The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-20
Mr.. Lockwood's Grievance.

During the last trip took over the
Pacific Railroad, I noticed that after we
left Omaha that the man in the seat in |
front Of me appeared to have something !
upon his mind. He would scowl dread.
fully for few moments, then he would
gaze with a far away look out of the win |
dow; then he would draw a hughe bowie.
knife from his coat pocket, and after
strapping it upon his boot, he would run
his thumb along the edge. After scowl-
ing few moments, more, he would take
out a revolver, examine the chambers to
assure himself that they were loaded, NUT
ter few vigorous sentences, and put it
away again.
watched him for day or two; and
at last he saw ME looking at him. He
said:
~ reckon you think am excited about
something's Well am! am going out to
Salt Lake to kill man."
I'm iced! How terrible! What's the
natter"
swell, you see-by the way, do you
know Jim Stebbins?"
"N-n-nO! think not.
swell, this is the way it came about:
Twelve years ago Jim and were friends
and when I got married jim mad e me a
present of the most splendid silver cake
basket you ever saw in your life"
"That's not what you're going to kill
| him for is it2"
'Of course not! And I felt so grateful
that took him by the hand, and said:
Jim! I'll give you cake-basket as hand
some as that whenever you're married, as
sure as my names Jonathan Lockwood. ,
Made him a solemn pledge, you know"
ibid he marry subsequently,"
sMarry2 o thunder! Let me tell you
About year after he went to Utah aud
became Mormon. Within month he
sent me cards for his wedding with Han
nah Watson. So went out, bought a
sublime cake-baskct, and forwarded it by
express. Two weeks later he wrote to
me to say that Hannah's sister, Ethelber-
ia, had been scaled to HIM, and he asked
me out to the wedding"
"Did you lo?"
mo; but sent him another majestic
cake-basket. But hardly had fortnight
elapsed before Stevens telegraphed to me
that as old Mrs. Watson, Hannah's and
Ethelberta's mother, seemed so lonely
now the girls were gone, he had conciud'
ed to annex, her also. He promised tc
send full particulars by mail. That night
q third Respondent cake-basket went
West in charge of the express company
'You have paid him three to one, then2'
''Three2 Wait till I get through. Well
I heard nothing more from him for yea1
or two, when one day cards came for hi:
marriage with Louisa g. Carboy. was
pretty poor about that time. and hardly
; able to make presents to anybody, but
had pledged my word, and so out wen
another imposing cake-basket."
"Did he get it!''
"He wrote and said his darling Louis,
thought it was beautiful; and he added ,
|. postscript, in which Re mentioned that h
had arranged for effecting further con
solidation on the following Thursday will
Helen Montgomery Bilkersham, relic o
, old Bi:kcrsham, the popular halter"
: "Did you responder
II did. borrowed some money of
friend and promptly forwarded the mos
stupendous cakc-basket I could buy
: But at the same time I wrote to him an,
= asked HIM If he didn't think it was almos
time to knock off. He replied and said h
was sorry had such narrow views G
! lnatrimony, particularly as he had every
= thing ready for another marriage on til
u following Tuesday with Mary Jane VII
berforce, charming girl with property.
"You didn't send one to her, did youl
"Of course! couldn't break nv word
IS She got the most impressive cake baskt
Il l could lay my hands on. Well, Steven
8, didn't stop there. That was two years ag'
IS He has married eight times since, and
,. have come to time promptly with til
e cake baskets. Well, sir, three days ago
q received notice that he was going to ma
ry again."
D "Again2''
d ''Yes, again! That, you know, lets hi,
IS out! What does the man mean? Docs
g suppose own cake-basket factor
where they turn EN- out with cranl
It Does he suppose that have mine whel
e We excavate cake-baskets by the bushe
h Has he got an idea that cake. baskets gro
e on a tree, and all I've got to 10 is 1
n knock 'em down with pole when they al
:: ripe? Why, he's an unmitigated ass! An
It as he won't let me off from my promis
q I'm going out to massacre him. You III
derStand9 In less than three days tnero
a be a dozen or so widows in Salt Lake 2,
a ing to see man named Stevens buried
h Then Mr.. Lockwood turned gloomil
e away, sharpened his knife again on h
boot and relapsed into silence.
r 1t soas little hard on him, l thin
q myself.-MuE. Adeler.