The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-09-26
CHAPTER XIX,


yer's clerk and farmer met.
"Nell-you saw her."
@4eS-but great pancakes! Who'd a
know'd her! Why, If I'd run agin her
plum face to face on the street, | d never
SAID it twas joe"
you say it is her now?:
"Hcr. l reckon ought to know"
That's the important point. Sure
there's no mistake"
"Look here young man. Is it likely
my sights failed since l left home? l
hsin't drunk drOp-neer drop. I've
not gone and had my old roots grubbed
out o my mouth like Bijah Harkins, N
took gas, an gone clean crazy. I've
been hyer long enough to get used to the
air; ate wholesome yictuals-the butter
might be little better-but I've took
precious good care of myself-and if |
don't know that gal from all other gals
then you'd better pint commissioners,
and put JobWonder in a lunatic asylum. !"
"Al right. When will You go back to
my uncle'S Office"
Arrived at jeremiah jerks Office, that
individual took the farmer in hand in a
professional manner that was the es
sence of cheek.
"Wel, Mr. Wonder, you are satisfied
You have seen the person we are both
interested in. What do you propose?"
"AIe?"
"Ycs"
Jeremiah jerks was biting his finger
nails
Job Wonders suspicious were aroused.
"Nhy, m going to ask that gal to go
home with me right off, Id done it on
the spot-but your nephew made me
promise ! was only TO look at her to
make sure twas her and mDre'n that
wasn't to do nothn' till we'd talked il
over. n now m Just biln over with
things to say, if you'll let me say EN-. u
TO begin. with, Mr.. Wonder, do you
think she would 20 with YOU if you
should promise everything you can think
off"
Lord! Why wonE she?"
'Why did she run away?'
"Oh. that was all a mistake. I'll make
that all right lust as soon as she
knows Samanthy and my wfe's sorry,
and glad to get her back"
"Stay. TO you tn nix she isn't pretty
comfortable wheYe she is? Isn't she
well dressed? Isn't she looking better
than she ever dido"
"By gum. I'd never know d her. she's
slickcd up that wonderful
"What could YOU offer her that would
compare with the life She is living now?"
@sh?n
Job Wonder rose and stared at the
lawyer. He had never looked at it in
that light before.
"Scc hycr, Squire. You lawyers be
squires. reckon. ! took that gal Joe
out'n county pcorhouse. | signed
papers for her. They meant | wasn't to
let her be burden on the county. An
in Acorn County We alIays live right up
to what we sign-right up to the handle
every time
.Weli?n
The farmer wished he would quit bit
ing his nails, but he went on.
"Why-that's the sum total ont. It's
my duty to take care Of that there gal,
to bring her up till she's Of age-or till
such time as I'm satisfied somebody
else Il take go.d care of her"
"Well?n
"Thats enough, amt it? Can't take
her? Whose any better right, I'd like
TO know"
is that all? Are you through?o
eyes, | be. Now fire ahead-spit ii
right out, and I'll sample your say"
The lawyer smiled.
1--WE don't do things in this State in
that way. If that girl says she was not
treated right, you can't get any officer
in New York to sign a paper author
izing you to touch her-not one"
Il can't"
NO. On the contrary, if anybody
will come forward and give a statement
supporting her statement Of the cruel
ties practced, She would be protected
from the authorities of Acorn County,"
Great thunder!'
THAT is the fact
Jeremiah jerks nail was bitten pretty
close now Job Wonders face expressed
disgust and dismay.
I'm not concerned, I'm no poor
house-nor no commissioner, nor over
seer, either"
NO -
The manner in which the lawyer spoke
angered job Wonder.
"What makes you say No that way?
You mean something"
Il do" The lawyer turned square
around and faced the farmer.
you have a motive in coming here
what is ito"
a don't know whether you'd under
stand it-taint likely you would-bein'
lawyer.
IN try"
Il come to New York Jest because |
took a liking TO that girl. There's not
a heuter agin me. Id like To see any
man said there is a hcuter agin me-.
What do you mean by a heutor, Mr..
Wonder?n
"P>haw. | mean nothin' in reason
no sort Of ground for any fault-just
nothing at a !. :"
"Oh.n
See hyer Mr. jerks Spit it out, an
done with it
We'll, MIR. Wonder. I'll put 4 case ,
Go on. I'm !isteniu But don't use
no law lingo. Just YOU break it up, SOS
K n understand il
wen say the girl has not been fairly
treated .
"Who says sou
NO matter Possibly there are per
sons who heard You pity her, and say
the Superintendent of Rarnesyillc ought
TO be eowhided for whipping the girl. "
That's that blasted Breen. He's
a dirty sneak an all the world knows IL :.
suppose there was a friend OF Joe's,
or friends, who were disposed to look
into the matter aud they found bad
state of affairs at the poorhouSe?"
"Ncll?'
And suppose they learned that you
got her, and that the girl ran away from
Won because she was unjustiy accused of
stealing. when a cloud Of witnesses can
be brought 10 prove her innocence was
clearly established
Nov | know its that rascslly, dirty.
sneakng, cowardly Breen.'
There's more than Breen for wit
nesSes," said the willy lawyer.
Now them" said Job confronting Jer-
emiah jerks angrily, while the color
flushed over his face until it became pur-
pie, I've got your measure. You
think I'm scared. Well. | ain't-not a
mite-not a mite Now you thought
you had greanhorn You think I'd pay
somethin rather than have my name
mixed up, that I'd do most anything TO
keep my sister and wife'S name out o
the dod blasted newspapers But you
don't know YOUR man. No. you don't
by iugfull Ny sisters ike me-we've
both made mistakes-but I'd like to see