The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-05-14
held it out ut arms length as if it had
been mn uncleaO thinp

held it out ut arms length as if it had
been IN unclean thing.
"Why, what the -" he began.
But Joe had approached inquisitively,
and now made n grasp ut the document,
crying:
"Hallo, where did you get that? It's
mine!"
Four eyes, containing az many points
Of Interrogation, were instantly turned
upon the medical student, who pocketed
his prize and proceeded, with some shame
facedness and n good deal of slang, toex-
plain.
Master Joe had "come mucker"
over the Derby, he said, and, the pre-
ceding being settling day, his creditors
clamorous, and funds insufficient, he had
been forced to "pop his ticker" 1t was
his first transaction of the kind, and he
did not wish to identify himself; so III
the furry of the moment, he mentioned
the first name and the first street that
occurred to him. 81 never thought of
this nabs' here, he went on, with half
comic glance ut Mr. Smith. "It's his
own fault for having such Il jolly common
name" The youth proceeded to say that
"the Governor" had been "duced waxy"
on account of various recent delinquent
cies, and had threatened all sorts of pains
and penalties in case of fresh offense.
He was consequently all anxiety to
recover the "tickcr" before it's absence
WAS discovered. He saw his way to raise
the necessary "coin" by an ingenious
process of financing, but what he deemed
the equally necessary document WAS
missing. Hinc Hicc tdchrymG.
After II rapturous reconciliation be-
tween the lovers, they turned wrathfully
upon poor Joe. Margaret began n Ii
rade on the subject of "dreadful boys"
in general, and this dreadful boy in par
very stern; but the culprit's expression
Of mingled contrition and humor was ir-
resistible, and his future brother-in-law
burt INTO IA hearty fit of laughter, in
which the young lady was forced to join,
and i'll which, it need hardly be said,
Master Joe nude a very effective third.
"Well, young man" said Smith as
soon rs gravity was restored, 81 can't
help laughing, but your pranks have
caused me very serious annoyance, and
You deserve n lecture. Let me advise
you to let Derbys alone, and you won't
'come muckers. But if you ever should
be III want Of a lift consider 'his nabs,"
rs you are pleased to call me, an elder
brother Il gentle squeeze to Mag
gie's waist" who has a pound or two
by him, and don't trouble Mr.. OTriball.
In the meantime never mind that
financial operation mt which you hint
This will rescue the ticker, and Maggie
and I-ch Mag?-will keep our secret
Loyalty. Only-don't do it again.
Joe pocketcd the largesse with graft
tude, and all was roseate once more.
But there was something else to be ex-
What the deuce was that ill-omened
document doing dans ccttc yaicrc {?
How did Mr.. OTriballs slip of blue
paper find it's way into Mr. Smiths card
case? As this perplcxing question came
on the tapis the door flew open, and in
burst Janet. She had been once more
indulging her weakness for key-hole
practice, and the situation had become
too much for her.
81 pit it in, Miss Maggie pit it I'M"
she cried, and straightway "fell a sob
bling" like the "birds of the air OH the
occasion of certain memorable obsequies.
Then followed fresh explanations, fol-
lowed by fresh mirth over Janet's solicit
tude for Mr.. Smiths character and feel
ings. When calm again reigned that
gentleman turned tenderly to his sweet
heart.
"And to think, dearest" he began,
with symptoms of relapsing into his
former strain of eloquence, "tO think
that this stupid affair should almost have
put a stop to the current of our
"Not stop, Smith, gutfawed Joe, as
he hurried off to recover his lost time
piece. Not stop, old fellow! Only
a check-by Pawn!"