The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-09-17
DavenpOrt'S Difficulties

Tn SOME respects Mr.. Davenport was
not particularly nervous man.
lie could listen 10 the lachrymose
strains OF barrel organ with equa-
nimity, and the gay rafting OF a piano
organ rather exhilarated him. More
over, his wife kept macaw whose es-
pecial accomplishment was the imita-
tion OF circular saw tearing its way
through knotty log. He did not
shun the society OF his six-year-old
son. Yet as he stood before his shay
ing mirror he looked anxiously for cor
rugations in his forehead and gtreaks
of silver at his temples, and was sur
prised, in view of the fact that Pier
netton had been practicing, to find
that no alarming change had taken
place in his appearance.
He was still wondering at this mex
plicable circumstance as he paced up
and down the platform OF the little
suburban station, waiting for the
train that was to bear him TO his daily
grind in the city, and when he raised
his meditative head and saw before
him a new automatic weighing ma
chine that had been placed there by
an optimistic corporation he at once
diyed into his pocket for the necessary
penny and adjusted himself carefully
and exactly on the center OF the bal.
ance plate. The penny ratified down
through the internal economy of the
machine, and the dial hand spun
around and stood quivering at $50.
"That settles it," said Mr.. Davenport,
triumphantly. Three pounds gone.
Phernetton and / are going to have
a little talk together. I'm not going
to be reduced TO an emaciated wreck
for any leather1unged pariah that ever
blew horn"
A dog, a curly black retriever, with
a tongue several inches too large for
its mouth, had driven Davenport from
his residence-20 minutes walk from
the city hall. IL was then that he be-
came aware OF the fact that he had
nerves. The animal at irregular in
tervals would wake in the night and
bay the moon or anything else he
took il into his head 10 bay. If he had
done this constantly and continuous
ly Davenport would not have minded,
hut the barks would have intermis-
sions varying from five seconds 10 two
hours, and there were frequently
nights when he would not bark at all.
One night when tho dog had been
particularly exasperating, Davenport
got up and stumbled 10 the dressing
table and took a revolver from
n drawer He understood that by Inn
memorial custom, as biazoned In the
pages OF comic papers, he had the
right TO shoot the dog-or was IL cats
whose slaughter was thus condoned2
He examined the cylinder OF the
weapon by bar OF light that slanted
up through the Venetian blind from
the street lamp and saw that 1T was
filled with cartridges; then he remem-
bered that tradition required shot
gun and that he ought 10 have been
wearing a tasseled rightcap; besides,
a pistol shot at night would be too
noisy.
He looked around the room for some
missile. lie had no bootjack-in fact
he had only very hazy idea OF what
n bootiack was. lie would not have
hesitated to sacrifice his hairbrush II
its execution had been likely 10 prove
even painful, or his water bottle, IL he
had been confident OF his ability to
hurl II so far with precision. Then an
idea suddenly illuminated his gloomy
mind and he stopped and extracted the
casters from the four legs of his bed.
Leaning far out OF the window, he
threw one OF the little iron wheels
with all his force at the black shape
that was jerking out It's occasional
barks' There was n crash OF broken
glass and the rattle of an iron chain.
The caster had gone through the base
ment window and the dog had retreat
ed TO his kennel, from which refuge
he barked with renewed energy.
Davenport was poising himself for
another throw when policeman
called gruilly out OF the shadow TO in.
auire what the disturbance was about.
Davenport counseled him to close his
yisage and go back to bed. The dog
appeared TO be listening.
Ii ended by Davenport paying five
dollars and costs, amounting to SIS,
for malicious mischief and $25 with
costs for disorderly conduct, including
abusive language, and by his removing
TO house little beyond the city
limits.
There he lived peacefully and hap