Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-01
DAILY SHORT STORY
FARMER BUNKER AND WIDOW


III M" replied the wary son. win
mems what y say-jist like mowin'
machine. They're purity enough till v
git 'em harnessed up; then they cut
d4vn everything in their way.
Farmer Bunker since the death OF
Zeke's mother, year before, had been
casting longing eyes at the widow
Sniffen. Mandy's mother. Knowing
that his son had an objection TO hav-
ing any one put in his avn mothers
place. he felt If he could get Zeke to
make a match with the daughter he
might overcome the boys scruples.
But Zeke saw the trap and did not
relish the advantage his falling into 1t
would give his father. The old man,
having failed with his bait. concluded
to do little counting and then pro-
pose. Zeke watched the maneuvers
with anxiety.
One morning after one of the farm
er's visits to the widow he awoke to
see Che widows COW rummaeing In
his corn. some of which she had tram
pied underfoot. The old man fired up
at once, but. remembering the situation
between him and the widow, quietly
oIONC thC So" ONeA ~" PidNC Al TIC
fence by which she had made her en-
trance to the shed where she belonged.
He asked Zeke if he had carelessly left
the fence lowered, and Zeke said that
he had not. Then the farmer sur
missed that the COW had done it with
her horns
In few days the cow was IN the
corn again. This time, after the farm
err had driven her out, he went to the
widow and suggested that she put
poke around the cows neck. The wild
ow declared that the COW didn't need
a poke. that she was as good COW
as ever gave milk and that some one
Oh the Bunker farm must have been
careless about the fence. Bunker as
sured her that there was no one on
his farm except himself and his son
and neither Of them had touched the
fence. There was a fash of temper
between the two, and the farmer went
away insisting on a poke for the cow.
Zeke heard him grumbling and said:
Father, don't y believe me when
l say l haint touched the fence"
"Of course l do. Zeke."
well. if 1 didn't do II an v didn't
do it, the cow must "a done 1t. The
widder should get her poke"
That's what | tole her, an she
lows the COW don't need a poke. She
kind O fred up when mentioned it."
'Whatd l tell y about mowin'
machines, father"
The old man went off snorting
Again the cow was found In the
and this fhnrn
change 20 be noticed in the fence. The
balance of the farmers corn was' de
stroyed, and he went to the widow in
frame of mind by no means lovely.
Mis- Sniffen," he began in an unac-
ceptable tCne, "y'r cow has ruined $50
wo'th Of corn for me. an I suppose
Mr.. Bunker. / want v to under
stand that l hain't responsible for my
COW gittin' into no farm that's not
properly protected"
MY farm is properly protected" tho
farmer retorted.
At this moment Mandy appeared Oh
the scene and took II hand in the pro-
ceedings, but not as might be expect
ed Mr. Bunker" she said, II think
y are right. Our cows q bad un."
coIu 3lci
go straight into the house"
Mandy obeyed, pouting, and, her in
reference having only added fuel to
her mothers anger, the widow gave the
farmer such dressing as he had never
had before. The cid man went home,
muttering. and as he passed his son.
who had been leaning on the fence
listening, be said, "NNimmin is NOW
in machines. true 'nough, Zcke, all
except the gal, an she's an angel"
Wouldn't trust any of 'em. father?'
~ kin trust her sartin. She hain't
like her mother bit. She tole the ole
bag jist what she was"
About q week after this, when the
feelings of the two old persons had
had time TO cool. Zeke, who was sleep
ing comfortably in bed, awoke and
heard a sound without. He got up
and, going to the window, saw by the
light of the moon, which was full,
Mandy let down the fence and drive
her mothers COW into the Enclosure.
Zeke jumped into his clothes, ran
downstairs and caught the girl before
she reached her home.
Mandy" he said, "y'r keched.
sor y drivin' the COW into our farm.
What'd v do it fort"
Mandy hung her head. Most girls
look pretty in moonlight. and Mandy
was a pretty girl at any time. She
made a confession. Fearing that her
mother would give her q stepfather,
she had been putting the COW in among
his corn for the purpose of making
trouble She had served double pur-
pose for herself and Zeke
"What'd v take sides with dad forr
he asked
"Oh, know mother. If I'd "a sided
with her she'd "a turned in his favor
an made 1t up"
Mandy" said Zeke, "y'r a remark
able smart gal. I'VE broke it off be-
tween the two old uns, an dad