The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-03-27

were so few Norwegians in Mendoza that he
seldom spoke in his native tongue. Through.
out the whole Of that session Madden and
Nelson were rs intimate as Fischer and Nor
ton at the recent one. They discussed moth
ing but the interests of Norway and how
they could best be promoted. Returning to
his constituents Nelson reported that the in.
terests of Norway were sure to be protected,
for a fellow Norwegian was on the board
with him from Mendoza, and he guessed be-
tween them they could outwit any other
nationality represented there. When he was
asked by some inquisitive supporter VIVA,
the other Norwegian's name was he grac.
iously responded: "Why, Madden, Charley
Madden, of Mendoza, youngest member of
the board, and a first-rate fellow. tell you
we are IN great luck in Laving our people 50
well represented. tell you Norway is safe
The name struck the "NIillerite' as hardly
Norwegian but decidedly Celtic, and at once
the inquiry was set on foot throughout the
township Of Miller as to whether or not Rep
resentative Nelson had not been imposed
upon and whether the name af Madden ever
was known in Norway, After due investl-
CATION it was determined that Madden was
not Norwegian, and Nelson was instructed
by his constituents to notify "the member
from Mendoza at the opening of the next
rot hn 10
he did in n very emphatic way, and through
out that session there were no Damon AMI
Pythias interchanging of loving glances be.
tween "Mendota's favorite" and "Miller's
best" Hereafter, Mr.. Nelson will insist Oh
members who try to pass themselves off as
Scandinauans speaking the Scandinavian
tongue when not discussing questions OF
state before the open board.
If Master in. Chancery Blake was not go
extremely good natured he would not be so
often imposed upon. lie might even get
along without being imposed upon if he had
but his good nature to deal with, but added
to this unfortunate quality in his case is,an
oyerstock Of generosity which for while
made him the prey of every other man who
does the peoples bidding at the court house
When the courts chancery servant received
anything in the way of a gift from any Of
his friends, his whole property in the gift
was at an end the moment that it was noised
about that he had received it, for coming in
upon him in quick success sion would be the
county clerk and his deputies, followed up
by the circuit clerk and his efficient aids
Then the prosecuting attorney would take
his chances, and so on, until all the evidence
Blake would have that his friends had been
generous to him would be an empty box
or an empty whatever the article came in.
In the matter Of cigars, it was utterly i'm
possible for MIN to supply the wants of these
people. lie never got more than one out Of
any box-no matter whether it was a No.
or a Xxx one--it made little difference to the
men about the court house. Disliking to
appear stingy, he yet thought it due to him
self and TO his family to prevent the whole
sale robbery that was being practiced upon
him Adopting the homeopathic doctrine
that dixie cures like" he determined to cure
these gentlemen of their propensity for tax
ing cigars by serving up some that would
last them way through the summer and deep
into the fall When he inquired of Jim
Kelly what he had in that line, he was in
formed that all his telephone cigars" were
out Moving down to Ed. Alshuler's, he
vas recommended to 60 into Bollmeyers
and procure q box Of what are known as
Bar fly" cigars, which years ago we're very
popular with smokers, but through years of
exposure to the sun had become warped and
ribby. Procuring a box of these, he had
them re boxed and labelled "PrdclamatiOn."
Going back to the Office the box was opened,
placed in plain sight and the door thrown
aiar, while the master, humming "rhe Flow
ers that Bloom in the Spring, tra-la' from
the MikadO, fastened into the court room.
Seeley looked across the hall, and seeing
Bake's proclamation" made for II. Mad
den followed in hot pursuit, and John Me-
KeOu lost no time in securing his cigar and
avoiding the rush. The race betwixt Bar
tells and Pat Finlen was a close one, but Fin
len came out ahead; Stead, Carey and Ell.
Kelley came in tie, whilst Moloney and
Taylor were just a little in the rear, closely
pushed by Dan Trainor. The result was that
when Blake came down to his Office after de-
livering an argument every "Bar. fly had
flown. IL was not alone the empty box
that told him this, but from every office in
the building issued sounds of distress and
wretched groanings, and shortly there came
| filing into his office the most sorrowiul,
agonizing and wan-looking body of men ever
witnessed. Without a word or a hint at what
had happened them the "Bar-fies" were
gently and reverentially replaced in the box
| from whence taken. and then all withdrew,
madden but wiser men. The open box of
Bar flies yet stands on the masterin-
chancery's desk, a warning to those who,
not content with taking portion of . min's
goods, insist upon taking bis all. :.