The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-14

tLathrop, I have an errand TO do, or
rather a couple OF errands. Would
you rather wait for me here, or would
you rather come along
Il would rather come along, said
Mrs. Lathrop. What are your err
rands?"
Il thought in the first place that
would look up a detective agency ana
get one OF their men To help US,
No" said Mrs. Lathrop Don't
you 40 wasting your money I'm any
of those silly detectives. had
cousin once who hired one OF them 10
detect who stole a silver teapot. And
he detected around for a couple or
weeks. and after he'd accused the
cook, who had been with her twenty
years. he got mad and sent In bill
that would have paid for a whole tea
set, and said the thief had probably
melted II up My cousin got so
worked up about il that she looked
over the house again herself and
found the teapot showed back on tho
pantry shelf Those fellows are just
waste OF money. II you and ! can't
find out anything that needs 70 be
OUT uODONg " hoh gSNA
other errand?'
l gave up the detective without ar
gument, as | felt reluctant myself to
engage one. My other errand,
said, rs to buy a good revolver.
That errand's just as foolish as
the other one" Mrs. Lathrop com
mented decisively. Land knows, you
look strong enough 10 take care OF
yourself without one; and revolver
is dreadful temptation. A body gets
pushed in a 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 travelling bag,
opened II, and took out what seemed
! to me a very serviceable revolver.
Nov, this she continued lis OF
some use and doesn't ever get you
into any trouble You. see, 1t looks
like q revolver and so does all the
soaring necessary when there's any
soaring 10 be done: and when you
have to shoot. IL shoots; but IL doesn't
go making holes in people that you
can't 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. live alone 80 much. IL
works with a spring and bulb some
where on Its insides, and you load
! 1t with water, or cologne, or ammonia.
or whatever you want; II all depends
fs.
This time | put in some household
ammonia before | left the house in
hopes | might get a crack at that
trained nurse. The last tramp | shot
only used cologne. guess you
could have heard him roar for half a
mile I 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 so
plausible that Mrs. Lathrop rose still
further in the high place she held in
my estimation.
II am quite convinced. Mrs. Lath-
rop," | said. IL see that | am TO be
under very good protection"
Mrs. Lathrop smiled. Il suppose
you mean that for joke, but you 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. Il
cannot see," | said, why you are so
kind 10 me. why you are upsetting
your life and throwing yourself into
such doubtful adventure for me; but
God bless you for It, all the same"
Mrs. Lathrop took my hand and
patted 1t. releasing IL with q sudden,
Embarrassed little gesture
"Oh, well. Mr.. Ellsworth, somehow
I've sort OF taken to you" she said,
"ahd | quite lost my heart to that
poor young lady. Then, too, want
to get even with that doctor and that
nurse don't suppose you'd believe
It, but It's so; | get awful tired Of
living there alone with nothing ever
happening. It's one reason I rent my
rooms; just to see new face once in
a while; and even that isn't what
you'd call leading exactly an exciting