Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-01-13
HIS SHARE In THE Bet.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IN THE first place, the girl was no

good-Iooklng.
That has nothing to do with the case.
but it is just as well to establish the
fact, so that Mr.. Iggle's impelIing mo-
tive may not be misunderstood.
Mr.. Iggle, thinking upon q morning
drink and noting by a glance at his
watch that it would soon be an after
noon drink if he did not hasten to take
it, entered one of those Moorish front
buffets which are so numerous in the
business part of the town and made
known his want to the obliging person
in white on the other side of the pol
ished wood. This accomplished chem
list set to work upon the concoction and
Mr.. Iggle looked specuIatively at his
own portrait as it was flashed back in
the reflection from the cleaning bar.
As he unused a voice came into his
dreams, voice which uttered:
Wont you buy a War Cry?"
Mr.. Iggle looked at the girl in the
bonnet and shook his head. She turned
and was about to leave the house of
drink when she caught a fleeing
glimpse of a party of four men who
were sitting at a little cherry table to
the rear, consuming corned beef hash
and lobster salad. They were feasting
upon the bounty of the saloon, though
every one of the well-garbed quartette
would have Indignantly repudiated the
allegation that he was a free-lunch
fiend.
The girl with the bonnet and the
bundle of papers moved back toward
these men and repeated the question
which she had put to Mr.. Iggle. But
instead of decisively refusing to pat
ronize her these men took another
course One of them, a dressy individu-
al with a black mustache and a weird
tie, was evidently the humorist of the
party, and at the approach of the vend-
er of Salvation Army literature he
smiled and looked about at his three
fellows in way to indicate that now
was merriment, wit and delightful rep
artee to have full swing.
Il don't usually entertain business
propositions outside of my Office" he
said, in response to the girls offer.
''I'm conservative and don't like to risk
capital without full inquiry. How does
your paper stand on civil service?"
The girl had no brilliant reply for
this, and as the other three laughed
heartily the man of the mustache saw
he was doing well.
do 1 get prize if I buy your pa
PERI" he inquired again. Maybe you
offer cottage organ or a suit of clothes
IS inducements to subscribers. Have
you got your cottage organ with you?
Hey?"
This was simply delicious. The idea
of a girl going about the town convey
ing with her such a huge and I'M
wieldy thing as a cottage organ! The
elderly man with the gray side whis-
kers grew purple with mirth, and the
evil-looking one, whose face was all
pouched and fabby and whose eyes
were mere Sits, grinned in delight.
The girl stood looking helplessIy at
the quartette, and, finally, directing
her persuasive efforts at the fourth of
the group, middle-aged person with
q silk hat, she asked her commercial
question.
''I'll tell you what I'll do" said the
man of the mustache, with a sudden in
spiration, sending a hand like a Crap
ping iron into a pocket, from which
nc OACN III tlA a IltiIl uOlldT, L IL give
you this if you kick his hat off"
Mr.. Iggle, who in the meantime had
concluded his negotiations with the
gentleman in white, stepped to the
rearward at this.
He had heard about half the one
sided conversation and the mustached
mans offer reached his ears as well as
those of the Salvation Army girl.
Hold on there, my friend" he said,
quietly. 81 want to be in this enter
prise"
Good boy!" the other said, cheerful
". Want half of this bet?"
YES" Mr.. Iggle answered, drawing
a quarter from his purse. II want to
buy in on that offer" The young man
accepted the silver and waited for fur
Their Developments, after having inter
jected a statement to the girl that now
she could see that there was popular
desire to have her kick the silk hat off
the silent fourth mans head.
Wait" interrupted Mr.. IgEie. 81
never like to interfere in anything that
doesn't concern me. / don't like to
break into any little party which is bent
on amusing itself. But as have bought
half your bet 1 assume that am en-
titled 20 voice in these deliberations"
Certainly" said the humorist, and
his friends grinned. Evidently they
were to be entertained not by one joker,
but by two.
VERY WELL" said Mr.. Iggle. THAT
being understood 1 desire to say that
YOU are an Internal, witless loafer, who
ought to be kicked by any decent man
who would care to take the trouble to
do it. I speak without anger, under
stand. / have digested the situation
rather fully in the last two minutes and