The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-05-25
A Slight Misunderstanding.

A solemn-looking man called at Mr..
Butterwick's house the other day and
asked for Mrs. Butterwick. When she
came into the parlor he said:
Mrs. B~utterwick, I believer Mrs.
Bstterwick, 1 come to bring you some
rather bad news. l don't know how
you'll take it, but l feel as l ought to
tell you, no matter how it cuts you up.
Your husband came to my house with
his dog; it is u large yellow dog, I
believe, yours is, amt itP With a bushy
tail. Well, any how, he staid around
there an hour or two looking at the
children and having a good time, and
after Il while, Wilson's colored boy said
something to him he didn't like, and
he jumped at the boy and threw him to
the ground"
"Very extraordinary conduct, l must
say" said Mrs. Butterwick.
Well, you know | was afraid he'd
hurt the boy, and so | took hold of him
and tried to pull him oil, and that made
him mad at me, and he turned around
and began to attack me. Now, really,
for Il while thought he'd a.killcd me If
he could a-had n chance"
"lic certainly would never have at
tempted such n thing"
"lou can't always tell. So | ran
into the house and got my gun, and
when he followed me | took aim and
let him have both barrels. Busted the
legs clean of of him, and he rolled over
inscnsiblc."
"lou infamous villain! How can
you GENE and tell me such \ horrible
story rs thatp | believe YOU killed
him. Where is hep want to see Mr..
Butterwick at once"
Snow, be calm, madam, and let me
finish. l knew well enough you thought
II good deal of him, and | felt kinder
sorry | did it. But, howsomcdcvcr, it
was done, and so as he was insensible |
picked him up and brought him in the
house, and rs he seemed sorter pretty
far gone my wife says, says she, viii
liam, why don't you load up again and
put Il couple more loads in him, SOS to
settle him?'"
"Thc wretch!"
"That's what she says. But
thought I'd hold on for a while SOS to
give him a chance. And after a while
he came to, but he was so wretched
about the legs that thought maybe
it'd be Il kindness to put him out of his
misery, so ! got II club and hit him or
the head till | killed him.
"Killed him! Merciful heavens, |.
he dead?"
"Dead as old julius Caesar, ma'am-
rolled over and died like Il lamb. Ant
| thought I'd come up and tell yor
about it, for knew it'd annoy yeu lik,
thunder, and l wanted to let you know
did it in self-defense. Now, don't take
IN so. Don't cry like that. 1t make.
me feel awful"
"This is too horrible. How dar,
you come to me after perpetrating suci
IN infamous crime? I'll have yol
hung for murder. My poor, poor hus
band"
Couldn't help it, ma'am. | wa,
driven to it,"
"Did he say any thing before h,
died?"
"Say any thing! don't quite un
derstand the-n
"Did he leave any message for M
before he expired.
"N-n-no, ma'am-just kinder howlet
and Hoped his tail Il couple of times
that's all"
Chopped his tail a! My husband
You're certainly insane. Perhaps yor
intend to kill me. Help! help!"
"Now be calmer. Your husband
Why, madam, | don't know what you
mean"
"Didn't you say you killed Mr.. But
terwick, you wretchP"
Certainly not! Well, that's tn,
funniest thing | ever-Mr. Butterwick-
Mr.. Butterwick! Killed Butterwick
That beats Nebuchednczzar! Why
madam, | was referring to that yellow
dog. killed your dog"
Then Mrs. Butterwick suddenly driec
her eyes, looked daggers at him for
minute, and ilounced out of the room
The murderer twirlcd his hat on hi
finger for a minute, and then slowl,
rising and moving to the front door h,
murmured:
"Killed old Butterwick! Well, that
good. But blame me if | don't half be
lieve she's kinder sorry il wasn't hin
instead of the dog."-Phaadelphia Blu
letin.