Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-13

the lord mayor. Take her all round
and give her her doc, she's fine figger
of q woman, though triile run to fat,
and The best hand at ia Yorkshire pud
den I've come acrost since | lost pore
mother. Wonder what she's got for
breakfast9 Hullo! What's up with
the door,"
He was glad to hear substantial
tread upon the stairs and hailed its
owner through the keyhole.
Something's gone wrong with tho
door it's stuck somehow SOS l can't
open it,
NO; faint" was the answer.
ITS locked, that's what's the matter
with it,"
That's queer, said Mr.. Jebbings ;
- never locked il not to my knowl-
edge. .
But did, " was the startling re-
ply. - locked it and the key's in my
pocket and there it's going to stop till
you knows your own mind. =
And with that she turned and
creaked down the stairs again.
Here's "a pretty howdy do" OBJ
served r.Jebbings. t'Bin and locked
me in! What soft / were to go and
leave the key on the outside. How i'll
] going TO get out? There's the win
der, but I'm afeard that's too small
Like enough I'd stick half way or
pitch on my ed. And there's the
chimley; but that's the same, only
wuss. | reckon I'll jest have to wait
till she comes round. y
A fragrant frizzling which was be-
ginning to steal through the chinks of
the door rendered the circumstances
doubly aggravating.
"Sausages, shouldn't wonder" he
commented despondently. "Lor, how
l could relish couple! Seems like a
year since ! had good meal. Why,
no wonder I'm so peckish--I never had
no supper last night, .
He kicked kicked hard and reck-
lessly-with the result that in less han
half minute later he was sitting on
the floor nursing his foot and Mrs.
Potter's voice outside the door took
him by surprise.
Yes, you may kick, Joshua Jeb-
bings, only remember whatever dam
ages you does You pays. for. And you
can cuss'n swear, too, il you find it
helps You any. Hungry, are you?
Serves you right. S'pose you thought
you was going to carry on Jest as YOU
liked and then sneak off with weeks
notice.
The morning wore away somehow,
and the church clock struck IL. Half
past was Mr.. Jebbings' dinner time.
She was bound to let him out for din
ner, he told himself repeatedly. She'd
never dare to make him miss two
meals it would be altogether too A
few minutes, and Mr.. Jebbings began
to snuff the air like warhorse scent
ing the battle afar. But what he
snuffed was not fire and carnage, but
liver and bacon. His nostrils curled
with rapture.
With his nose to the crack of the
door he was able to follow the entire
culinary process could imagine the
liver turning first light and then a
deep rich brown, and hear the fat hiss
ing and squabbling in the pan. He
almost held his breath while it was
being dished up.
What was the next move to be? Yes
--no-yes, there was step on the
stairs, a substantial step, that made
his heart beat and the stairs creak. 1t
came on and on and stopped outside
his door.
Dinners ready" was the announce
ment. t*
Som. I,"he replied eagerly, READY
and waiting" sa.... - ~
Ready to have the bands put up
SundayP'' -
Bands! Sundayr' in a muffled
staccato.. Then, with a burst Of deci-
sion, mo; I'm fingered if am. -
Very we'll, then.
And to his horror he heard the steps
retreating from the door and down the
stairs TO the kitchen.
At 3 O'Clock MIR. Jebbings gave up
and took to his bed.
AT A the voice of his landlady drew
him from between the sheets and lured
him to the window. She was talking
to o neighbor over the wall, and heI
words penetrated to.his ear with blood.
curdling. distinctness.
Yes, Mrs. Kirby, you're right, that
rain last week have made the meas
come on wonderful. And my hens have
bin laying better'n reglerer than I've
ever knowed 'em; and I've got beau.
tiful side O. bacon left over from my
last pig. Altogether, one way nj
other, I've bin pretty forchnit thi:
year, and ! don't fancy all the luclS's
used up neither. Maybe you'll he
hearing some news fore long that'l
sprise you. No, amt gong TO lei
1t out yet, and faint no use your try.
ing TO guess. Anyhow, l must run IN
now, for the kittle's ON the bile, ano
seem to fancy q rasher with my tea. q
Mr.. Jebbings shook his fist at her
retreating figure.
Dye hear that nowG' he demanded
of an invisible second party. 'tSau.
sages for breakfast, and liver anc
bacon for dinner and seems to fancy !
rasher with her teal Why, she's !
pulfeck horsetretch Come to that, =
with hungry sarcasm, "dessay could
fancy one with mine. Durn it, / could
fancy a whole pig! Look yer, now,
amt going TO stand this. Bands, OF
no bands, | amt going to starve up.
stairs while she gorges herself down.
After all, she's fust-rate cook. And
you We got to consider your meals fust,
and If she feeds me as well afterwards
as she's done up till now, maybe
wont have much TO complain of. But
III put my foot down bout that
wes'cut.n
A few minutes later, Mrs. Potter,
coming to the door and making an an.
nouncement, via the keyhole, to the
effect that tea was ready, received his
submission in due form.
Ii you've set your mind on them
there bands, | dunno's I've got any.
thing to say agen 'em.
And this is how Mrs. Potter, late
Higson, nee Whelks, came to change
her name for the third time.
e Twain's Material for storiea
In Berlin, when one pays his fare tc
the conductor of a street car, he re.
ceiyyes ticket, which is soon afterward