Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-25

ES$gEsg ~ ognize thos
lssysSyNsS property rights
IIssgAkaSSS which skoul d
IG7IMIMyNE$g inhere to the
GY 000V W. personal belong
ings of q husband. I got the ex-
preston at q meeting Of the Spartan
Reform Club, and it struck me rs be-
ing good. If I remember right it
was uttered by fellow with chronic
distaste for work, whose wife sup
ported him by dressmaking. I didn't
tell Mile where I got the expression
when I quoted it to her, but she i'm
mediately said:
''That sounds like Jeff Sinks"
Then she laughed. Ny wife has q
very musical laugh.
I think ! was mildly reprimandin ;
her at the time for mislaying the gim-
let. I'm the most particular fellow
you ever saw about keeping every
thing in its place. When L want a
tool Of any kind I want to know just
where to lay my hands on it. It's q
kind Of religion with me, and it hurts
NE terribly to find things in confu-
sion. That's where my wife's lack of
reverence comes in. She has no re-
speot for my eleventh commandment
order is heavens first law.
1t isn't alone gimlets, tits hammers
and screw-drivers, and knives, sud
Lord knows what ALL Why, she has
even tampered with my razors!
I offered to buy her razor Of her
own the last time she meddled with
mine, but she said she guessed we
didn't really need but one in tie
house. What can You do with such q
woman?
Well, now as you understand my
wife's failing--Tll admit it's her great
est one-I,I go on with ny story ..
One day last July, Jim Outhwiclz
came into the station just as I was
closing up to so to supper. Jim is
the paymaster at the Vulcan Mills,
and right good fellow.
"Hello, Joe," he says; call alone?"
eyes," said; "what's up?"
He flung canvas grip on the table
and said:
81 must go down the road tonight
to Ashville. There's talk OF strike
among the miners, and I've got to be
on hand first thing in the morning.
I'm to offer to pay off the disafected
ones and make big show of my
money. That's bluff that generally
goes. The boys'll make up their minds
the company cant be scared, and
they'll get into line again. There's
twenty-six thousand dollars in that
bag, Joe."
I looked at the bag on the table and
looked back at Jim.
''What do you bring it here for?" I
says.
"That's easily explained" he an
swered.
81 got word to start for Ashville
just half an hour ago. The money
was made up in hurry and I didn't
have time to go home. coildn'tvery
we'll stay at the mill, and I wouldn't
so to the tavern. So I just thought
I'd come down here and get you to
stay with me until the night freight
comes along. She's due at nine-thirty,
isn't she?"
''Nine tbirty-fve," I answered.
"But I'm just off for supper. y
ooh, that's all right, he said. ''I
feel safe enough here. I'm armed to
the teeth, you know, and there wouldn't
be any danger until after dark. But
you'll come back and keep me COM
pany, won't you:"
''I will if Minnie lets me off," 1
said. "I'm booked for cribbage with
her after supper"
"You tell Minnie I'll bring her the
prettiest cribbage board in Ashville if
she'll lend you for couple of hours, ~
laughed Jim.
There was stout old safe in the
corner of the Office that had nothing in
it but blank way bills and reports. 1
unlocked it and tossed the canvas bag
inside.
"There," I said, as I thrust my
bunch of keys in my sack coat pocket,
"that makes it little safer"
I thought Jim looked bit dubious
over this precaution, but he laughed
and said: Gall right, my boy. I'll
make myself comfortable until you
come back"
Minnie didn't want me to go out one
bit, but I told her Jim counted on me.
] didn't say word about the money,
however: 1 knew it would worry her,
and, to tell the truth, it worried me n
little. I was sorry Jim brought it
there, and didn't like his talk about
precautions.
Well, after supper I went out to see
if the dog was all right-I've got the
finest mastiff in the State-and when I
came back Minnie called to me from
the sitting-room,-
"Just minute, Joe; I'm writing q
note for Hattie"
Hattie is the wife Of the telegraph
operator, and I knew that Minnie
wanted me to leave it at the station,
where he could get it in the morning.
It was quite number of minutes,
however, before she came out with the
note, and my vest and coat. 1t was SO
warm I had left them off before sup
per.
Hadn't You better let the dog go
with you, Joe?" she asked, as she
helped me with my coat.