The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-16
Tho GuinG TINT "Jccms" PLAYED.

There was IN awful time in farmhouse
near Pontiac. We haven't received any
particulars, but solclnnly believe that a Ger
! tain husband whose from, name is "Jccms"
was made to wish he'd never been born into
this dcccitful world.
There arrived on the Western express a
nervous, wiry, black eyed woman of forty,
who kept closing and opening her fingers
all the time, as If she was clawng noses or
pulling hair. She had Il straight business
look in her eyes as she got Off the train,
and one OF the hackmcn at the depot door
vcnturcd the opinion that she had come in
to the city to forcclosc Il mort gage or make
up Il shortage" on wheat
"Sir!" began the woman as she walked
up TO the depot policeman, 81 want answers
to few questions"
Yes, mum-just So" was the humble
reply as he followed htr into the waiting
room.
"Now, thcn," she continued as she took
seat, 81 live near Pontiac. My Jccms
was in here the Fourth Of July, and didn't
get home till midnight, lie came IN here
on my money, and | want to know how he
spent it, Here is his bill of expenses MS he
made it out. He has put down So for rid
ing up town in Il hack
"That's twelve shilIings too much" re-
piled the officer.
''Just as | thought-just cxactlym she
whispered as she pu, down the figures.
" Here he has got down one dollar for see
ing the balloon go up"
"Not balloon went up that day,
madam"
"Just as thought just exactly! TIc
looked as innocent rs u lamb when he wrote
that down, but he didr1 know me Here
is eighty cents for riding across to Canada
and back"
"That should be ten"
"Just exactly what | thought last night
when he kissed me and said il was an any,
full price, but lots of comfort" " she observed
us she put down "70 'oppositc his figures.
" lie has it down here that his supper and
dinner cost him 81. 50 per meal at the Cen
trail Market. 1t strikes me that three dol
lars would buy two pretty festive meals" "
"Gou can knock of about two dollars
and half from that, said tho officer after
he had figured Il bit.
just exactly as | thought He smiled
as softly as an angel when he wrote that
down, but he was smiling at the wrong
woman. While | was home milking the
COWS and having an awful headache he was
eating his high-toncd meals like a second
John jacob Astor! And now he has put
down fifty cents for seeing the bears"
"Thc what2"
"llc says it cost him fifty cents to go
into mcnagcrie and see the bears" she
explained.
II there was mcngcrc in town on
that day, then didn't hear of it," solemn
ly remarked the officer
Just as thought-iusl MS | thought
Went i'll to see the bears, did hc2 We'll,
he'll sec several mcnagcrics when I reach
home Here Is one more item. lie saws
he paid 50 to see the rope walk"
"lt was free" replied the officer.
Yes, thought so--thought SO when he
sat there and looked 50 loving and fathcrly
and said it made his hair stand up There
will be a walk when I get back home,
and somebody's hair will stand straight ND!
That's all, and Pm much Obliged"
~ on won't kill him at once, will YOU? 20
pleaded the officer.
She looked over his head at the wall
brcathcd Hard, clcnchcd her hands, and an
swercd:
Ivc 'spcced it long time, and now
Ill claw him if dic for it ~
She walked up and down the depot with
her teeth hard shut and her eyes growing
brighter all the time, and when she finally
took the train for home, the bill of expenses
tightly clutchcd in her hand the officer
looked after the rcceding train and muscd:
Nov why did he give himself away in
that mamcr2 Why didn't he tell her right
ont that some one picked his pockct2"