Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-06-20
Mr.. Grievance.

Mr.. LOckWo0d's Grievance.
During the last trip l took over the
Pacific. Railroad, 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 scowt dread
fully for few moments, then he would
gaze with a far away look out of the win
dow: then he would draw a huglle bowie.
knife from his coat-pocket, and after
strapping it upon his boot, he would run
his thumb along the ed ge. After scowl-
ing few moments, more, he would take
out revolver, examine the chambers to
assure himself that they We're loaded, NUT
ter q few vigorous sentences, and put 1t
away again.
watched him for d day or two; and
at last he saw me looking at him. He
said:
81 reckon YOU think am excited about
something? Well I am I am going out to
Salt Lake to kill man."
"In Iced! How terrible! What's the
matter9'
"Wcll, you see-by the way, do you
know jim Stcbbins?'
IN no! think not
''Wcll, this is the way it came about
Twelve wears AGO jim and were friends
and when got married .I':l mad { 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 it,
''Of course not! And felt 50 grateful
that took him by the hand, and said
Jim. Ill give you a cake basket as hand
some as that whenever yon're married, as
sure as my names Jonathan Lockwood.
Made him solemn pledge, you know
Did he marry subsequently?'
| "Marrv! O thunder! Let me tell you
About Il wear after he went to Utah and
! became q Mormon Within a month he
sent me cards tor his wedding with Han
nah Watson. SO went out, bought a
sublime cakc-baskct, and forwarded it by
! express, Two weeks later he wrote to
me to say that lIannahs sister, Ethelber.
ia, had been scaled to INN, and he asked
me out to the wedding.
did you %o!''
No; but sent him another majestic
cake basket. But hardly had fortnight
elapsed before Stevens tclcgraphed to me
that is ola Mrs. Watson, Hanhah's AND
! Ethcbcrta> mother, seemed 80 lonely
nov the girls We're gone, he had conclud
ell to annex, her also. He promised tc
send full particulars by mail. That night
4 third Respondent cake-basket went
West liz charge Of the express company,
ia To
Three? Wait 1ill get through. Well
| heard nothing mere from him for yea]
or two, when one day cards came for hi:
marriage with Louisa &. Carboy. was
! pretty poor about that time, and hardly
j able to make presents TO anybody, but
had pledged my word, and SO out wen
another imposing cakc-b basket
did he get it,
ale wrote and said his darling LOUISE
thought it was beautiful; and he added /
postscri pit, in whic:, Re mentioned that he
had arranged for etfectirg further con
solidation on the following Thursday Will
Helen Montgomery Bilkersham, relic O.
old Bi.kersham, the popular hatter.'
did you responds"
II did l borrowed some money Of ;
friend and promptly forwarded the mos
stupcndous cakc-baskct l could buy
But at the same time wrote to him an(
asked HIM If he didn't think it was almos
time to knock Off He replied and said hi
was sorry I had such narrow views O
matrimony, particularly as he had every
thing ready for another marriage on tn
following Tuesday with Mary Jane Viii
berforce, a charming girl with property.
I You didn't send one to her, did you?
"Of course! couldn't break my word
She got the most impressive cake-bas
l could lay my hands on. Well, Steven
didn't stop there. That was two years age
lie has married eight times since, and
have come to time promptly with tn
cake baskets. Well, sir, three days ago
received notice that lie was going to mar
~ again.
"Again!'
Yes, again. That, you know, lets hin
ont. What does the man mean? Does h
suppose I own a ke-basket factory
where they turn EN- out with crank
Does he suppose that have mine wher
we cxcavatc cake baskets by the bushel
Has he got an idea that cake baskets groy
on tree, and all I've got to 20 is t
knock EN- down with apole when they ar
ripe? Why, he's an unmitigated ass AM
as he won't let me off from my promise
I'm going out to massacre him. You I'm
derstaud? In less than three days there ;;
be dozen or so widows in Salt Lake 60
Il ing to see man named Stevens buried !
Then Mr.. Lockwood turned gloomil
away, sharpened his knife again on hi
boot and relapsed into silence.
1t acos little hard on him. thin
myself-Nu1. 1deler.