Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-25

-~~--- A4tL-lNlAag wiz GA1 af---G5 tN-@s-
laughter trimming eyes, noticed that I
at the third cord-stick work seemed
to slacken Just a little, but seven we're
finished, and Mr.. Eouser came IN de
claring he felt glorious.
The second day Mr.. Nouser remain
ed at table a tr1he longer. Four cord
sticke in broken length licked the dust,
however.
Third dAy-Hr. Eoussr took time
to glance over the daily news after
dinner. Record; Three cord sticks.
''Lizbeth, % said he. 81 think I've
been cheated IN the seW-iack. It Is
not put together on as practical a
plan as vas led to believe. It Wrig-
gies."
Fourth day-AEr. Mouser toyed
over his dinner extensively. He
smoked his pipe and read the paper.
He glanced over his monthly maya
zine Until dark. then started up, ex-
claiming:
''Nsrcyi how short the days arel''
4rH. Mouser enjoyed the situation
intensely but said never a word.
Fifth day-Mr. MOuser rose with q
sense Of injustice resting upon him.
All day he was haunted by the out
rageous fate that made him the own
er Of a saWing-jack.
s'My DEAR we require more wood
than usual to-day and tomorrow,
washing and ironing days, you know,
said Mrs. Mouser as soon as he got
home.
81 never saw anything like the way
you women manage to consume fuel!''
and Mr.. Mouser grabbed his hat and
strobe sngrilly toward the woOdpile.
A few sticks fell from the savage man
/ ipulatiOn Of the saw, while Mr..
/ MOuser' S snarling kept excellent time
/ to the wild motions of the sawyer.
With a crash be sent the saw flying
/ over the wOOdpile. This was too
much. His wife was a, brute to expect
/ him to work like a slave during the few
| moments he could call his own free
/ from business drudgery. But if he
+ gave up he would never hear the last
OF it. Oh, If he could only get rid OF
that sGW-jack.
A long time he pOndered; at last a
smile Of Joy illuminated his face.
! That night after his wife had retired,
Blr. MOuser slipped out and carried
that hated green object to the front
/ gate. Presto, in the morning the cor
pus deficit would be gone. The high
way WAS full OF robbers. who would
steal anything and everything.
He would make a bic fuss about
the loss. but take good care and not
buy & second saW-iaCk.
He slept the sleep OF the just until
about four o'clock In the morning. 1t
Was still dark. but his anxiety to as
sure himself of the loss of his trouble
caused him to sneak out and recon
nOitre. The saw-jack was still there.
Mr. MOuser Whispered-nOt a prayer.
'tOh. we'll, there Is time enough still
between this hour and daylight for a
theft to be committed, he muttered.
1t was the voice of Mrs MOuser that
awakened him IN time for breakfast.
He glanced out Of the window the first
thing. Oh, how brightly thesun shOne,
and the saW-jack cleaned up at him
in all it's verdant beauty. No rObber
hand had carried it away. A fearful
sigh escaped the MOuser bosom.
''YOu must saw some wood for me
before you go, dear" said his vile.
''What. more WOOd!"
eyes, dear; recoIlect you only sawed
one stick last evening" rejoined Mrs.
Mouser meekly, but a wicked gleam OF
mischief played about her eyes and
mouth.
Mr.. Mouser ignored her reply, and
has tened to town with his pretty
tools with a vigOr born Of awful fury
but way down in his soul a voice
groaEed, that saWin y-jack must 60!
Where? whence? how?
Mr. MOuser was a man of resources,
Twelve o'clock, midnight. a burglar
ish darkness and silence brOodeC
around as g. man stole hence from his
couch, and grabbing his trousers, left
a cOsey bedI DOM. A little later the
only active creature about, g. feline
v,vfv1oo H0nn1 vpo1ghE haun Witnessed 3
sorry sight; a solitary man marching
downward, clutching in his strOni
right hand a beautifully painted greer
BaWing-jack.
Soon he returned. Thesawing-jack
l where was it?
Mr.. 4Ouser rose that morning In (
most delightful frame of mind.
''Lizbeth, my dear little Lizbeth,
be exclaimed, friskily, 81 am going t.
work IN earnest to-day. / am feeling
much better than 1 have for sOm
; time. Here, feel this arm. How
that for muscle, Ell? That's Wha
saving wood has dOne!"
: Lizbeth blinked oddly, but looke'
contented. Mr.. MOuser FASTENED on
! to clip of stick or two befOr
breakfast" but soon came In iOokin
quite angry and puzzled.
Q w udC IN LIE WOElu HAS DOCCIiG
! that iack?' 1t was gone. "SUch III
! iamy-to steal ones very implement
: Of TOLL" he cried In a rage, as he sen
for the old WOOd-sawyer again.
? Mr.. MOuser. Of course, grieved owe
! the loss, but managed to concern
/ the regret sufficiently to display som
: Of his wit and mirth.
. But this good feeling received q sud
= den check the morning after the burg
: larry Of the slack"
8 He had Just opened the daily paper
3 when his glance was arrested by
? leading paragraph.