Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-02

himself and speedily improved it.
81 think I'll have to walk over and
see Miss lilly James this afternoon,
said the Professor.
At this shot at Samuel Hill and Bet
sy everybody laughed, including Quin-
cy, and thus the ice was broken.
1--WE heard some pretty big lies told
in my life" said Robert Wood, "but
think Abel Coffin, yer know him, Pro-
lessor, old Jonathan Collins son, the
one that goes carpenterin', he lives
over in Montrose, yer know, can beat
anybody we've got in this town, not ex-
ceptin' you, Stiles" and he gave the
latter a nudge with his elbow that
nearly knocked him out of his chair.
Tell us the story Robert" said the
Professor, who had recovered his self
complacency; were dyin' to hear it, :"
| "Well' continued Robert Wood
| "Abel had been shinglin' a house and
| told him there wuz place where he
had left off Single. Abel laughed
and seq he, eff l hadn't better eye
sight that you've got I'd carry tele-
| scope round with me. Welt SEE /.
thinkin' I'd fool him, let's see which
one of us has got the best eyesight.' l
l
| house, which was bout a hundred feet
off from where we stood, and seq to
Abel, Can you see that fly waikiki
along on the ridgepole near the Chin
ney? Abel put his hand up back of his
ear and SEE he, No, / can't see him
but I can hear him walkin' round !"
| AS Robert concluded a loud shout
of laughter went up from the table
| Quincy had no desire to be considered
''stuck up" so he joined in the laugh
although he had heard the story in a
different form before.
So had the Professor, and he never
allowed an old story to- be told in his
| presence without working in two lines
! of doggerel which he had composed
and of which he was very proud. So,
turning to Robert Wood, he said
patronizingly. "That was very well
told Robert. The story is an old one,
but you worked it up very nicely,
but" continued the Professor, "as
have often remarked on similar oc-
casions:
| 1t makes no difference whether a
story's new or old,
Everything depends on the way it's
told"
Turning to Quincy he said, mo
doubt Mr.. Sawyer can favor us with a
story that we've never heard before"
| Quincy was little taken aback for
the appeal was unexpected but he
quickly recovered his self-possession
and said in low but pleasant voice,
81 am afraid that my story will have
| to depend on the way it is told rather
than upon it's novelty" He wondered
! if his hearers were acquainted with
| the travels of Baron Munchausen, but
decided to try the experiment. about
a year ago." resumed Quincy, II went
| down to Maine on some law business.
| transacted it, but had to travel some
| ten miles to the county town to record
my papers. had four wheeled bug
gy, and strong, heavily-built horse. 1t
began to snow very fast after started
but I knew the road and drove stead
lily on. AS I approached the county
town I noticed that the snow was
| deeper than the highest building in
was visible, excepting about three feet
of the spire of the tallest church in
the place."
Quincy stopped and glanced about
the table Every eye was fastened
upon him, and all, including the Pro-
fessor and Stiles particularly, were
listening intently. Quincy continued
his story:
81 was well supplied with buffalo
robes, so after tying my horse firm
! ly to the weather vane on the spire,
| made up a bed on the snow with my
buffalo robes and slept soundly and
| comfortably all night. When l woke
| in the morning 1 was still enveloped
1 in the robes but found to my surprise
that was lying on the ground. look,
ed around. but there was no sign Of
snow anywhere. arose and looked
about for my horse and buggy but they
were not in sight. Then remembered
that had tied my horse to weather
vane. Casting my eyes upward 1 saw
j my horse and buggy hanging by the
strap, the horse having secured a
footing on the side of the spire. Hap
/ PLY I had a revolver with me, and
with one shot I severed the broad
leathern strap. Naturally the horse
and buggy fell to the ground l put
my buffalo robes back into the buggy,
rode to the court house, had my pa
pers recorded and then drove back
to the town, none the worse for my ad.
venture but the stableman charged me
fifty cents for the strap that 1 was
obliged to leave on the church spire.'
A number of low whistles intermix
ed with several "whews!" were heard
as Quincy finished his story.
| wall, by thunder!" Calculated Stiles
chow do yer account for"
81 think it must have been a sudden
thaw," remarked Quincy with grave
face.
zone thing puzzles me" said tho
Professor.
what is that?" asked Quincy pc
! litely. perhaps can explain"
Before you left the church." asked
the Professor. why didn't you reacl
up and ontie that strap"
Another loud shout of laughter
broke from the company and Quinc!
realizing that the Professor had beat
en- him fairly by putting a point OF
his own story, joined heartily in the
laugh at his own expense.
| ssrThat romindc mo coid Abpo,