The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-26

NhrlStmas dinner was over at tne spread Ia
gle, aud the mistress leaning her back against
the bar and her elbows it, carelessly faced a
crowd Of her boarders and others. A few Of
these rough residents of No Go knew that her
name was Agnes Brinkley but the Brinkley was
hardly ever hsard, and the Agnes was in COM
mon usage shortened to Ag She was not over
thirty. and her face was not hideous. Her
blindest friends could claim nothing further for
Per looks She was six feet in height her forpa
was ungainly and muscular, her red hair was
cropped like mans, and her coarse features
were freckled and wealth err marked. Her heavy
eyebrows were now lifted in surprise, for the bar
room assemblage was not only larger than usual
30 early In the evening, but the men stood in a
clump, instead of sprawling over benches, chairs
and tables.
''Id like to be told what We mean by GRIMM
an sneakin' round yer like pack O. hungry
wolves.' Ag said. "Yeve had yer grub, hain't
yep
The voice was harsh, but good .natured, and
tho rude words were understood by all to be jo-
cose. Her question brought hestant spokes
man to the front He went so far toward taking
off his hat as to push it to the back of his head,
and said
Its this way. Ag. The boys has been a. think
IN as they'd like to give 20 a kind
Of test-moniyal, specially sence ye had
the bar-room painted. They feels yer
public spirit. Wal. its come to head,
an its out thar in the wagin. We did expect to
bring ledge Low up from Pinkeyville to make
preSentashing speech, but he's got hung jewry
IN boss case, and can't come So wen jes' have
1t brung right in, without no more talk"
Some OF the went ont and lifted n big
mirror from wagon in front of the house.
They had trouble getting it through the door
way without scraping the gilt off the heavy
frame Ags face flushed when she saw Ii, and
that might have been taken as evidence of de-
hghtj but her suddenly lowered brow and COM
pressed lips would have warned the company of
an outbreak Ii they had not been too busy with
the mirror to observe her. They leaned il care.
fully against the wall. crowdng in front of one
another TO see themselves in it, and then turned
toward Az Her back aspect drove the jollity
out Of their faces
"Stan' aside" the spokesman cried, with a
brave attempt at hilarity, IAN give Ag view of
herself"
They stifly obeyed, eyeirg the enraged
woman. She seized bottle of whisky by the
neck with one brawny hand, and flung it with
all her might at the mirror, shattering both
plate and missile, and scattering the beverage
on the wall.
''Thars my feelin's, fully expressed" she
said replacing her elbows on the bar, swelling
her broad chest and glazing at the astounded
miners. ''Hevin' been insulted in my own
house, make forcible remark. The frames
left, an We kin tote it right out. or III crunch
It."
'Why, Ag-" the spokesman began
II never made no claim ez l wasn't homely ez
q hedgehog" she interrupted. and her short
bristling hair seemed to be rising like quilts on
the ugly beast IAN knowed I was rougher'n
the roughsst OF ye.- Very WELL Ye mustn't
make no sport OF my looks, however. We might
~ en- Nd Avofk kolya oln A
glass for mo TO look in! Why, cuss ye. why
didn't ye have me Photographed, an done with
tl'
II sw'ar we didn't mean nothin' oncivil, Ag-
Rll the boys III swar we didn't"
The spokesman looked around for confrma-
ton and support, and saw that those in the rear
were breaking quietly for the door. TWAS plain
that Ag was in fury and would not long control
herself Bottles and glasses were within her
reach, and knife and revolver were known to
hang under the bar In her present condition
she was extrahazardous. The retreat became
stampede when she threw out her arm toward
the weapons, and she was left alone
The retreaters came together under shed
few rods from the Spread Eagle. High indiena-
ton was Drofanely expressed, and proposition
tC mob Ag and burr her house was received with
enthusiastic ''Hooray!' But conservative
voice said she was not much to blame, taking the
view of the matter that she did, and 1t was good
tame for them to make experiment in for
bearance.
AN what in thunder would we do eff the
Spread Eagle was gone an not another bar in
No Co.."
That presented a startling truth, and no more
was said about destroying Ags house. Then
somebody laughed with infectious 'ha ha,"
sud the womans exploit came quickly into favor
rs piece of rare fun. This view OF the matter
prevailed when Billy Wilk, otherwise William
Wilkinson, joined the group
Billy Wik was not too young to have beard;
bie flannel shirt was as red and coarse as any