News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1895-08-08

thing was in readiness and the two
confederates had great sport as Mr..
Hazleton donned the not overclean
and barn-smelling garments which
had been obtained from the ward
robe of Mr.. Tim Pickett, and over
which at any other time his fas-
tidious stomach would have rebelled.
There were coat, vest and trousers,
all different in material and color,
also blue cotton shirt from which
most of the original hue had faded,
and showing here and there an artis-
tic patch of red and tan striped bed
ticking. which Mrs. Pickett had
evidently thrown on with her eyes
shut when the spirit moved her. This
latter article of dress had no collar,
and Mr.. Hazleton proceeded to top
it off with a dingy red bandanna,
thus effectually concealing the I'M
tramplike whiteness of his neck, after
which he adorned himself with a pair
of openwork shoes brought in from
the ash-heap in the rear of the block.
Then Jack bound up the expectant
performers left hand in a solid rag
wound round and round with wrap
ping Irvine, helped him adjust the
bushy black wig, mustache and
struggling beard and surmounted
the whole by another Importation
from the convenient ash pile in the
shape of straw hat minus band and
part of the brim. Sundry dabs of
mud applied here and there with an
old tooth brush helped out the de-
sired effect, and at length Mr.. Vance,
after critical survey, pronounced
the transformation perfect. At the
last moment, however, Mr.. Hazleton
produced pair of blue glasses which
he fitted triumphantly over his nose,
and at this latter touch his friend
most strenuously objected.
"Who ever heard of a tramp in
spectacles ?" he demanded in dis
gusted tones.
But Mr.. Hazleton knew no reason
why tramp should not be troubled
with weak eyes as well as any one
else; at all events he knew better
than to expose his own uncovered
orbs to the eagle vision of his wife
and he stuck obstinately to the glass
es. The two confederates shook
hands with many congratulations
over the success of the makeup and
the star actor than set forth on his
mission. Left to his own devices and
away from the sustaining influence
of his coadjutor his spirits began to
flag and as he slouched along
through one street after another,
misgivings of all sorts began to as
sail his perturbed spirit. Poor Mar
jorie, it was a mean kind of trick
to play on her after all. What if he
should frighten her into Mysteries or
she should go off into a dead faint?
Worse than all, suppose there should
be hitch in the program, and she
should succeed in calling in the neigh
bors before he could get away? But
he reflected that Marjorie was a
brave little soul, and besides, there
was Jack. If he should back out at
this stage of the game and after all
the trouble they had been at, he
would never hear the last of it from
Jack Vance. This latter thought
braced up his failing enthusiasm, and
casting all doubts to the winds he
proceeded on his way, and shortly
after o'clock knocked boldly at his
own back door, the call being
promptly answered by his wife.
"Please, mum, would yer give me
bite of Bomethin'ter eat?" he in
quired in a horse voice, and with as
good an imitation of the regulation
whine as he could manage.
"Well, | don't knowP' responded
Marjorie, looking him over with an
unfavorable eye, "you look strong
and well. How is it you are not at
work"
Drawing forth his bandaged hand
the suppliant glibly explained that
he had always been a Woodworking
man, but a few days before, while
working on herailroad, that member
had been crushed by an iron bar,
which accident had since wholly in
capacitated him for labor.
81 amt used ter Begin and
wouldn't now" he concluded, "only
l hain't had nothin' ter eat for two
days and my insides is er knawin' on
me SC"
Tom felt that the speech would do
credit to the professional, and 1t
evidently softened the heart of his
wife, for she invited him in and soon
set substantial meal on the kitchen
table. He had managed when her
back was turned to lock the door
and silly abstract the key, and as
she put glass of milk before him, he
} demanded pie.
"Pie!" said Mrs. Hazleton severely
} and with a quick look toward the
outer door; haven't any pie in the
house. If you are really hungry, you
, can eat good bread and butter and
cold meat"
"Now look ahere, young woman l'
began the visitor. Il amt goin' to
have no nonsense. That doors
locked and the keys in my pocket.
} You Just trot out cake and pies and
then you can be gittin' yer spoons
and forks ready for me. And if you
holler or make any row I'll squeeze
yer windpipe."
Marjories lips trembled, but she
gave no other sign of fear.
"Very we'll" she said, "there is the