Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-20

her from her father and her brothers by
dint of his strong hand in their faces in
what the neighborhood called a "mix-up."
which occurred when he proposed for her
hand. To be sure, his proposition was
somewhat sudden and was not couched in
accents that could in the least be called
typical of the lovers whining, wheediing
Difference toward the guardian dragons of
his be.oved. He had said with Homeric
simplicity, after having listened to the fam
lily protest against the main wage Garner
in their midst being removed: You can
stow that gas for all me. Net an me is
gOin' to fit right now. If y amt dead set
on benz sorry to part with her y git
away from that door. If y don't git away
III walk trough y and it might disregulate
yr inSideS.' 1t was then that the mix
up had occurred: Harvey had walked
trough Nette's male kinsmen, at all
events. greatly to the discolora ton Of their
outsides, and quite literally had brought
away his bride. He had not beaten her
since more nor oftener than she needed.
She herself stood ready to testify to this
with every outward accompaniment of rage
the instant she heard him accused, and she
surely ought to know how often and to
what extent she was in need. Nettie was
more than little good TO look upon, and it
is possible that her tolerance was great,
because, no matter how heavily he struck
her, Harvey was careful never to dIShgure
her face. They had one child-Blanche-of
whom they were both devotedly fond
detective aCkeray was not given TO what
the young lady noVeliStS would call aSSort-
ed sentiment. He had heard members of
the officially gentler sex cry out insults to
which nothing bat good drubbing is an
answer, and that an insufficient one; and
had seen women tantaiize n man IL deal
tn" blow which would dishonOr him, until.
from the point of view of a member of the
fierce, he thought the blow had been earned.
and ought to be delivered. "A lady that
amt a lady, and can't act like a lady. don't
deserve to be treated like lady" he had
once been heard to declare between his
teeth as he bundled bonnet and skirt
etcetera, roughly into patrol wagon. To
he sure, the exaspera ton had been extreme
The bonnet and skirt had behaved more as
if they contained a larger member of the
cat species than a woman. and one side of
Detective Ackerays face had been laid
open in broad ba nds from eye to chin. The
point is, however that Nettie Jeliffe did
act like lady, according to Detective Ack-
eray's standard, al least, and he once hap
pened to be present when Harvey Jeliffe
was executing a bit of matrimonial disci-
pine and threatened to run him in"
The discipline was being given in the
street, and Ackeray would not have been a
fly cop had he not believed it to be his
right to take a hand in all street happen
iugs. Harvey believed it to be his right
to administer any chastisement that he
thought his wife needed wherever it proved
most convenient.
This s my circus" he said defiantly.
when Ackeray threatened to pinch" him
X,
do. If you can't do anythin' better than
mix yourself in family affairs, why, I'll
help you to get over the habit"
Il tell you those, too" Nettie declared
boldly championing her husbands right to
bring her up according to his best light.
If you fly cops I'D take care o your own
families the way you try to take care o.
other peoples you'd save more money.
You're an old woman that's what you are.
| wouldn't be found dead Twin with you"
Sock it to him. Hit him where he lives"
Kick him out O the Streets bystand-
ers suggested, and Nettie was emboldened
to continue her roasting"
You jus try to pinch my Harvey" she
went on. wy. you long-legged, leather
headed. front Office stiff, I'd rather have
my Harvey kick me regular ev'ry mornin'
than drink bottle of sham with you ev'ry
night. You go home an see f your own
wife don't need little trouncin'."
Detective Ackeray was not hurt by the
frankness of Nettie Jeliffe's speech; neither
did he find 1T diminished her 'ladyship"
On the contrary. he was old-fashioned
enough to think generous lie grace In
womanhood. and that family quarrel is
a sacred function so long the family |
stands ready to present a united front |
against the intervention of an outsider.
"Long-legged, leather-headed front Office |
stiff is not a hackneyed term of cndear- |
ment. and if Nettie Jeliffe had been search !
Ing for phrase by which to recommend |
herself to Detective Ackeray's esteem she |
might not have hit upon it, His taste, how
ever. was mature and sound he did not |
mind hard words, they do not lacerate the |
flesh: he minded only bonnets and skirrs |
with feline fendsh contents: and 1t stands |
recorded that whereas before Nettie Jeliffe |
had ridiculed him he had pronounced her a |
clipper" after she had ridiculed him he |
pronounced her emphatically 'corker."
No very definite ideas are attached to |
either of these words, but they both ex-
press admiration. and "corksr'' u uoro