New Britain herald., 1924-12-15
BEGIN HERE TODAY I'll - PROTECTING PAMELA

land. I couldn't hear of it, so he gave me this"
 She produced from the pocket of her drill tunic, tiny revolver - an absurd affair of metal and mother of pearl that Fellowes could shut one hand completely over.
 Docs 1t work?" inquired the man dubiously.
 Rather! We practtced with it the whole of one Sunday after noon. until my ears positively sang. We stuck a bottle on a rock twenty yards away and I tried to hit 1 it."
 The assistants mouth tTitched.
 Did you?"
 "Yes once; the first time, of course. My brS<iler said it was be- ginner's luck and suppose he was right for never got near it again"
 He handed 1t back to her.
 "Dres Arundil know you pos sess this?"
 She did not answer for a mo- ment. but sat gazing over the rail, d far-away look in her eyes. Yes"
 Since when?"
 Since last night" She had re- lapsed into a. dull. monotonous ut terance, and all the while she was speaking point of flame played at either cheek. He came to my room and knocked, I was in bed. I thought at first 1t was the maid. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it. told him to go away; but he still stood there, grinning, his mouth moving hor- ribly. Then l threatened him with my pistol, was terribly afraid, You see, I'd practiced standing up, and it didn't seem natural to fire 1 from lying position" Try leaning on your elbow" " ad- vised Fellowes, You could hardly miss like that. He cleared out then, suppose?"
 Not at once. He laughed at me. 1 You wouldn't dare he said. l ad- ! vised him not to take chances, told | him I'd been practicing for weeks. 1 He asked me what for. I said -- to kill anyone who came in when my brother was away. He shook l his shoulders from side to side and leered. But you wouldn't want to 1 kill mel he said. I would I told him. With all my heart and soui!' "
 Fellowes, a strange light dancing in his eyes, watched her in mute admiration.
 'Lor T." h. calculated after an appreciable pause, what an out sidcr the man must be-"
 What would happen If ] killed Arundill?' she asked slowly. Would they hang me-"
 The assistant sprang to his feet and rested a heavy hand on her shoulder.
 "Of course they wouldn't" he said easily. But you're not going to J do anything of the sort. Arundilrs seen what kind of reception he's l likely to expect -- and that's. all | there is 10 it. Look here, we're pretty ncar neighbors. If, by any chance, anything should happen, fire twice -- in the air, out of the window, anywhere - and I'll be with you in a couple of shakes. Is { that bargain?"
 She held out her hand. T don't think even Corrigan could do more than that" she said.
 They lunched together in the most cheerful room Pamela had encountered since she left singa- pore. The windows, even, boasted glass panes and a cluster Of be- wldcrcd flies hung wonderingly from fresh white painted ceiling. If l had a home like this" she yentursd between the courses, 'J should never want 10 leave 1t. It makes me ashamed of our - hovel up there"
 "I expect you've succeeded in making it very comfortable, re- turned Fellowes galiantly.
 T haven't l don't believe any body could - not even you. None of the shutters fit and the rain comes in whenever there's storm. It was run up in an emergency - and IS now supposed 10 act as a permanency,"
 My last house was like that" said Fcllowes. Most of them are out here; but Corrigan's bent on re- placing them gradually. You see, Mss Nereker, hes his own master and it's his own money he's spend ing: not the public's, l suppose. it's pretty sound economy in the long run. Men stop with feller who troubles himself about their crea- ture comfort. He hasn't the bother Of constantly chasing round for fresh blood Besiaes, a chap can do twice the work when he's well housed and looked after"
 T suppose SO" agreed Pamela dreamily. This Corrigan institution seemed nice, comfortable sort Of affair to belong 10. She wondered why her brother had never told her -hout if. Perhsns he didn't know