The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-02-10
Jacks Revenge.

Mrs. Raymond was very much in
earnest, ''I'd say something to her,
only girls are such fools, it might be
worse than to keep still. She looks
all tired out now, with her work and
worry at home-how will she look
when she is married to drunkard?"
cts an awful pity" said her
neighbor, and as Jack Raymond
passed through the room she glanc-
ed curiously from mother to son.
She thought, Il guess Bert Hill
amt much worse than your boy"
What she said was, That's real
pretty calico you're working on.
Jack went up the hill behind the
house till he came to spot where
the April sun shone warmly under
pine trees. He dropped upon the
needle covered ground, pulled his
hat over his eyes and calmly finish
ed the nap which bis mothers in
dignant protest had disturbed.
The wind blew softly among the
pine branches, flies and wasps crept
into the sunlight, bluebirds sang,
and far over head hawk sailing on
steady wings cried cruelty. At
length Jack stirred, removed the hat
from his eyes ind sat up. He
hitched along On the ground till he
got his back against tree trunk.
He gazed out upon the spring land
scape meditatively. Then his lips
began to move. He was talking to
himself inauditly.
"It's shame for such nice girl
as Mary Hallett to go with worth
less, shiftless fellow like Bart Hill.
Yes that's so. It ought to be stop
ped Talking won't do any good.
Something's got 10 be done. L sup
pose I might undertake the job. "
He grinned slightly at the thought.
1T would be a good idea to go into
missionary work, and I'm sure that
is good causs-to rescue Mary
Hallett from Bert. She's nice little
girl, and it would be pity for her to
marry him. Bert doesn't even treat
his mother well, what would he do to
Mary?" He Strengthened up almost
energetlcally, II VOW, I'll do it," he
said. Then he meditated again.
"Wonder if I CAM" he unused
doubtfully. He felt 10 pocket and
took out small, round mirror. He
gazed in it earn estly. Hetook off his
hat and brushed his blond hair back
from his forehead, then he gave {
smile of affection which showed his
white teeth; then he put the mirror
back in mis- pocket. There was
look of confidence in his blue eyes
"Guess you'll do he said
s'Rather against you being light,
though; but where there's viii
there's a way"
He got up and started down the
hill. Half way he paused. Sup
pose she should fall in love with not
and then I'd have to 60 back on hel
aud break her all up! It isn't likely
to be sure, but what if it should
happen? There was rueful pause
then he said, The end justifes thu
MEANS" and went on down the hill
Although Jacks friends maintain
ed that he would be all right if onl.
he kept out of bad company, the
general opinion was thas he ane
Bert were about evenly matched fol
worthlessness and shiftlessness
. And when Jack began to go to Hall
q ett's. people said, "Oh, dear! two o.
8 them.' They continued to be shift
less, but it was remarked that, IN
, like Bert, Jack had given up drink
o ing.
! You'll have to stop that" JAG
4 had told himself. ''This is going t
2 be sharp game, and you can't a.
ford TO muddle what brains you'y
got"
Some young men would have be
!. gun the campaign by going of al
!: evening to call on Mary, but Jack
:. methods were different.
l.
}. It was a Monday morning just a