Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-11
He is ruch a strict man

,o..n TSf
Thanks" said Mrs. Bland. "What
a wonderful head you have for figures"
She scrutinized the bill closely, "And
what a queer way of making sevensr'
"Oh! in the bank am in l do little
else than add up figures for hours on
the stretch. There is nothing queer
about my sevens. always cross my
sevens. Then they do no. look like ones.
In great many banking houses IN New
York that is the rule. Scientific cal
culators always use the crossed sew
ens." ".l0
"Ah, indeed. If you want to see
iudicrous 5 or 3, look at mine-such
wormy, twisting things. Look" and
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.
"They are quite ludlcrous, indeed"
! said. There, make your this way.
and don't bring the tail of your 5 below
the line like IA French c." and l made
the figures.
Thanks for the lesson. will detain
you no longer. must go now and pay
my bill-$2S.67, you saw"
With bow. / left Mrs. Bland, and
hurrying to the water-side. got my boat
and was after blue fish. l had better
luck than usual, and brought home that
afternoon some fine blue fish and weak
fish. had the best fish cooked for
SUPPER portion of which l sent to
Mrs. Bland, who seemed to partake of
it with relish. l was not idiot enough
to think, though it was three hours ago
that the lady was especially pleased
with my attention, but in the evening
"a fine moonlit one-Mrs. Bland ling
cred on the verandah. / was smoking
cigar, sitting at the bottom Of the
steps within speaking distance of her.
"You very kindly offered me the use
of Mr.. BANDS tackle. Now, you have
not congratulated me on my luck"
said.
81 do, do" said Mrs. Bland quickly,
with a certain amount of expansiveness
She rose from her chair and held out
her hand, and it fairly trembled. l was
surprised. What possible sympathy
could there exist between us !? did not
care to have even passing Irritation
with her. How the deuce had my fish
CdllCu III oO AAAA hCd til CApl CSSlOh vi
the part of Mrs. Bland?
Give blue fish, which would weigh
80 pounds, not counting the weak fish,
and dab or so" said, in the most
commonplace way.
Eyes, yes," said Mrs. Bland appar-
emily absorbed. ,t
"But l have broken my squid, my
best one, and l would really like to
borrow hook or so to make another.
Could you really lend me some hooks
until send to New York p
Willingly, wait here nom ent," and
Mrs. Bland rose and went down the hall
to her room. Just then David, the col
lored waiter, came, in with a telegraphic
message for Mrs. Bland. She returned
at once, took the message, and read it
under the hall lamp; then she went to
her room.
David" l said to the waiter, 81 did
not know that you could telegraph to
such an out of the way place as this"
ut amt often that it's done, sir. The
telegraph Office on the road is fourteen
miles from mere, but you can get mes
sages sent by the coach-though Mrs.
BANDS message comes on horseback,
with a man a-kiting."
1t was none of my business how Mrs.
BANDS messages came, though now ]
remembered that on her hotel bill there
were several charges for telegraph mes
sages. In moment more Mrs. Bland
was down stairs, holding in her hand
quite number Of large hooks. 1t was
not my fault, but the lady had taken up
with the package small fly hook,
which, as she opened the parcel, pune
tured rosy first finger, so that a drop
Of blood started.
IL am so sorry" said. MAY not
tie this handkerchief around it?'
"What. with the hook in my finger :?
Pull it out, please; no fuss" Here Mrs.
Bands face looked rigid, and the ridges
between her eyes made series of arch
ings.
"But, but" l explained, really dis
turbed, 81 can't pull it out. Can you
bear the merest cut with my pen
knife?"
"Can |? Nonsense; Of course l cam"
and she held out a taper white finger,
and l felt my heart sink within me as l
made a careful probe, and, fortunately
extricating the barb, drew out the hook,
which l deliberately placed in my pock-
et-book. would Mrs. Bland faint
now?" l asked myself.
ga glass Of water" 1 said anxiously.
"What for? TO dip my finger in !?
Ridiculous! will put it in my mouth.
Please do not destroy your pocket hand
kerchief. You will excuse my sucking
my finger like baby while l talk.
There it is all over now, young gentle
man. / never scream at a mouse, or
60 into Mysteries over a caterpillar, and
do not blink at lightning"