The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-23
THE LEAD PENCIL.


property rights which should inhere to the
personal belongings Of husband l got
that expression at meeting Of the Spar.
tan Reform club, aud 1t struck mo as be.
ing good If remember right it was ut
tered by o fellow with chronic distastt
for work, whose wifo supported him by
got tho expression when I quoted IL to
her, but she immediately said:
THAT sounds like jeff Sinks
Then she laughed. My wife has very
musical laugh.
think that I was mildly reprinanding
her at the time for mislaying the gimlet.
I'm the most particular fellow you ever
saw about keeping everything in Its place.
When l want a tool Of any kind. ! want tn
know just where to lay my hands on 1t.
It's kind of religion with me, and IL
hurts me terribly to find things iu confu.
sion. That's where my wife's lack of rev.
erence comes in. She has no respect for
my eleventh commandment, Order Ii
heavens first law"
1t isn't alone gimlets; H. n hammers,
and screwdrivers, and knives. aud Lord
knows what all Why. she h;ls even tam
pered with my razors.
i offered TO buy her n razor Of her own
the last time she ncddled with mine, but
SHE said she guessed We didn't really need
but one in the hOus.. What can you do
with such "A wonanr
Well, now that you understand my
wife failing i III admit it's her greatest
onc--l'll go on with Lilo story with which
1t is connected
One day last Jnly Jim Outhwick came
into the station just as ] was closing up to
go tn supper. Jim is the paymaster at the
Vulcan mills and "a right good fellow.
"Hello, Joe," he said. IAN alones"
"Ycs," asid, whats up?"
He flung canvas grip on the table and
said:
II must 60 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 of the disaffected ones and make q big
show Of my money. That's O bluff tn 4
generally goes. The boys'll make up then
minds the company can't be scared, and
they'll get into line again. There's S26, 600
In that bag, Joe."
looked at the bag on the table and
looked back at Jim.
what do you bring 1t here for?" asked
"That's easily explained, he answered.
81 got the word to start for Ashville just
half an hour ago. The money was made
up in q hurry, and didn't have time to
go home. couldn't very well stay at the
mill, and wouldn't go to the tavern. So
just thought I'd come down here and get
you to stay with me until the night freight
comes along. She's due at 9:3O, isn't sheS'
mine thirty five" answered. "But
I'm just of for supper.
'sOh, that's 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 your
II will II Minnie lets me of" said
"I'm booked for cribbage with her after
supper.
"You tell Minnie I'll bring her the pref
tiest cribbage board in Ashville if she'll
lend you for a couple of hours" " laughed
Jim.
There was stout old safe in the corner
Of the Office that had nothing in it but
blank waybills and reports. unlocked it
and tossed the canvas bag inside.
"There," said, as / thrust my bunch
of keys in my sack coat pocket, "that
makes it little safer.''
thought Jim looked q bit dubious over
this precaution, but he laughed and said:
"Al right, my boy. I'll make myself
comfortable until you come back
Minnie didn't want me to go out one
bit, but told her Jim counted on me-
didn't say word about the money, how.
ever. knew it would worry her, and, tc
tell the truth, 1t worried me little.
nj
didn't like his talk about precautions.
Well, after supper went out to see IL
the dog was all right-I've got the finest
mastiff in the state-and when / 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 oper
ator, and I knew that Minnie wanted me
to leave it at the station, where he could
get it in the morning. Itwas quite mum.
Der of minutes, however, before she came
out with the note and my vest and coat. 1t
was 50 warm / had left them OF before
supper.
Hadn't you better let tho dog &C with
you, Joc?" she asked, as she helped me
with my coat
ono, no." l said. laughing. Hell stay
ut home and take care of you. Ill put the
lamp In the window, though, SO you'll
know I'm all right That was "a great
joke of ours, but Minnie dldn't laugh as
she usually did
"Mind,' she said ''I'll watch for it,
and IL 1t isn't there I'll como down after
you.
I'm station ma5tcr &c y Our road is
what called tin old line, anl travel on It
is light mostly froight a NIGHT the sta
ton is dcscrted, there being no business
for either telcgaph operator or ticket
agent. This leaves the sOatiOn practically
deserted after sndown &c is only n few
rods from our home, however, and I feel
that its under my eye al the time.
thought Of this Gs | walled sack ~ the
station, and didn't hell Ike the idea "
all that monty bcing alsout.
found Jim with his hcols ON She dusk
pUlllng away 10 a good ciVar
"Nct an alarm, hc said in his Joking
way mot even mOusC.'
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