Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-12
The Daily Short Story /
Farmer FIippin's Phaeton.
BY JONAS JUTToN.

Samuel Flippln walked impatiently
into the kitchen. where his wife was
still busy with her Sunday cooking,
and. taking a seat near the open win
dow, gazed wistfully down the road.
Are you lookin for any one. Samuelg'
asked Mrs. Flippin. following his gaze
down the dusty roadway.
why. certainly not. Milly. What
put that idea in your head:"
Il jus see you keep lookin an lookin.
an thought maybe you was lookin for
somebody you was eNpectin."
mo. was JUS merely lookin at that
purity wheatfield over yonder Be gosh
dinged." he cried, springing from his
| seat. Here comes ole Dobbin pokin
| along with his harness ON. | hope to
heaven lie hasn't run away an broke
Broke what, SamuelE'' exclaimed
Mrs. Flippin, sharing her husbands
alarm.
The hack. of course" answered the
husband uneasily. Hello Yonder
comes John, pushin sumthin alone the
road. What the dickens is the mat
| teri
Both started hurriedly for the lot
gate, where Dobbin patiently awaited
In he turned in. John soon came putting
mp, pushing the queerest machine Ell
Their OF them had ever seen before.
What in the world Is that asked
husband and wife together.
Blame if l know onless it's your
replied the hired man, looking askance
at his master.
Il can't keep il from you any longer.
Milly," said the farmer in tone now
full of disappointment. Il sent las
week for that phaeton we saw adver-
tised in the cat-catalogue an sent John
to town after it, an this is the thing he
has brought back"
AN time l had gittin it here put
in John. There wasn't any shafts TO
It, so | jus, turned ole Dobbin loose an
tried to pull II. But couldn't git it err
long that way, 50 l pushed it. but the
blame thing wabbled all over the road,
so that am smack out of breath"
II didn't buy that thing" exclaimed
Mr.. Flippin exasperatedly. Il bought
nice phaeton, with lazy back. cush-
toned seat an nice top an. curtains. Who
ever saw such a thing as this-no
shafts. no top. An look at them little
ole seats. not large enough for baby.
an injure rubber tires. What is the
thing made for anyhow
The agent called il n duplex bi-sum-
thin; said ne wondered at you all gittin
the thing" John offered by way of ex-
PLANTATION.
"Wen. l won't have it, snapped the
disappointed farmer. III sen IL right
back an then write letter an let 'em
know that they can't swindle me in any
such manner
Hurrying to the house he returned in
Il few minutes with pen and ink and
erased his name and address from the
shipping tag. on the opposite of which
he wrote the name and address of the
phaetOn factory. John then wabbled
the machine back TO the express office,
and Farmer Flippin that night went to
bed in anything but a pleasant frame
of mind.
The following day carriage drew up
in front of Mr.. Flippin's. and there
alighted from it a handsome young
man of 81 and a beautiful little woman
some three years his junior.
You can't guess who we are?' said
the gentleman to Mr.. Flippin, who met
them at the door.
Il don't believe I can" was the re-
ply. ''Who be you. anyway"
We'll" answered the gentleman.
with a merry twinkle in his eyes. Il
am your nephew, John Darrell. whom
you have not seen since he was a little
boy, and this, Uncle Samuel, is my
wife. We are on our bridal tour
through the south and thought we
would come and spend n week or two
with you and Aunt Milly.''
BLESS my soul! Bless my SOUL But l
am glad TO see you-both OF you. Sis
Jennie's joint How you have grow
edr' And the old gentleman warmly
shook both hands of his nephew at the
same time. kissed his new niece and
then called Justify for Aunt Milly. No
one ever received a more cordial well
come than was accorded the happy
bride and groom by Mr.. Flippin and his
wife.
The following morning at the break
fast table Mr.. Darrell said:
Uncle Sam. shipped our duplex BIZ
cycle to you several days ago. and if
you don't care / would like for your
hired man TO go to the express office
and bring IL over. We have carried it
every where with us and have had some
splendid times together upon it."
Did the blame thing have four little
ole wheels with injure rubber tires an
two little ole seats?" asked Uncle Sam
uel interestedly.
Yes. that's it." smiled Mr.. Darrell.
well, my dear John. l hate to tell
you, but that funny looking contraption
is now in New Orleans, or at least on
the way. ! ordered n phaeton from n
dealer there, an when that thing come
thought they had tried TO put IT off on !
me for phaeton. so L sent it right |
back. 1t was the dadgumdest looking |
thing | ever saw in all of my born
days"
Then John Darrell and his wife |
laughed until their sides aehed, and |
Uncle Sam and Aunt Milly good ma |
turedly enjoyed their mirth.-SuUny |