Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-08-26
She Loved Him
For His Courage
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

L
was from that moment little god to
her. This Is the story of how Tom
distinguished himself. One night, hear
ing something in his room, be jumped
over the footboard right into q mans
armG. Tom clinched with the robber,
who dragged him out of the room,
downstairs and through the door into
the yard During this moving scuffle
the burglar made several attempts to
put his hand to his hip pocket to get
his revolver, but Gregory anticipated
his design and foiled 1t. At last Greg
ory got his antagonist into a position
where be could himself draw the re-
volver. He did 80, cooked 1t and held
the muzxle against his enemy's ear.
The feeling of the cold steel In that DO
sition had soothing effect on the bur
glar. and he ceased to struggle. Greg
DRY shouted for policeman. One
came and took the catch to the station.
Gregory. who was in his nightshirt.
went back to bed.
The next morning all the papers con-
tanned accounts Of the capture. and
Gregory. who had gone to sleep after
the affair was over. woke up to find
himself hero. Indeed. he was a hero
before breakfast. 1t isn't every man
who can sit down to his morning meal
with newspaper before him COM
mending him for his marvellous pluck.
1t IL questionable II such acts are the
result Of pluck or the result OF i'm
pulse.
But when he went downtown to bust
ness he was surprised that every one
he met took the same View Of the mat
ter as the newspaper
That evening" having an engagement
with Jennie Oglesby. who had been
hesitating whether to bestow her affec-
tons on him or a rival Of his, she
lionized the hero. Tom, taking advan-
tage OF the situation proposed and was
accepted then and there.
Jennie was very proud Of herself IN
winning 80 noble man. She talked
to everybody about her lovers prowess.
telling the story again and again. Then
when Tom fell LII and 1t was feared he
would die she vowed that II he did
she would never marry, for she could
not expect to find a man who had
shown such evidence Of bravery.
But Tom recovered, and the two were
married. Mrs. Gregory appeared to
have but one pride in her husband. and
that was his bravery. While other ro-
mantle features Of matrimony were
worn away by the hard flint Of fact.
Tom Gregory's display Of courage
seemed to grow In luster In the eyes
of his wife Tom was not much of
money maker, nor did he occupy any
prominent position In the affairs Of the
nation. But there was one thing in
him to be proud of-his bravery. True.
his tackling a burglar was gradually
forgotten by the community, or, rath-
er, In the constant change Of its men,
bers those who had heard Of 1t were
being replaced by those who had not
One person was not likely ever to un-
dervalue this wife.
One evening when Tom was going
home from business he heard cries In
they were repeated. Some one was
begging piteously for mercy. The door
stood open. and Tom went in. A man
was beating crippled boy. Tom told
the man to desist and received only
cursing for his pains, whereupon Tom
struck him with his fist, landing him
upon the floor. Then he told the brute
h,& kn 1nnk In, ct ny1u % q q
he passed and If he ever caught him
Ill treating the cripple again he would
give him what he gave the boy. He
also said that he would be back during
the evening to investigate the case.
Tom told the story to his wife at
the dinner table. He was not interest
ed in his wife's valuation Of his PROV
ess and did not look at her to learn
how she received the account of his
protection of the cripple. Shortly aft
er dinner he took up his hat to go out.
where are you going?" asked his
wife.
ITO find out all about the case OF
that poor little cripple boy" was the
reply. ut may be necessary for me
to separate the child from the man.
At any rate. | don't propose that the
boy shall suffer any more Of his bru-
tally"
Before you CO." said Mrs, Gregory,
II want to show you something up
stairs"
what is it?'
"Come and see."
She led him to a room on the third
story.
There's something in the closet
don't know If 1t is cat or rat OF
what 1t is" she said.
Tom went to the closet and looked
in. Hearing the door shut behind
him and click. he turned and pulled
on the knob. He was locked in.
What the dickens are you doingY
No answer.
Jennie. let me out!"
mot unless you'll promise some