Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-01

~ can't help laughing" 1felvtn replied.
for bout minute. But, say. dad burn
your onery hide, amt you goin to do
nothin but stan thar an act fool
a-laughin at met Amt you goin to help
me out Z"
Couldn't you get loose in any way?"
'You reckon II I could I'D "a set here
NIL this time waitin for some burned
idiot to come along an help me?'
"Did you try to get loosef'
'Dld l try to get loose? Geemenetty!
Did try3 Lord. what senseless ques-
lions blamed fool can ask! Reckon
II you'd "a seen me tryin to tear my
pants "tf an a-wigslin round here till
most wore myself out a-tryin to git
out Of 'em you'd a. had some notion
tried to git loose. Did try1 Lord,
SIGH question:
But you couldn't make 1t, eh?"
Old HI looked up. his face d perfect
picture Of disgust. With keen and
biting sarcasm he answered.:
"Oh, to be sure could "a got loose,
but 1t was so nice settin here that
lowed I'd Jest stay an enjoy myself!
reckoned sooner or later some idiot
asylum'd come along an stan round
here an ask million fool questions,
an l knowed it'd be. more fun AN you
could shake stick at to Jest set here
an answer 'em. But, say, air you amin
to help me or not?"
Melvin had thought Of the time when
he had met Hi Jenkins and sought n
little aid from him and of the treat
! ment he had received, and 1t had oc-
Cured to him that now would be a
good time to retaliate, So with cool
nOnchalance he replied:
]: ut makes no difference to me wheth-
er you get loose or not"
/ Jenkins looked surprised, but after a
moment he said:
! ut don't, chr
!. certainly It doesn't. I didn't put
you in there. did III
"Course you didn't"
Then guess am not responsible
Tor you being there, am IT.
"No. But what of thatf'
"Nothing, only II am not the cause
Of your being there can't see that you
have any reason to expect me to help
you out"
/ "Ain't you got q grain of accommo-
dalton bout you. not nary little
speckf'
"Oh, I attend to my own business"
Jenkins was silent and thoughtful
for little while. Then he said, nj
most humbly:
j Look here. young Teller. l know
what you're a-driyin at. You're a-think
In Of that time you cum acrost me ovel
thar In the woods. an you're a-laylr
out to git even with me for the way
done you that day. But 1t hain't fair
TOR then Twas a-settin thar waltin fol
my chill to come on. an nobody aim
goin to stan to be pestered under then
circumstances. Hnin't one man out O
a thOusan' that wouldn't a. done 70,
wuss'n did. You ain't got no excus,
for cuttin up no capers with me. 'caus'
you amt no ager workin on you. s,
you ort to help me out"
well, guess will this time. sine
: you put 1t that way. But how shall
proceed? Shall l cut you loosen
y IAN spile my pants7 Great San
Smith! Not much you won't"
"How, them"
why, Jest maui that wedge In tina
!. till you open up the crack enough to lie
me loose. Lord, looks, ltketyou'd hay
sense enough to know that much with
: out bein told"
! Melvin took up the wedge and stuc
; It in the end Of the log. Then he too
} the maui and began to pound 1t wit
} all his might. Slowly with each bloy
!. the crack opened until finally the oil
man found himself released from hi
. humlliating and wearisome imprisor
. ment.
J The moment he was free he rose t
his feet and started toward home witt
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