Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-08-02
A WEAPON
Of DEFENSE
BY EFFIE STEW EMS

Her mind was too intent upon a 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 UNDECIDED to
her lap
fire blazed cheerily on the hearth,
and the rose-shaded lamp on the Ia
BILE at her side diffused a soft radi.
,ance over all, but so far as Olive was
concerned the room might have been
isteeped 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
$50 little as to take the first mo- Be.
sides, had no idea 1 cared until it
was too late. And now my life is
spoiled People say one gets over
such things but l 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
It's 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, l 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 fire-arm
had she known where to find one.
She would have considered a burglar
less dangerous.
"Of course there isn't any danger"
she thought. Still l should feel SAT-
er if l had some sort of a weapon"
Suddenly a brilliant idea came to
Olive. At least it seemed brilliant to
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 we'll regulat-
ed family would be apt to be without
the pungent spice.
Gathering together firmly the little
courage she possessed, Olive started
on pilgrimage through the dark and
silent house in the direction Of the
kitchen. The occasional pressing Of
an electric button not only lighted her
way but added to her stock of cour-
age.
After much search, she succeeded
in locating the spices in an elaborate
kitchen cabinet. 1t seemed somewhat
audacious for guest to be rummaging
in the lower regions without the
knowledge Of her hostess but the cir
<cumstances seemed to furnish an ex-
'cuse. ~'~~
With a sigh of relief Olive grasped
a small but we'll filled paper bag and
sped back to her chamber much fast
er than she had come
81 shall have to spread it out so I
can easily get handful if the need
arises" she decided with light laugh
After emptying the reddish powder
into an empty bon-bon dish, she
placed the dish conveniently on the
table and sank into the chair.
BY this time both gloomy thoughts
and fears had been completely ban
ished and Olive was soon lost in her
book.
Sometime later she was aroused by
the unmistakable sound of stealthy
footsteps up the front walk.
With unusual presence of minC
Olive turned down the light Their
she sat listening with bated breath.
The footsteps did not ascend The
front steps but skirted around thu
side of the house.
With great heart throb Olive real
lied that some one was beneath he
window fumbling at the stout ladder
like trellis leaning against the sid
of the house. Then she heard som
one cautiously climbing up
For an instant Olive struggled wit
deathly faintness that threatened t
overpower her. Then she pulled he
self together, rose, clutched nandfl
of the spice, and tottered towards tn
window.
There came fumbling at the viii
dow
Olive held her breath, hopin
against hope that the window wa
oh wall Ennyxr bs