The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-26

was not myself when I spoke to you
like a good fellow" and Jack pushed
Mr.. Brown out and sat down again to his
invoices with heavy heart.
"How full must have been!' he NUT
tered "To order coffin; why, that's
the worst ever did. I wish could re-
member something about what hap
pened after left Benton's But can't;
It's no use."
"Gentleman wants to see Mr..
Ouimby," shrieked the messenger.
"Dou't disturb } ourself, Mr.. Quinn by"
cried short. stout man with bull
neck. Just 1890. Come to give you
your lessons as per contract, and swing
ing sack from his back ne took out a
set of boxing gloves and smiled COM
placently at the astonished Quimby.
What the devil are you doing here?'
calculated that individual, as soon as he
recovered his breath.
"Your boxing lesson, Mr.. Quimby.
Contract drawn up, sir, last night.
Signed in the presence of Mr.. Elmore.
Hours from ten to twelve every day, at
this Office. See for yourself" And the
pugilist handed Jack q paper on which
his own signature appeared.
Heres So" said Quinby; "take it
for your trouble. Mr.. Slogan, and come
the latter part of next week." And as
the pugilist put his gloves away and
walked off, Jack clasped his hands about
his head and fell into train of serious
thought.
"I've been off" he said. "but never so
4
ing lessons-whers the deuce could L
have been, anyhow"
"Let ME in Imust see him On
him! III kill him, the cowardly scoun-
drel He insulted my wife. l say let
me in; I'll have his life!"
The voice and scuffie were outside Mr..
Quimby's door.
Impossible, sir, impossible. Mr..
Quimby is a gentleman, and never inten-
tionally insulted any one"
This was quite enough for Jack. He
felt cold chill all over. and seized his
hat and coat and shot down side en-
trance.
"Whre are You going, Mr.. Quimby?"
asked porter.
"To h-ll." shouted Jack. 1.-THE whole
world is coming with collins, boxing
gloves and insulted wives. I'm crazy,
plum crazy. Out Of my way or I'll kill
you" And the wretched man darted
into the street, sprang into hack, and
fell back in condition of complete ex-
haustion.
On the third day of January, Miss
Alice Benton was infor. that Mr..
John Quimby craved audience of her.
"Why Jack, how pale you are, and
how miserable you look" she exclaimed
as Mr.. Quimby made her very humble
bow, and cast glance of most i'm
ploring penitence on her.
"Alice." he said," do you remember
New Years day?"
"Of course, do"
81 called on you, Alice"
Certainly you did, Jack; and sang a
song, too; don't you remem ber?'
Remember? yes, quite well-at least
think I do. But after that, Alice; after
that"
"Come, Jack, don't look so horror
stricken. What occurred after that?"
Heaven alone knows. l only know
about half, and there must DO about a
hundred precincts yet to hear from l
went to an undertaken and ordered a
coffin; invited bruiser to call at my
Office during business hours and spar
with me; insulted somebody's wife; /
borrowed money from every one in town.
and there were thirty-two creditors wait
ing to zee me in the hall yesterday;
have seven pairs OF boots making for me
in various parts Of the town; have
bought land. ships, copartnersEips,
grain, clothes, guns. in fact, Alice, l find
that, begging your pardon, the devil has
got such . mortgage on me that he took
possession Of this poor carcass on New
Years night, and l have come back to
swear of. once and forever"
ION what will you swear, Jack? Now,
mind you, this is o serious matter. You
never acknowledged before that such
necessity existed. Shall l get the
Bible?'
"I'll swear on your lips, sweetheart,
said Mr.. Quimby, CALAMITY, and right
Justify did he take the oath.
ITS high time, darling" he contin-
ued, when a man mistakes an under
takers shop for o saloon-it's high time
to turn over q new leaf
And Charley Gilmore was Quimby's
best man at the wedding but from that day
to this Jack never suspected that he had
been the victim Of q reformstory con-
spiracy.