The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-17
A Woman 5 Eye
For a Defensive
Position
! By SADIE oLcoTT.

q great deal and our house being III
the country, he proposed that l keep a
pistol within reach. told him that
= i would be more afraid OF the pistol
than any ene!ny. but he said that quite
likely iflI were cornercd I would sur
prise myself. He had been u soldier
In the Spanish-American war and had
: learned by experience that under the
excitement of battle one forgets danger.
He bought me revolver. first show.
ed me how 1t worked with empty
chambers, then filed them. We had
an old fashioned hatrack 10 the hall.
with a little box on it for hat brush.
Tom said the box would be Il good
place to keep the revolver. There was
} n lid to 1t with hinges. and the weapon
would be concea led there. II any one
came to the house with evil intent he
would come 10 the door and could
take up the revolver before opening
it. All OF which was very fine. hut
was sure that would never. have the
nerve to shoot any one.
The thing remained in the box for
three years. I never passed 1t without
shudder. One day Il tramp came
along and asked for food. didn't like
his looks and wonld have told him to
move on. but was afraid Of him, ]
gave him something to eat, aud while
eating he was taking in the situations
When he had finished the meal. which
ii was plain he didn't want.Ybe arose
from the table and. instead Of leaving.
deliberately walked upstairs.
was frightened ont OF my wits; !
was willing that he should take every.
thing In tile house II he would only
let me alone. heard him rnmmaging
upstairs and knew that he was help.
tug himself to my valuables. II did
not take long for my mind to be turn.
ed from fear to Indignation ut, the.
mans appropriatiug my belongings.
There were some articles OF value
among them. but what excited my IN.
ger was the thought that he would
take my engagement ring. which ] had
left on the bureau in my bedroom.
Tom had given 1t to me when be was
poor, and it had cost veryllittle money.
but priced It far beyond anything |
had. N
Listening to the man rummaging.
became more and more indignant till
at last got mad. not angry, but mad.
That's the only word to express my
feelings. #e, ~
Then thought bit; The man
would come down the staircase after
taking what be wanted 1t occurred
to me that with a revolver IN my hand
4 would have a grcnt advantage over
him. { lifted the lid Fof thet box. but
drew back. The pistol looked so dead.
~. Then put ms hand on it aud
took 1t out. holding 1t from me. s.li.a
At that moment heard the man in
the hall above. and concluded that
il were going to save nIv prop
erty had better be mp md doing.
The thought of his going away With
my engagement ring put nerve into
me. and I fixed my attention on
enough of it for my purpose-on the
revolver. but. still holding 1t away
from me. cooked II.
Tue living room door was hung In
such q way that when It was open !
could stand In the angle it made with
the wall and through the space left
between door and wall see up the stair.
case and be largely projected. ran
into the living room, took up posi-
ton behind my improvise1 fortress
and put the muzzle of the revolver
through the opening. When the man
appeared at the head OF the stairs !
thought was going to faint. but the
sight Of lot of my things he had in
his hands and his bullying pockets
made me forget fright in a desire to
save them.
'You Just drop those things" I called
in an angry voice.
The man stopped and looked about
him for the person vino had spoken.
ratified the revolver against the door.
He saw 1t, and change came over
him.
drop thcmv' shouted.
He dropped whit ne had in Ills hands
on the steps.
"Now empty your pockets"
He did as ,Idirected.
'Turn them inside out"
He obeyed
'.Now walk out the front door,"
He obeyed with alacrity.
By this time was brave as Hon
aud was seized with desire to pun
fish him. l After he had passed out
through the door Followed him and
pointed the revolver at him. In my ex-
element | Internationally pulled the
trigger. He started to ruin.
At the moment man in buggy
drove by and. hearing the shot and
seeing the man run, tool! after him. but
the pursued turned. pulled pistol
and fred at his pursuer. who. being
nnarmed. gave up the chase.
Tom came home before my protector
left. He tpad Ton that had fred ut
the man aud missed him. was mar
vel Of courage. and he was sure that If
had not been hampered by skirts
would have followed the tramp aud
shot him.
This was all very fine. but as soon
rs the fracas was over dropped into
a chair in the hall in tremor. ut the
same time throwing the revolver as
far, from me as was able.
VVtl>~n 4 Anyl V>o,v. xI,-~ ,<Nrx, 4 hor