The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-03-24
MANSON MEETS THE ENEMY.
What He Said When He Saw His
Torturer Face to Face.

Manson. Then he threw down his pa
per and remarked to Mrs. Manson
that she must be devoid of nerves.
IF you think for one minute" she re-
piled, that / enjoy being tortured all
day long and most Of the evening
by that dreadful footing, you're entire
ly mistaken, Archibald" The Chica-
go News gives some further account
OF Manson's experiences.
Somebody ought to stop it," Man
son said, gruffiy.
so you have said before" Mrs.
Manson remarked. sweetly.
The perpetual, maddening, amateur
tsh playing Of a peculiarly shrill fife
was destroying domestic harmony not
only in the Manson fiat, but in every
house in the block. 1t began early in
the morning. The scales were an ac-
compartment to the breakfast coffee,
from which the men of dozen fam
lilies fed, leaving their wives to be
tormented by a repertoire that wav-
cred through "Suwanee River to
Yankee Doodle"
Nobody was quite sure from which
house the fife shrilled forth. but by
calling in the aid of distracted ser
wants and comparing notes, the neigh
borhood finally settled down on the
Grahams' as the fatal spot.
They have ten-year-old nephew
living with them now" a feminine
detective triumphantly announced.
He must do it,"
"Chloroform him. promptly said all
the husbands, especially Manson.
The fife was most annoying on. hot
days. On a certain broiling Satur-
day afternoon Manson's nerves gave
way.
Amy human being he said, who
will deliberately torture, or allow any
one to torture, the rest of the world
with such outrageous, ear-splitting
racket ought to be driven off the
street. | can't see why some OF you
women don't complain about 1t to
Mrs Graham. You could lead up to
it, gracefully, you know"
HAS it ever occurred to you" ask
ed his wife, crisply. that some of you
men might speak to Mr.. Graham? |
don't even know his wife by sight.
If | did l might be tempted to say
something"
Maybe the boy will swallow the
fife," suggested Manson, hopefully.
Possibly both Graham and his wife
are deaf, and that's the reason they
don't mind it themselves. People
with as little consideration for other
folks feelings ought to have few good
plain truths hammered into them. Ii
| ever get a chance I'll do it. You
watch!'
Then there came an evening when
Manson was met on his return by an
excited wife.
What do you think" she cried.
Mrs. Graham called today, and she
is the dearest old lady you ever saw.
She spoke SO sweetly of her nephew,
Bob, and said ne was such comfort
to them! His parents are dead. She
said he just loved music"
"Music!" snorted Manson.
Just loved music went on Mrs.
Manson, hastily, "and nearly broke his
heart till they got him the fife. She
she wanted to know-she said she
hoped it didn't annoy u.s.
Manson breathed hard.
"Wh-what did you say?" he ask
ed, feverishly. You told herr"
81 just couldn't, Archibald" Mrs.
Manson confessed. "She was so
placid, and had such sweet way
and
'You had the chance and let it go
by" said Manson, with cold dignity
1t was three nights later-72 hours,
So of which had been enlivened by
the shrilling of the fife-that Mr. and
Mrs. Graham and the demon Bob him.
self passed by and stopped on the
Mansions doorstep. Manson looked
at Bob curiously. He was singular
ly prepossessing child. There was
fascination in merely gazing at him.
He approached Manson confidently,
and his dark eyes were very winning.
"Do you like music?'' he asked. Il
do. | have a fife. and | practise lots.
Maybe you've heard me. Don't you
think it's pretty?''
Mrs. Manson gripped her chair arms
and waited for the WORSE
There was a silence, during which
Manson gazed into the eager, appeal
ing face of the author of his daily tor
ture. His duty was plain, but he had
not counted on the boys eyes. At
last he spoke.
Eyes, indeed, it's great" he said.
"Butting In"