Olive was
concerned the room might have been |
stepped in Egyptian darkness or
draped with the habiliments of woe.
1t would have been more nearly in
keeping with her present mood
"Oh, why was l so foolish as to re-
fuse Kenton Dudley?" Olive groaned,
as she gazed unseeingly into the fire.
"Of course l never supposed he cared
so little as to take the first no Be
sides, had no idea l cared until it
was too late. And now my life is
spoiled. People say one gets over
such things but know l never shall"
Olive was very young, besides an in
veterate novel reader.
A creeking noise brought the
dreamer out of her gloomy reverie
with a start. She sat up wide-eyed,
and listened intently for a repetition
of the ominous sound.
Its only the wind rising" she
laughed shakily. 1T always seems as
If a frame house was going all to
pieces if there is the least gust of
wind. If every little noise is going
to scare me so, shall wish l hadn't
urged Dick and Lucia to fulfill their
evenings engagement at the Owens,
even if my cold did keep me at home"
Olive had little excuse for her un-
easiness for there had been several
burglaries in the neighborhood.
Except for Nora, the maid, she was
alone in the house, and Nora's pres
ence would be Of little use in an
emergency, for her room was in the
third story. she was probably asleep
long ago, and when once asleep lit
tie short of an earthquake could
arouse her.
- Olive wondered if Dick Wentworth
owned a pistol, but she could not have
brought herself to touch any ire-arm
had she known where to find one
She would have considered burglar
less dangerous.
"Of course there isn't any danger
she thought. Still I should feel SAT
er if had some sort Of a weapon"
Suddenly a brilliant idea came tt
Olive At least it seemed brilliant tt
her. Somewhere she remembered
having read Of red pepper as having
been used as a weapon of defense.
Naturally she had no red pepper
but she decided that no well regulat
ed family would be apt to be withou
the pungent spice.
, Gathering together firmly the littl'
courage she possessed, Olive started
on q pilgrimage through the dark AM
silent house in the direction OF tn
kitchen. The occasional pressing o
an electric button not only lighted he
way but added to her stock of cou1
age. '"--r".eyvv "-~''~
After much search, she succeede
in locating the spices in an elaborat
kitchen cabinet 1t seemed sOmeWha
audacious for a guest to be rummagin
in the lower regions without tn
knowledge of her hostess but the eli
cumstances seemed to furnish an e!
cuse.
With a sigh of relief Olive graspe
small but we'll filled paper bag an
sped back to her chamber much fas
err than she had come.
81 shall have to spread it out so
can easily get a handful if the nee
arises" she decided with light laug
After emptying the reddish pOwd
into an empty bon-bon dish, 81
placed the dish conveniently on Il
table and sank into the chair.
By this time both gloomy though
and fears had been completely ba
ished and Olive was soon lost in b
book.
Sometime later she was aroused
the unmistakable sound Of stealt
footsteps up the front walk.
With unusual presence of mi
Olive turned down the light. TIL
she sat listening with bated breath
The footsteps did not ascend
front steps but skirted around
side of the house.
With a great heart throb Olive RI
lied that some one was beneath
window fumbling at the stout ladt
like trellis leaning against the S
of the house. Then she heard sc
one cautiously climbing up.
For an instant Olive struggled v
a deathly faintness that threatened
overpower her Then she pulled
self together, rose, clutched han'
of the spice, and tottered towards
window.
There came fumblirg at the
dow.
Olive held her breath, hol
against hope that the window
fastened, though she well knew
ebo uac ont tn he careless al