Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-21

somebody was telling me, forget who,
that Mr.Sawyer don't like to sit round
doing nothin', and he's goin' to give
music lessons"
These last two untruthful shots hit
the mark, as she knew they would and
.Strout, abandoning the subject, blurted
out, where in thunder's that Hiram?
I'll be blowed if don't believe he went
to look for eggs first" aF
81 reckon he did," said Mandy, "if he
means to keep on good terms with me-
He amt likely to tend to stray jobs
till he's done up his regular chores"
Il s'pose Deacon Mason sends him
Strout with sheer.
"Did Deacon Mason tell you that you
could have him to run your errands?"
inquired Mandy, with pout.
Guess the best thing can do said
Strout rising, '.is to go hunt Pettengill
up myself"
Il guess you've struck it right this
time" assented Mandy, as Strout left
the room and started for the wood
shed.
As he closed the door, Mandy resum.
ed her singing as though such CONVEX
sations We're of everyday occurrence.
She finished her work at the sink
and was fixing the Kitchen fire when
Hiram returned.
"All could find said he. holding
an egg in each hand. "The hens must
have struck or think it's holiday
S'pose there's any out in the barn?
Come, let's go look, Mandy. Where's
old Strout?"
II guess he's gone to look Tor Mr..
Pettengill,' replied Mandy, with a
, laugh.
Il kinder thought he would if
stayed long enough said l-.ram, with
a grin: "but come along, Mandy, no
hen fruit, no puddin'"
'Mr. Maxwell" said Mandy. soberly
Il wish you'd be more particular about
your language. You know abominate
! slang You know how careful ! try
to be-"
you're a dandy" said Hiram. tax
| ing her hand.
I They ran as far as the woodsbed.
when seeing the door open, they hid
behind it until Strout came out and
walked down towards the lane to meet
/ Ezekiel whom he had seen coming up
| from the road. Then Hiram and Man
! dy sped on their way to the barn,
| which they quickly reached and We're
soon upon the haymow. apparently
searching intently for eggs.
When Strout reached Ezekiel he
| shook hands with him and said, Come
Zip to the barn, Pettenglt, I'VE got a
! little somethin' l want to tell you and
its kinder private. It's about that
city Teller that's swellin' round here
putin on airs and tryin to make us
think that his father is a bigger man
than George Washington. He about
the same as toiu me down to the gro
Gerry store that the blood of all the
Quincys flowed n one arm and the
| blood of all the Adams in the other,
but kinder guess that the rest of his
carcass is full of calf's blood and
there's more fuss and feathers than
| fight to him.
BY this time they had reached the
barn and they sat down upon a pile
of hay at the foot of the NOW.
Now my. plans this" said Strout
"You know Bob food; well, he's the
biggest teller and the best fighter in
town I'm go.n' to post Bob - as to
how to pick quarrel with that city
Teller When he gets the llcllin that
4 he deserves l rayther think that Dea'
con Mason will lose boarder.'
But sposin' Mr.. Sawyer licks Bob
! Wood?" queried Ezekiel,
"Oh I don't count much on that
said Strout; but if it should turn out
that way we're goin' to turn in and
get up a surprise party for Miss Mason
and list leave him out
Il hope you amt goin' TO do any
fightin' down to Deacon Mason's?" re
marked Ezekiel.
"Oh, no.' protested otrout, ''itll be
kind O. quiet, underminin' work, as it
were. Remarks and sayln's and side
whispers and odd looks, the cold shout
der business, you know, that soon tells
a Teller that his company amt appre
ciated."
well, don't think that's quite
fair" said Ezekiel. You don't like
him. Mr. Strout, but don't think the
whole town will take it up
The Professor said sternly, He has
insulted me and in doing that he has
insulted the whole town OF Eastbor
ough."
A smothered laugh was heard.
BY George! What was that?" CRIED
Strout.
Ezekiel was at loss what to say
and before he could reply, Mandy's
laughing had caused the hay to move
AS it began TO slide she clutched a
Hiram in vain effort to save her
self, and the next instant large pile
of hay, bearing Hiram and Mandy
came down, falling upon Ezekiel ant
Strout and covering them from sight
When all had struggled to their feet
Ezekiel turned to Mandy and sale
sharply. What were YOU dom VI
there, Mandy?
Looking for eggs" said she, as sht
; ran ont of the barn and started fol
the house.
Hiram stood with his mouth distend
: ed with a huge smile. Strout turned
!, towards him and said savagely, Well
if you're the only egg she got. twas ;
mighty bad one.
J Hiram retorted, 81 would rather b'
called bad egg than somethin'
| heard about you.
, Strout in passion, cried out, "Wh'
said anything about me?"
Hiram made for the barn door an,
ori CO. O