The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-21
~ NEVER knew such iinpudence!
He wouldn't dare do 1t IL there
were a man on the place.
am going to take 1t down this


~ were a man on the place. l
am going to take it down this
minute"
She rushed from the room and the
banging door drowned her mothers
remonstrances. call her back, Ma
tilda. We can't tell what she may do,
and IL was unwise to offend Taylor un-
necessarily"
1T is too late, mother. She is half
way across the cornfield now. Good
gracious! She is Climbing the fence,
and there is the gate not ten yards
away"
But ten yards was long distance
when 10 was in a hurry. over she
went, and on breathless, across an
other field which ran parallel with the
railroad track. At its edge, in full view
of passing trains, was large barn, its
sway-back roof rather the worse for
lack of shingles, and on one side an
enormous red sheet of canvas, with
staring white letters which announced,
"Grand Barbecue at Scruggs' Station"
and concluded with the democratic in
vitation, Come One, Come ALL"
A man was putting the last tack into
the canvas when the girl accosted him:
Hello what are you doing?"
The reply came from the top of the
ladder: "Nothin', I'm done" And he
began to descend. But / must insist
upon your taking it down." Whats
the matter with it?" His insolent
manner crimsoned her cheeks to the
color Of the sign she surveyed scorn-
fully. "A great deal; chief of all is the
impertinence> >of placing it there with
out our consent "Well, them's my
orders, and it's done. If you want it
took down, you got to see the boss.
Here he comes now" And he placed
his ladder against the barn and went
off without further parley.
How d oyou do?" was the nonchal-
ant greeting of the newcomer, stand
ing at ease in the road beyond. The
girl walked to the fence with a de-
termined air. Good afternoon" she
exclaimed, stiffly. 81 was just order
ing the man to remove this sign from
our premises. but he declined. refer
ring me to you as the boss her
pretty lip curled-"and 1 must ask you
to see that the obnoxious thing is taken
down at once" "Well, really, that is
beyond me just al present. 1t was put
there by order of the committee, of
which am only an insignificant men,
ber, and"
"Will you kindly inform me by what
right the committee ordered it put upon
our barn without our consent?"
He was civil and self-possessed as he
replied:
why, it was rather cheeky, wasn't t
it? But l presume they took your con-
sent for granted Anyway, if you don't
mind I'd like to have it remain there
till tomorrow, when I can arrange with
the committee. I'm awfully sorry if
you object" He smiled across the fence
at her, with frank. handsome eyes. Jo
was mollified and recognized the fact
with horror. In an effort to be as dig
nified as she felt she ought to be, she
went to the other extreme. "I mos.
certainly do object, and Furthermore It
will not be necessary for you to see the
committee ] am perfectly able to
take the sign down myself" And with
a naughty toss of her bare head she
went to the ladder. She was strug-
Cling with it and had half-dragged it
toward the sign. when it was seized
with quiet strength. "Allow me-if I
am not mistaken-this is my ladder
And your barn, too, / suppose you
were going to add" She stood pant
ing with childish rage. 1.-THE rent has
not been paid. know, but it will be as
soon as possible. In the meantime,
pray be generous enough to spare us
further insolence."
There was silence while he carried
the ladder to the fence, threw it over
and himself climbed to the other side.
There, he turned a face white with
suppressed feeling. II shall not reply
for fear of telling you some plain
truths as to your display of temper
! shall see about the sign tomorrow
In the meantime permit me to be
equally firm in my determination that
1T must remain there for the present"
Then swinging the ladder over his
shoulder, he went off rapidly down the
railroad. Jo stared stupidity after him.
then she turned to the sign. "There
you are now, but not for long. Wen
see" The white letters Knocked her
with a vacant grimace, and Come
One, Come AL" danced before her
eyes as she made her way slowly back