Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-08
STARTS FIRE AND
HAS WIERD YARN
Gertrude Hanson Tires of
Monotony of Housework, so
Poses as Heroine.
"RESCUED" BY EMPLOYER
Girl Confesses She Invented Tale OF
Big Man Trying to Burn Her
Alive.

Chicago, Ill, Nov. S.-Gertrude Han
son is IL years old. Her kin live at
1888 Peoria street. Gertrude does
not live with them. For eighteen
months she has been hired out" She
is the Little Orfant Annie" of the
Otto V Johns household, which Is sit
uated more than a mile from Ger
trude's homestead at $3.50 Lowe ave
nue., and is in the suburb called Fern
wood
In the $40 odd days that Gertrude
Hanson has hired out her daily
schedule worked out something like
this:
a. m.-Alarm clock rings.
CHS a. m.-Put on the oatmeal.
. a m.-Help dress the children.
7:30 a. m.-Call breakfast.
s a .m.-Wash dishes.
$50 a. m-Feed the chickens.
8 a. m.-Make the beds.
But why continue? There was the
same ole thing to do at the same old
time every day OF the year. Not that
Gertrude Hanson's work was arduous.
Her mistress is kind. The children like
Gertrude's douglfnuts. Everybody was
nice to her. But nothing different ever
has happened.
SHE HEARS STARTLING; STORY.
Yesterday morning after the chill
dren had been started off to school
neighbor called on Mrs. Johns. The
two sat in the parlor. The visitor had
startling story of a pyromaniac to-
tell. In the midst of the narrative
Gertrude stepped into the hallway
. I,. inf rAn seh
water from her dripping hands onto
her apron.
And do you know" the neighbor
was saying, he just naturally lit a
match and the whole place was a roar
ing furnace"
You don't say" exclaimed Mrs.
Johns.
Mrs. Johns CHANGED to look up.
There stood Gertrude Hanson. mouth
open, eyes bullying, transfixed in an
ecstasy of horror.
Gertrude" said Mrs. Johns.
"Yessum,' said Gertrude.
Want anything"
Nom" said Gertrude. She started
ostentatiously for the kitchen, then
tiptoed back and drank of the nara
tive to its very dregs.
EULL COMES BEFORE THE THRILL.
Her guest departed Mrs. Johns
found Gertrude had washed up the
dishes and put things in order. Where
upon she assured Gertrude she could
rest awhile. Mrs. Johns was glad the
fall housekeeping was over. Gertrude
Hanson said, "Yessum," and departed
for her room.
One hour later the suburb of Fern
wood was having the thrill of its whole
village life. Gertrude Hanson, Mrs.
Johns maid, you know, was attacked
by a burly ruffian. She fought like a
tigress, but he dragged her into the
basement, bound her hand and foot,
gagged her. robbed her of her gold
beads and then tried to finish his foul
work by pouring kerosene all over the
place and setting it Cn fire! Amt it |
awful?
The downtown newspapers had sew
en- column black headlines about the
daredevil pyromaniac and the beauti- |
full maid servant. He was a big rob-
Der and he tried to burn her alive. Only |
her means, which attracted Mrs. Johns, |
and a few speedy buckets of water |
from volunteer fire departments saved |
the brave gyrrul.
But THE TRUTH COMES OUT.
But in the meantime Capt. Joseph |
Smith was having a fatherly talk with /
Gertrude Hanson. And after a gentle |
third degree Gertrude was held tightly
in Mrs. Johns arms.
Il wanted to be a hero" sobbed Ger
trude Hanson. "I'I never do il again" |