Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-03-26
THE LEAD PENCIL.

property rights which should inhcre TO the
personal belongings of a husband. got
that expression at IA meeting of the Spar
tan Reform club, and it struck me as be
ing good. If remember right, it was ut
tered by fellow with chronic distastt
for work. whose wife supported him by
drcssmaking l didn't tell Mile where
got the expression when l quoted it tc
her, but she Immediately said;
THAT sounds like Jeff sinks.
Then she laughed My wife has very
musical laugh.
l think that was mildly rcprimandinq
her at the time for mislayirg the gimlct.
I'm the most particular fellow you evei
saw ah0ut keeping everything i'm its place.
When l want Il tool Of any kind l want to
know just where to lay my hands on it.
It's a kind OF religion with me, and it
hurts me terri ~ TO find things IN confu.
sion. That's whore my wilc's lack of rev.
erence comes in. She has no respect foi
my clcvcnth commandment, Order ia
heavens first law
1t isn't alone gimlcts, it is hammers,
and screwdrivers, and knives, and Lord
knows what all. Why, she has even tam.
pored with my razors.
l offered to buy her a razor of her owr
the last time she mcddlcd with mine, but
she said she guessed we didn't really need
but one in the house. What can you dc
with such Il woman?
Well, now that you understand my
wife's failing-I'll admit it's her greatest
one-Ill go on with the story with which
it is connected.
One day last July Jim Outhwick came
into the station just as l was closing up &c
go to supper. Jim is the paymastcr at the
Vulcan mills and a right good fellow.
"Hollo, Joe. " he said "All alone?"
eyes, l said; whats up?"
He flung canvas grip on the table and
said:
Il must go down the road tonight ia
AshYillc There's talk of a strike among
the miners and I've got to be on hand
first thing in the morning. / IN to offer ia
pay off the disatfccted ones and make a big
show Of my money. That's a bluff that
generally gnes. The boys'll make up thcir
minds the company can't be scared, and
they II get into line again. There S26, OO0
in that bag Joe. -
1 looked at the bag on the table and
looked baci at Jim.
"What d)you bringit here for?" 1 asked.
"That's ,aSily explained" he answered.
81 got the word to start for Ashvllo Just
half an hour ago. The money was made
up in a hurry, and l didn't have time to
60 home. l couldn't very well stay at the
mill, and wouldn't 60 to the tavern. Sc
just thought d como down here and get
you to stay with me until the night freight
comes along. She's due at 9:3O, ism t she?"
mime thirty hve," L answered. but
I'm just off Tor supper.
"Oh, that all right" he said. II feel
safe enough here. I'm armed to the teeth,
you know, and there wouldn't be any dan.
ger until after dark. But you'll come back
and keep me company, won't youS"
Il will if Minnie lets me of, =" l said.
I'm booked for cribbage with her after
supper.
You tell Minnie I'll bring her the pref.
tiest crbbage board in Ashyille if she'll
lend you for a couple of hours, " laughed
Jim.
There was IA stout old safe in the corner
of the Office that had nothing in it but
blank waybills and reports. l unlocked it
and tossed the canvas bag inside.
"There, ~ l said as l thrust my bunch
of keys in my sack coat pocket, that
makes it IA little safer"
thought jim looked bit dubious over
this precaution, but he laughed and said
IAN right, my boy. Ill make myself
comfortable until you come back"
Minnie didn't want me to 90 out one
bit, but | told her Jim counted on me- l
didn say word about the money, how
ever. l knew it would worry her, and, to
tell the truth, it worried me IA little.
was sorry Jim brought it there, and l
didn't like his talk about precautions.
Well, after supper l went out to see IL
the dog was all rightly We got the finest
mastin in the stute-and when | came
back Minnie called to me from the sitting
room:
Just minute, Joe. I'm writing
note for Hattie.
Hattie is the wife of the telegraph oper-
ator, and l knew that Minnie wanted me
TO leave it at the station, where he could
get it in the morning. Itwas quite num-
Der of minutes, however before she came
out with the note and my vest and coat. 1t
was SO warm l had left them off before
supper.
Hadn't you better let the dog &C with
you, Joe:' she asked, Rs she helped me
with my coat
'No, no, l said, laughing. "He'll stay
at home and take care of you. I'll put the
lamp in the window, though, so you'll
know I'm all right That was a great
she usually did
Mind" she said, ON watch for it,
and if it isn't there I'll come down after
you.
I'm station master at Y. Our road is
what's called the old line, and travel on it
Is light, mostly freight. AT night the sta
ton is deserted there being no business
for either telegraph operator or ticket
agent. This leaves the station practically
deserted after shutdown. 1t is only few
rods from our home, however, and l feel
that it's under my eye all the time. l
thought of this as l walked back to the
station, and didn't half like the idea of
all that money being about.
L found Jim with his heels on the desk
pulling away at good cigar
Not an alarm, ~ he said in his Joking
way, mot even n mouse"
We chattod away for an hour or more,
when Jim suddenly put down his feet and
yawned heavily.
'Joe, he said, "if you don't mind, I'll
go out and take II little stroll. "
$50 ahead, " said, but mind you're