The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
OAK FLATS POSTMASTER.
How He Maintained His Position Undel
Adverse Circumstances.

came up and asked if that were the
post-office.
Yep" the postmaster answered.
placing his chin in his hand and squirt
ing a yellow stream at a lizard
Il am expecting letter and
"Whut's yo' nameP"
flames Henwood."
"Any kin to old Zeb Henwood that
lives down beyant the forksp"
"No."
Same name"
eyes; but that makes no differ
ence."
sit mout not to you but it does to
me-"
How SOP"
"Wall, of you air any kin to old Eco
you KANT git no letter outen this
office"
II tell you that I am no kin to him.
but even if 1 were that should make no
difference.
"But it do all the same. He pizened
my pup last fall an that settles it with
him."
II don't care any thing about that.
want to know if there's a letter here
for me?"
"Yas, thar is one; come day befo
yistidy."
LET me have it, please"
"Not till you prove that you amt
no kin to old Zeb."
II tell you that am no kin to him
and also tell you that it makes no
difference whether l am or not"
II know what you tell me; know
that as we'll as you do, but you aint
proved nothin' yit."
Il don't have to prove any thing.
VOC don't know who am"
"And l don't kere, nuther."
II am United States Post-off1ce In
spector."
THAT'S all right"
II know it is. Give me that letter."
mot till you prove what 1 want you
to prove"
IF you don't give me that letter at
once I'll have you removed"
'What frum?"
"'From this post-off1ce."
"WhO'll remove me?"
"The Government.
"Wall. now. lemme tell you: This
Is my post-ofice. I built this house
myself"
"But as postmaster you are under
the Government.
Are yor going to give me that let
ter?"
mot till you prove"
What is your name?" the inspector
asked, taking out a notebook.
'Bose Hicks. w.
"Well, Mr.. Hicks, I'll see that you
are removed"
"All right"
"And more than that I'll have you
arrested"
''All right"
"rll teach you what it is to keep
back letter"
"All right"
''Tll give you one more chance"
''Better gimme two"
mo, | won't give you but one"
"Well, I'll shake you the dice for
the other one"
You are fool"
"All right
You haven't got the sense of q
monkey"
"Ain't compar'd myself with you
yit."
eff you were to start out to look for
river you couldn't find a sprinS
branch"
"All right"
you give me that letter now, or
you'll have trouble"
That's me-"
"Give me that letter, or I'll whale
you right here"
"I'm yo' man."
'Do you mean that you'll give me
the letter or fightp"
Halter fight, I reckon, under the
circumstances.
just about that time the inspector
knocked the old fellow off the stump.
| He got up, rubbed himself. AID said
You air a putty quick pusson. Eff
thar's thing l like it's man that
amt lazy"
He went into the house and bro ught
out the letter. Just as the Inspector
was turning away the old fellow said:
''Thar's another letter here for
you"
Give it to me-"
''No, not till you hit me ag'in."
The Inspector hit him again and he
brought the other letter.-Arkansaw
Traveller.
One OF the professors of Maine
college once had pupil (now grown
to be the mayor of Maine city, who
was decidedly skeptical-and uncom-
fortably inquisitive very often. He
was always asking if demonstration
could not be made in some other way.
or II there was not some different
method of performing a problem.
Couldn't this be done by a shorter
process?" he inquired one day up in
the recitation room. VERY likely"
said the mildlv-exasneratad ,.rofo,,ou