The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-05-17


irritated. One word, as the saying goes,
bought another; we both became angry,
and at length he told me that he thought it
an unjustifable outrage on our parts to lose
his share of the money during his absence.
| called him fool, and he retorted that
was scoundrel. In towering rage l
seized the tongs, which stood on the side
of the hearth, and before gave a thought
to the consequences, struck him on the
head with all the force of which | was
master. He fell instantly. The next mo-
ment restored me to consciousness, and
raised him up. The blow had fractured
his skull, and although no blood had flown
his thick cap, which he had not remov-
ed during the conversation, doadening
somewhat the blow-he was evidently dead.
A moments reflection convinced me
that one of two things must be done ei-
ther to conceal the body, or todiscover the
fact, and proclaim that | had done the deed
in self-defence. The fear that had could
not we'll make it appear so to the public,
deferred me from the latter course. had
stated the day before to my landlady, that
intended to send box full of papers to
my uncle's residence in the country and
the large packing -boxprocured for the pur-
pose then stood in my room. determin-
ed to put the body in this, and thus dispose
of it. AS | was about to do this, | heard
a ringing at the door-bell. Thrusting a.
side the window-curtain, put my head
through the window, which was luckily
half-hoiSted, and saw that my companions
of the night before had come to pay me a
visit. knew that they would at once
come to my room, and take no denial for
entrance. In an instant my course was
determined on. | hastily dragged the
body to the closet, placed it upright, and
taking my duelling-caso from the place OF
its usual bestowment, closed the closet
door. | then threw on my great coat, put
on my hat, and tossed the chairs in confu-
sion roundmy room. l had scarcely done
this when Iheard the steps of the party or
the stairs, and, as they entered the room
l gave tremendous oath, with every 9th,
er evidence of counterfeited passion.
Hallop exclaimed Harry Pierce, what
is the matter with you? Going outP
i have this moment come in said l,
to gctmy pistols. Thought I'd practice
this morning-and some vagabond has
been in my room, and turned everything
upside down. It's too bad, by Jove
there's whole pile Of shirts, just from the
wash, tossed on the floor q
Ny friends burst into wild laugh, ant
Tom Ncedham exclaimed:
'Servedyouright. What businesshavC
you to own 50 many shirts ? have only
one. In fact that was what kept me from
you yesterday so long. l had tolie in bee
while it was being washed and ironed-ant
the woman keptit two hours beyond time
because | owed her a little BILL
,'Well,' said l, Il wish you'd stop you
nonsense and fix up matters; and we'll g
out and take a crack or two this morning.
Not with me- answered Tom. 1t
too cold for the fingers, Tell you wha
e we'll do-we'll have a game of whist
: There's justa snug party; l wonder wher
S Fred is?
Il don't know said l he promise
yesterday to come and see me-
'I'll bet sous cried Jack Fry, tha
: he was the Robin Goodfellow who upse
J, your wardrobe
+ just like him. replied but never
d theless, l am bent on shooting this morn
+ ing
t. 80 you shall shoot, old fellow erie
= Tom Needham, so you shall and yo
?, needn't cool your fingers either Yo1
,, leave this old rat-uap tomorrow, don
is you"
d Yes
IS Very good. Then we'll give you
e landlady proof of our solid regard
II Here , and he took a piece Of coal frOr
= the hearth as he spoke-'Pll chalk outth
n old lady on this closet door. Load tn
IS pistols-its about twelve PAGES from tn
= other side of the room-and we'll putmol
# balls into the old feminine, than she put
st peppor-colns into her mock-turtle soup.
N A general yell of approval greeted tn
e, novel proposition, amid which Tom gray'
e " proceeded to sketch what he called
remarkably correct portrait of the mistre'
>, of the house and Harry Pierce sat
6 work to load the pistols. When Harl
: had finished, he claimed first shot for h
. pains which Tom claimed for the san
a reason, insisting that as he had set up Il
70 windmill, he ought to tilt at it. A moo
:, alteration followed, which was finally Sc
j tied by toss up, which Harry wOn' I