The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-10-10


Mr.. ,ourung was delighted to sign it, and
left the Office cluckling at the assurance
that he had for once proven too shrewd for
Simmons
Allen bowed his head in his hands and
his thoughts reverted, as they invariably
did, when not pressed with politicians Or
poets, to that beautiful being in the mys-
FERROUS old rock house. Ever before him,
as If gazing from out some mistlikc cloud,
seemed to appear that sad but bewitching
face in such mute appeal that his heart was
always heavy Those sad blue eyes seemed
always gazing fondly into his.
"Oh Bertha, Bertha, how is all this to
endf' he gasped.
Copy" cried Toby, at the sanctum door.
The demand brought him back to the
stern realities of life, and he set to work,
driving his pencil at furious rate, dashed
off something and handed it in.
"A man in my frame of mind is not fit to
edit paper"
Before his mind had had time to again re-
vert to the painful subject on which it
seemed to love to dwell, the door opened
and broad shouldered countryman stalked
unbidden into the room. Allen looked up
and before him stood towering giant,
whose face was dark with wrath.
Are you the Teller what runs this She
bang!' the modern Hercules demanded
81 am"
"Then take that fur a meddlesome liar"
cried the stranger, aiming blow at Allen,
which he successfully parricd. The editor
now thanked his stars that in his more
youthful days he had not neglected the
manly art of boxing. Though no match In
strength for this rural giant, his skill made
him more than his equal
For several moments Allen had all he
could do to parry those sledge-hammer
blows, which fell thick and fast upon him.
But at last he got in well-directed blow
from the shoulder, which staggered the
stranger. This gave him a decided ad,
vantage over his antagonist In a min
utes time the stranger was down in one
corner of the office, yelling murder, while
| the man whom he had assaulted was be-
iaboring HIM with telling blows.
Ike Hatchett ran into the sanctum, and
assisted by Toby, got the men separated.
"What does this meant" Ike asked
Allen answering that he did not know
the stranger struggled to his feet. growl
ing:
II know What did We put that piece ii
the paper bout me fura"
"What piecei have no recollection O.
having ever seen you until now," answered
Allen.
"But ye lied about me. Ye said stole
corn knife, an warn't agoin' to stand it
1t was George Leeper who sot We on me-"
As soon as the editor could be made TO un
derstand what particular article had giveI
offense, he explained that Leeper had as
sured him that the whole thing was harm
less Joke.
"Harmless Joke, thunderation growle'
-,errin, wiping the blood from his face
sAccuse Teller o. stealth, an then sa
rs all q harmless joke"
Allen, realizing that he had wounded tn
ceilings as well as the head OF the country
man, promised scathing retraction IN tn
next issue, and while he was still smartin
under the misrepresentation made b.
Leeper, sat down and wrote the article.
was much stronger in his denunciation Q
Leeper than he would have written had h
given the matter q sober second thought
but he handed it to Ike, who put 1t in typt
while Herrin subscribed, TO read the rakin
the paper would give the man he hated.
Allen had allowed himself to get consit
erably behind with his work, and he sat 9
his desk late that night, long after til
printers had gone homo
His lamp burned dimly, and he foun
those superstitious horrors with more tina
usual force creeping over him. He tough
against the terrible feeling, but all in vail
He grew nervous and started stithe singh
est sound
When be heard timid knock at the doc
his heart thumped wildly He rose to b
feet and, trembling violently in every liml
went to the door and opened It, Before hi
stood woman.
She entered quickly, closing the dot
after her, and, her vail thrown, aside, r
vesled the white face Of bertha. ths ssrs"l
l n A.. H. -