Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-01-22


the pistol if he knew it, and can't
leave it under the sidewalk every day |;
a rain would spoil it,
He stopped before the open gate and
began talking to the dog in no very
complimentary terms.
"Here, you black savage said
he, "come and bite me now, will
your"
The dog slowly got up, stretched
himself out, and deliberately walked
forward to the gate.
Josh held down the pistol, and the
great black beast walked unconcernedly
up to it and proceeded to smell of the
muzzie, in a mild spirit of investiga-
ton.
''Bang!" went the pistol.
How'll" went the dog.
"Oh-g-o-o-d-g-r-a-c-i-o-u-s!" went
Josh, as he lifted his bleeding hand with
a piece of the pistol sticking to.it.
We bound it up with handkerchief,
while the bowling dog ran off around
the house, and the sound of an opening
shutter at window above warned us to
depart.
We had not passed more than three
houses, when gate just ahead of us
was pushed open, and another enor-
nous black dog came out.
"Great Cesar!" said Josh, "I've
shot the wrong dog! There's the beast
that bit me!''
"What shall we do?'' said 1, looking
about for stone.
awe can't do any thing said Josh.
"And the rest of the people on this
street must do without their papers this
morning"
Whereat he, bolted down a cross
street, and followed him.
1t was now rapidly growing light, and
all along the route there were signs that
the town was waking up. At one place
a small curly-haired man, with twink
ling black eyes, who kept confection-
er's shop, had just opened his door and
was sweeping the sidewalk.
BE kind of quiet, now," said Josh;
" l have cooky here.'
Before I could ask him what q
" cooky' was, he had glided into the
shop, followed by the man, and over
heard a little argument between them
as to whether this made nine or thirteen
the confectioner supporting the
Sc nine" theory, and Josh espousing the
ooueo Of sc fbirfoo, Tho Y,,offor xyoo
finally compromised on "eleven," and
Josh reappeared with six molasses cakes
in one pocket, the other full of candy,
and two apples in his hand.
l learned that a ''cooky'' was a GUS
toner picked up by the carrier for his
own benefit, whose name did not appear
on the books of the Office, and of whom
the carrier received his pay either in
such merchandise as boys have use for,
or in cash at reduced rates.
A little further on, where house
stood well back in the yard, with a pref
ty bit of lawn and considerable shrub
berry in front, an old gentleman, with
his spectacles turned up on the top of
his head, was looking about in the grass
in vague sort of way.
"He's always out early for his paper"
said Josh. snow watch his specta-
cles.'' And with that, having given an
extra twist to paper, he sent it. Off
went the spectacles, spinning in mid-air,
and finally hung dangling in the top of
the lilac bush, while Josh immediately
dove down an alley that led to the next
street, leaving the old gentleman to
think it was all an accident.
doesn't he give you much at New
Year'sP" said I.
"Well," said Josh, "he's about
ten-center.''
The last house on the route was a
boarding-hou and two young ladies,
in pretty morning dresses, were stand
ing on the steps.
I" Its an old bachelor that takes the
paper here,' said Josh, "and he says
these two old maids bother him to death
by getting it every morning before he's
up, and reading it till it's time for him
to go to business
One of the +" old maids,'' as Josh and
his patron called them-who was ap-
parently about Is years of age-came
tripping down the walk, throwing ahead
a very sweet smile at Josh as he stood be-
fore the gate, with the paper in his hand,
slowly rolling it up. But Josh observed
something which she did not, namely,
that the blinds of chamber window
were softly opened, and, as the poet
says, he saw hand she could not see
a masculine hand-beckoning from the
easement.
just as the smile had reached its
climax, and the lady's winsome hand
was extended to receive the paper,
Josh gave it throw and sent it straight
in at the open window, where the bach
elor grinningly caught in on the fly