The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-12


chief, and looked the complete picture of
grief.
Mr.. Jones was so "struck all of a
heap" to use his own expression, by the
terrible intelligence that he didn't stop
to reason over the matter. He never
once thought that "Dear Edward" F"
couldn't by any possibility have re-
ceived this letter, since it hadn't been
sent. He only realized that his wife was
going to meet her lover at ten o'clock.
"Pl be there, my lady," said Mr..
Jones significantly, putting on his over
coat, preparatory to going in search of
the proper officers. "I'll be there, and
Pll give your Dear Edward something
he didn't bargain for. Tll Dear Edward
him."
About nine o'clock Mr.. Jones and a
couple of officers came up the road
stealthily, and secreted themselves be-
hind a clump of bushes near where the
two main roads crossed each other.
"Now you mind what say" said Mr..
Jones. "Tll go for him and you keep
out of the way till 1 am done with him.
I'll make him wish he'd never thought
of such thing as making love to other
mems wives, see if 1 don't. Pll POM
mel him I'll trounce him within an
inch of his life, the contemplate puppy"
and Mr.. Jones struck out right and left
at bis visionary rival in way that made
the officers litter.
They waited and waited, and kept
waiting. The ten o'clock train came in,
whistling shrilly. And still no signs of
either woman or man for whom they
were waiting.
Presently Mr.. Jones bade them listen !;
he heard steps down the road.
The night was dark, and they could
not see a rod off. But he was right in
thinking he heard steps. Some one was
coming.
"It's him, curse him." muttered MIR.
Jones. "Now you lay low, and mind
what say, don't come till 1 tell you to.
1 dare say 1 shall half kill him, but you
keep off and let me be. Pll take the conse-
quences ifI do kill him completely. Great
Jehosophat! 1 just yearn to get my
hands on the wretch"
"He's close by now," whispered one of
the men.
"I see him." answered Mr.. Jones, in
an awful whisper. "Here, hold my hat.
Pm going for him, and may the Lord
have mercy on his soulp'
Accordingly, Mr.. Jones event for
him." He made rush at the tall, black
figure coming leisurely up the road. He
gave it punch in the stomach with one
fist, and another in the ribs with the
other fist, snorting like wild bull. He
was too excited to talk intelligibly at
first. The unsuspecting recipient of
such an extraordinary greeting seemed
half inclined to run at first, but, on
second thought, seemed to think better of
it, and turned upon his assailant.
"Take that, and that, and that" cried
Mr.. Jones, who had got SO he could utter
words a trife more coherently by this
time, dealing blows right and left. "Run
away with my wife, will you? You old
villain, I'll learn you to sneak around
the Jones family trying to break it up.
Take that-and thatl and-oh, great
JehosophatT
Mr.. Jones's tune suddenly changed ;
the victim of a husbands righteous
wrath had brought his cane to bear upon
his foe, and was doing good work with
it.
"Smith Dobson !! help! help" shrieked
Jones, as the cane fell upon his head and
shoulders in unmerciful blows. "Mur.
der help"
The officers came to his assistance and
succeeded in securing the stranger.
"Pd like to know what this means!'
he demanded. "I supposed this neigh
borhood was respectable, but should
think you've all gone crazy, Or else
turned highway robbers"
"We'n let you know what it means,
cried Jones. 81 don't believe you will
want to run away with Samuel jones'
wife again."
els that you, Samuel Jones?' asked
the prisoner. 81 thought your voic'
sounded kind of familiar before, but yol
beloved so couldn't make it out. AR
you insane or idiotic, or what?"
"Lord bless me, if you amt uncl
Joshua l'' said Mr.. Jones, family. HI
felt small enough just then to craw
through knot hole. "Pm awful sorr..
that this has happened, but couldn'
help it, 1 didn't know it was you. Yo
see Amelia's fell in love with some fe
low, and 1 came across letter this after
noon that she had written to him, sayin
she'd meet him here at ten o'clock, and
got these men to help me, and we waite
for him, and l thought you was th
man."
"Fell in love with another man an
promised to meet him here at ten O o'clock
Stuff and nonsense!' exclaimed uncl
Joshua, Indignantly. "You were alway
buC OlSSCoe iOOl yOu lC CldAy
"But 1 tell you 1 saw her own letter,
exclaimed Mr.. Jones. 81 amt Graz
now, but shouldn't wonder if I shoul
be before long"
You've lost all the sense you used
have, and that wasn't enough to brag of,
said uncle Joshua, rather uncomplimen
ary. "Come along TO the house, and we
, ask Amelia what it means"
8 Uncle Joshua led the way with a pal
v in his stomach, caused by Mr.. Jones
a energetic attempt to teach his suppose
}. rival not to meddle with the Jon
: family, and Mr.. Jones followed in b
i wake with a sore head and black ey
a There was light in the sitting-roor
|. Mrs. Jones was there.
t "See here, Amelia" exclaimed unc
= Joshua, bursting in like a thunderstorl
e "you're fool of husband says YOU
rn1I A 4.