Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-01-28
WHY HE REBELlED.
Martyn Was WILLING to Fix the Roof,
hut OBJECTED 10 Suspicion.

Mr.. Martyr is engaged with his father
F in the roofing business. This does not
mean that he Chambers about the ridge
poles with a hammer in one hand and d
piece of slate in the other, but contractors
are sometimes rude persons who do not
take this fact into consideration.
One of these matter of fact gentlemen
had for snndry days been singing his
plant about roof on certain house
which had Just been put on by the Mar
tyns' men and which leaked. The loca-
ton OF the leak was Il mystery unsolyed.
but the hurassed contractor wrung the
promise from Martyr, Jr., that when it
was discovered it would be attended to at
once. On one of the evenings when the
rain was coming down and the wind vas
tearing in from the lake ut a tremendous
rate MIR. Martyr, DR., was clambering in.
to his evening clothes and his best white
tie to go to a reception. Just as he was
a finished work of art the telephone bell
rang, and he was summoned.
Hello" said the voice of the contract
or ut the other end. Say, I've found
| that leak, and | want you to go over to
the house right away and fix it. The
people are being flooded out.
Me fix it," AIR. Martyn shouted in re-
| Spouse. In convenient mirror he caught
a glimpse of himself in irreproacha bic
swallowtail and ssowy linen and remem-
bered vs.s.t roof was like on wet,
| windy night.
..Certuinly!" responded the contractor
brazenly You people said you'd do it,
and it's got to be dore. Take ladder
! along.0
/ Mr.. Martyr hung up the receiver gently
IL
aud hypnotzed by the colossal nerve of
4 the contractor at the other end of the
I wire, he hurried into his outer wraps,
/ grabbed an umbrella in one hand and
obediently started for the endangered
residence.
He was admitted. md the lady of the
house rosa qucstioningly as he walked
4 into the library. She surveyed the i'm
posing looking gentleman in his hest
i clothes with Wondering admiration, and
when he said iii a tone of resignation
Excuse me. but I've come to tx the
4 roof, she looked rather stunned.
why, of course she said at last
! Suspicion dawned in her eye but she lei
Mr. Martyr proceed up stairs to the attic
with a lantern, n stcpladder and n few
other membranes. With much care
I the rebelliaiis rDofer took off his cuffs
turned his trousers and went to work
He had just got faivly started whcnSht
heard a stcalthy step aud at the head oil
the attic stood determined but scared
4 looking man with a gun. The gun GOV
cred Mr.. Martyr comfortably.
For a long minute the two stared al
each other. and then the man OF The
house had the grace to turn red.
Yon See he hammered. my wife in
sisted burglar had entered the house il
disguise, calculnted to throw her off hcl
guard. and-and She made me come III
.lftcryou.''
Mr.. Martyr descended from the step
ladder and slowly picked up his cuffs.
Well he said finally in a tremendon
voice, .I'm willing to obligc cnstome
to the extent of doing day laborers ,yorl
in new dress suit, but I'm blamed i
i I'm Mp to be taken for housebreaker
y Anyhow, he concluded, with fierce Enal
ity, Il find it is impossible for the roof L
be fixed without skilled help. I'll sen,
some men tomorrow
a Mr.. Martyr departed from the house ii
spite of protestations, leaving a streak il
4 be atmosphere every tine one CT til
household abandoned to its watery fat
stepped through it and went on to the re
4 ceptlon, where he danced every dane
with d light and vndictiye heart. Ever
time he thought of that suspicious fanil
sitting up all night 10 mop up the dc
scending floods he gave his partner a
extra and joyous whiri that took he
breath AWAY.
And the next day he sent over sol
ta,y man with a hammer and paper Q
nails who fixed the leak after some artir
Il Gus labor occupying about three minutes
II Exchange.
J, -,