Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-11
d nervous breakdown, you're vary
much mistaken"

d nervous breakdown, you're vary
much mistaken"
I was puzzled. Her proposal, al
though 1t seemed 50 absolutely impos.
sible, was made with such force and
determination that, as matter OF TACT,
I really was at loss for a reply. And
the more thought. the less impossible
it seemed, and found myself secret
w arguing on her side, touched by her
whole-hearted interest, and, In spite OF
my better Judgment, pleased at the
prospect Of companionship.
VERY WE'LL said at length, you
can come" :.
Mrs. Lathrop shifted. Thank you. "
she said; II was going to do that any
how"
But" l went on, q little discon-
certed, "I want you fully to realize
that / really think you may run INTO
some danger. l know that Is q queer
thing to say in these modern times OF
ours, but It has been proved to me al
ready that an INSCRIPTIONS man fight.
ing for his desire, and feeling himself
above or outside the law. Will use un.
expected and dangerous weapons. VI
course II you come shall do my best
to protect you"
protect fiddlesticks,' said Mrs.
Lathrop; you just get me Oft your
mind and will do all the protecting
that's going to be done"
very WELL" ! laughed. Il merely
wanted to warn you. Now, Mrs.
Lathrop, have an errand to do, or
rather couple Of errands. Would you
rather wait for me here, or would you
rather come along?" 7.
"I would rather come along" said
Mrs. Lsthrop. What are your er-
rands?"
Il thought in the first place that !
would look up detective agency ana
get one of their men to help US.
NO said Mrs. Lathrop. Don't you
20 wasting your money on any OF
those detectives I had a cousin once
who hired one Of them to detect who
stole a silver teapot And he de-
tected around for couple OF weeks,
and after he'd accused the cook, who
had been with her twenty years, he
rot mad and sent In a bill that would
have paid for a whole tea-set. and
said the thief had probably melted It
up. My cousin got 50 worked up ABOUT
It that she looked over the house again
herself, and found the teapot showed
back on the pantry shelf. Those fell
lows are Just waste of money. II you
and I can't find out anything that
needs to be found out, nobody can.
What's your other errand?"
gave up the detective without argu-
ment as l felt reluctant myself to en-
gage one. "My other errand," said,
"is to buy a good revolver"
"That errand's Just az foolish as
the other one," Mrs Lathrop conn
mented decisively. Land knows, you
look strong enough to take care OF your
self without one; and a revolver Is a
dreadful temptation. A body gets
pushed in q corner, or gets mad or
something, especially II he happens to
be a young man like you. and the first
thing he knows he has gone and shot
somebody and troubles just com.
menced. The real guns the kind !
carry" Before my amazed eyes she
reached for a small traveling-bag,
opened 1t, and took out what seemed
to me a very serviceable revolver.
Nov this" she continued, "is OF some
use and doesn't ever get you into any
trouble. You see, It looks like re.
volyer and so does all the soaring
necessary when there's any soaring to
be done; and when you have to shoot,
1t shoots; but 1t doesn't go making
holes in people that you cant undo.
It's what they call a Ki-yi gun. Maybe
you know them. They carry them In
automobiles for dogs sometimes. This
one keep for tramps, I live alone so
much. It works with spring and a
bulb somewhere on It's insides, and
you load 1t with water or cologne, or
ammonia. or whatever you want; 1t
all depends on how mean your dis
position is. This time put in some
household ammonia before left the
house In hopes l might get crack at
that trained nurse. The last tramp
shot I only used cologne. guess you
could have heard him roar for half a
mile. suppose he thought he had been
blinded for life. 1t stops them every
time, Mr.. Ellsworth, and that's all you
need Of gun"
The idea was so original and 80
plausible, that Mrs Lathrop rose still
further in the high place she held In
my estimation.
'T am quite convinced. Mrs. La
throp," said, 81 see that I am to be
under very good protection"
Mrs. Lathrop smiled. II suppose you
mean that for a joke. but just wait and
see. Have you all the money you
need? Because have brought some
in case you didn't happen to have"
stretched out my hand to her. ~
can not see," I said. why you are SC
kind to me, why you are upsetting
your life and throwing yourself into
such doubtful adventure for me;