Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-04

The three friends were, in truth, in a
state of complete bewilderment not
unmiXed with chagrin, over Simeon's
/ ignob!e parading of the white feather
The thing was unbearable, and after
more than one whispered consultation
thev determined to bring mat
ters to ahead. Jarvis was spokes-
man selected for the attack, and
he began it one night in this fashion
"Gittin' quite chummy with the new
| postmissus, Ell, Simeon?
Simeon's first impulse was to resent
the insinuation. but he resisted il, and
grinned instead. Walking over to the
group. his thumbs inserted jauntily III
| the armholes Of his vest, he SAID.
| Boys. you know me pretty well.
You remember what | allowed | would
| do the other evenin' | said l would GIT
| even with the administration. didn't !?
| Well. you jest watch and see.
But what's your plan, Simeon?
chimed in Census. You know were
with YOU from fust to last if you only
give us a tip.
Never you mind, Census" replied
/ Simeon: and then he went on IN a
more conciliatory tone: You mustn t
/ get tctchy if | don't put YOU onto the
| game for while Yet. 1t amt that !
don't trust YOU fellows: but the fact i
/ that the job I've on hand must be done
alone-alone dye understand?
They didn't understand. but no more
was said on the subject that night
! The wearing anxiety of the three
friends was supplanted by consum-
ing curiosity. What mastery coup
was the fertile mind OF the late post
master now planning?
| Simeon greeted his three visitors
each evening with ever-increaslne
geniaiity. From his beaming counte-
nance they drew the shrewd conciu-
! sion that his master-stroke of retalla-
ton. whatever Il might be, was work
ING toward a brilliant climax. One
night in May-notable from the cir
cumstance that Abe Martin mad lett ms
fur cap at home and siSnallzed the
change Of season by wearing a rusty
| Panana-Simeon betrayed dlsposI-
tion TO take his friends a little further
into his confidence, by saying:
BOYS. it was the twenty-fust OF
| FEBRUARY. the day fore WaShin' ton 5
birthday. that Sue Pritchard took
charge of the pOStOttice. = pose WIZ
to tell YOU that fore the fust o june
I'll have it back-what nd you say &c
that" And then he Srinned ant
ehuckled and even closed one eye aht
poked Census in the side
IF YOU say So remarked Census
we're bound to biievc YOU. But tel
us bout it, You amt changed YOU
poIitics. have you? Sho. know yo'
hain't. 1t can't be possible that they II
COIN 10 remove Sue Pritchard""
NO. sir" rejoined Simeon she
MI right. But all the same I'm Soin
to cit the postofIice back. You en- be
yorr bottom dollar on that. Then n
o,ysred his voite trife as he added
They say it's an able Administrations
So if is. They say the postmaste!
. general is a smart one. SO he rs. bu
. Won may put this down, and swear b
. i Simeon Lowe is more'n match 70
The brightest of en- There was n
: chance for a controversy here, for hi
, listeners Geroutly believed hiln.
t TT was on a warm and balrny evenin
, IN Nav. a never-t % be-forgotten cvt
: ming in the history Of Beechburg, thi
: the three cronies We're sharply X
: minded that the crisis vas AZ ham
When the latest conner OF the trio too