The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-10-03
IA THER
AND SON


git married ag'in."
Eyes, I've heard 'em say So" replied
the son.
"And beln' ms folks think | ought to
git married ag'in, and bcin' don't
want my children to say they was neg
lectcd, think III drop over aud see
the Wldder Spooner this evcnIn'.'
Jonah had been counting Widow
spooncr himself for the last three
months.
That evening Jabcz Lee set ont on
counting expedition, while Jonah. who
did not dress up at all, was also absent
from the house couple Of hours and
reached home only five minutes before
his father. ON the next night his father
stayed home and Jonah went abroad.
1t got to be a regular thing for Jabcz
Lee to call on the Widow Spooncr ey-
cry "Wednesday evening Some one hid
den behind the fence threw stones AT
him on three or -four occasions. and
once he caught sight Of u man sknIk-
Ing about In the darkness. All Of n sud
den one day he got m idea. II was an
idea that made him catch his breath
and lift his right fist IN the air and
shake 1t and muttcr to himself
"Ry gum, but that seems to explain
It! If It's 80, I'll make joiner tired clear
up TO his chin"
The idea was developed that very
evening When Jonah changed his
clothes and took n walk the father fol
lowed him and kept hot trail 10 the
Widow Spooncr's The murder was
out and the mystery solved The par
Tor curtains had not been lowered, and
the father Crcpt up and SAW that his
rival made himself very much at home
on the very chair no himself had occu.
pied the night before Two hours lat
er, az the son wendell his way home
ward. a rock whzzed by his ear and n
ghOstly yell from the darkness jumped
him six feet Next day, while his hair
was still curling aud he was trying to
connect that yell with his fathers deep
bnss voice. the old man suddenly turned
on him with:
joiner, If you was Courtin' n woman
and sneak Of Teller tried 10 sneak
himself In, what would YOU doF'
'I'd my for him" promptly replied
the son
"Thnt's Icst my way % thlnkin', Yes,
'ir; I'd lay for him and lick him til he
couldn't boiler"
''Drat such sncaks"
Father aud son looked into each 9th. |
'r's eyes for u moment, aud each dis. |
'cmhlcd and tried To look innocent. |
rhcy understood each other. however.
ind both set their jaws as they went |
IN with their work That night was
lonRh's night 10 go counting, aud be
fore he left the house he took notice
that his futhcr was missing lie real.
zcd ut once what that meant, and he
began To plan. The route 10 the Widow
Spooncr's carried him over II bridge
spanning a deep creek near her house.
There were trees near the north end,
making deep shadow for many yards.
and Jonah felt that his father would
wait for him there and play some trick.
He therefore removed his boots when
he was yet twenty yards away and ap,
prouchod the spot with catlikc tread
II may be stated In advance that the
fnthcr was there In the shadow He
hhd sheet rcady to wrap around him
self and Il pillow case ready To- pull over
HIS head. lie was not only going to
play ghost but the ghost would do
some humping before Jonah could get
away In that same deep. dark shadow
was q second party. II was nv old lame
mule which had been turned out to get
his living beside the highway, and he
had halted at that spot that night to
Illuminate and doZe. lie stood within
twculy feet OF the man IN ambush. but
made no noise TO give himself away. In
fact, he took no interest whatever In
the proceedings for time. realizing
that h" had passed the age when he
should b. mixed up In love adventures.
and II was not until his long curs de-
tcctcd the approach Of Jonah that his
eyes shook OF sleep and lac wondered
what was mp Jonah crcpt forward foot
by foot aud ut last his presence was
also detected by the father. With soft
ness of touch he got ready his ghostly
garments and was on the point OF don
ming thcm and making n rush when
the old mule raised hts hcad. Mapped
his cars and uttered II bray 1t was Il
bray that split the air with thundcrous
sound and made things shake for rods
around The awful and unexpected
sound stirred the ghost and Jonah To
action ~ the same instant They went
over the railing of the bridge and into
che waters Of the creek alucSt togcth,
or, and both yelling the same yen
Five minutes later father and son
reached the bank together aud pulled
themselves cut As they stood gaSpiug
and dripping they rccoguizcd each 9th
or, and the father shouted.
"Joncr duru Yer hidc. hut IN -TU'-
"pad. YOU odd hypocrite, IN m
chokcd the SON
At that mom"ut the widow opened
her door and came down the path She
had heard tbc bray ana the yclls aud
thought soyuc Traveller had met with an
accident She saw the two men before
her win the mule hooking down az
them over the railing " the bridge
and her weman.s wit told her what had
occurred She laughed loud and long
as ties covered before her and ended
the laugh by Remaining
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