Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-22

.she explained to him what was required:
and that it was suggested that he should
provide the necessary corpus TiIe upon
which it was proposed that the experiment
should be made. Whenat last he under
stood what it was asked that he should do,
Johnnie's countepance was sight to see,
and his language was more striking than
correct. The upshot of it was, however,
that he would see Mr.. Neeson collectively,
| and Mr.. Nelson's various members separ-
ateIy, especially his eyes, ID first.
| Augusta retreated till his wrath had
| spent itself, and then once more returned
to the charge
| She was sure, she said, that Mr.. John
ME would not mind witnessing the docu-
ment, if anyb ody else could be found to
submit to the pain Of the tattooing. All
| that would be necessary would be for him
| to touch the hand of the operator while
| his (Johnnie's) name was tattooed as wit
ness to the will. "Well,' he said, 81 don't
row how as I mind doing that, since it's
! you as asked me, Miss, and not that ID
! old links of a Meeson. I would not lift a
/ finger TO save him from ell, Miss. and
| that's fact''
''Then that is promise, Mr. Johnnie?'
said Augusta, sweetly ignoring the garn-
| ishing with which the promise was
adorned; and on Mr.. Johnnie stating that
he looked at it in that light she returned
to Mr.. Meeson. On her way she met Bill,
carrying in his hands Misunderstanding
fish, with long feelers and head like a
| parrot-in short, a cuttlefish.
''Now, here's luck, Miss said Bill, ex-
ultingly; Il saw this gentleman lying
down on the beach there this morning.
He's cutie, that's what he is; and I'll
have his ink bag out Of him in a brace of
shakes; just the ticket for tattooing, Miss,
as good as the best Indian ink-gunpowder
is fool to it."
By this time they had reached Mr.. Nee
son, and here the whole matter, including
Johnnie's obstinate refusal to be tattooed,
was explained to Bill.
"Weu," said Augusta, at length, cit
seems that's the only thing to be done, but
the question is. how to do it? I can only
suggest, Mr.. Meeson, that the Will should
be tattooed on you"
"Ohr' said Mr.. Meeson, feebly, ION mel
Me tattooed like a savage-tattooed with
my own will!''
sit wouldn't be much use, either, gov
ernor, begging your pardon" said Bill,
C1lt1G 10, IL you ID otS5UIA4So W C4OtA, aS you
says; cause where would the will be then?
We might skin you with sharp stone.
perhaps, after you've done the trick, you
know" ne added. refectively "But then
we have no salt, so doubt if you'd keep,
and if we set your hide in the sun, reckon
the writing would shrivel up so that all
the courts of law in London could not
make head nor tail Of it,"
Mr.. Meeson groaned loudly, as well he
might. These frank remarks would have
been trying to any man; much more were
who had always set Che highest value on
what Bill ra3ely called his hide"
There's the infant" went on Bill, med
itatively Hes yoiDs, and white, and 1
fancy his top crust " oUId work wonderful
easy; but you'd have to hold him, for L ex
pect that he'd yell proper"
Yes" said Mr.. Meeson, ''let the will be
tattooed upon the child. He'd be some use
that way"
eyes," said Bill; land there'd allus be
something left to remind him of very
queer time, provided he lives to get out of
it, which is doubtful. Cutie ink won't
rub out, I'll warrant
II won't have Dick touched" said Au-
gusta, Indignantly. ''It would brighten
the child into fits; and, besides, nobody
has right to mark him for life in that
way"
"Well, then, there's about an end of the
question:" said Bill; "and this gentleman's
money must go wherever it is he don't
want it to-"