The Penn's Grove record., 1895-07-19
%"SUFFERIN' NATE"

lOIR-ShlACi ibE IbDb 40 ~
way to 'tdy OFF the hooks and lose
their tempers on the slightest provo
cation. Perhaps the latter way Is
more convenient, as saving one a vast
amount of lacerated feelings and loss
of pride, but Mates way had the adj
vantage Of costing lis owner fewer
post-mortem regrets and fewer
friends. True 1t is that Mates friends
were won't to impose on him much as
other people did, but he didn't mind
that-at least they thought he
didn't And 1t was this supposition
that led some of them into subse-
luent difficulty.
Nate was one OF the principal
characters and most important feat
ures Of Manganese, where he lived.
To be a principal character necessi'
tates the possession of much spare
time, and Nate had this essential
qualification nearly every day In the
week. When he didn't have it, he
was at work, but this did not happen
often. Natc was like Rip Van
Winkle-alwaYs ready to take a drink.
or to lend a hand for the benefit OF
some che else, but prone to shirk la
Dor which might benefit himself and
his family. So Mr.. Presto sewed
dresses and things, which was quite
convenient for Nate, as it gave him
more time to indulge his fancy fol
loafng.
Mates loafing- places were the Ex
change and Red Front saloons These
places were most convenient, being
provided with plenty Of chairs, and
being the places most affected by
citizens likely to set 'em up. Here
Nate did most Of his suffering, OF
whatever kind. 1t came mostly In
the form of jokes, practical and OF
mouth, leveled at him by his fellow
citizens, and In thee he took a sort
of mournful pleasure, as being an in
dication OF his popularity. 1t Is a
well-established fact that an unpopu-
lar man is seldom troubled by jokers
Like most OF his kind, Nate had a
dog mot a yellow one, however, but a
spaniell to assist him in loafng, and
it was Curly whose m~isfortunes led to
Mates final reformation.
One afternoon, as Nate was lazily
holding forth TO some OF his cronies
from his seat In the Exchange, there
was a slight connection on the street
outside, and they went to the door to
ascertain the cause. 1t was Curly.
He had stopped In at the Red Front
to look for Nate, and some Of the
crowd down there had proceeded to
have fun with him by tying a tin-can
to his tail. He was 10 coming up
the street somewhat more rapidly
than usual, and heading for the Ex.
change, as a possible place OF refuge.
Nate picked him up and carried him
inside, where he removed the can.
Then he sat quite still for a few mo.
ments pettlng Curly, and quite I'M
conscious of the laughing mob In the
saloon, cracking fool-jokes at his and
Curly's expense
Suddenly he arose, and, without a
glance at any one. strobe out Of the
door. The crowd followed. wonder.
ing what he intended doing. Nate
stopped a minute IN front of the bar
ber-shop to speak to Jim Calkins.
"Got a gun, Jim?"
Eyes"
''Gtmme 1t, fr a few minutes"
'.What ye goln' t do, Nate?"
"JIm," answered Nate, slowly, but
working his nails 10 and out Of his
palms very fast, ''Im goin' down E
lick tn brute th't put that can on tn
pup-an' / want t. be fixed t. shoot
back eff he makes a gun-play."
Jim handed him the desired six
shooter, and he went on down the
street to the Red Front.
The jokers had gone inside, and
were laughing as they waited at the
bar for drinks
"fullo, Mattel" called NoseY Price,
who was buying" Bring tn dog,
an come an have a drink. Dooz he
drink, too? / see I'm rushln' tn can
les now"
or course all the men laughed up
roarioosly, but they stopped short at
sight OF Mates uplifted hand and
blazing eyes.
'Hol' on, Nosey," said Nate quietly,
II want Z know, first place, who tied
that there "a on tn pups tail?"
The knot OF drinkers at the bal
looked at each other half-amusedly
for a second or two, and then one
asked, laughlngly;
"Why Nate?"
Because" answered Nate, II jes
come down yere T. r'mark th't I'm
patient an long-sufferin' myself,
but"
Another laugh interrupted him,
and then he went on:
''But l don't perpose no brute 1.
soin' T. tease that dog o. mine, mont
whatever. TIL man th't done it is a
dirty. sneak.rg coward, an I en- lick
'im,'
They saw he was In earnest, and
Aid not laugh, Bill KileY, a big raw
boned. Manifested "bad" man from
High Pines, who stood at the further
end OF the bar, stepped forward.
''Wh-what did We say?" he asked,
supposedly. IVY, you half-growed
sniveler@"
They were not quito sure how 1,
nappened; none OF them had eveI
seen Nate lift his hand against q fel.
low man, and they were totally I'm.
prepared fer what happened. In
scarce fifteen seconds, Nate, bleeding
but triumphant sat astrlde his an.
tagonist, enthusiastically humping
him on the head with the butt Of the
prostrate Kiley'sown revolver-which
the latter had dropped somehow early
In the argument-when the crowd in.
terfered and dragged them apart.
After taking a couple OF drinks and
Washing his face, Nate walked home,
proceeded by Curly, who seemed to
feel that no had been thoroughly
avenged, and acted like a callow pup
10 his satisfaction. Nate did not go
down town again that day. lie went
into the house and surprised his wife
by kissing her. after which he went
out and split a most amazing amount
Of stoye-wood, and in the evening he
played with the children and ''tink.
,red round"
nj a