The San Francisco call., 1905-06-18

Copyright by the S. S. Mcclure Co)
IN HE evening sunlight, pink as a
wild rose, shot through the open
spaces OF the clearing and into
Il the mems room, where the tired
river drivers, released from the days
work, lOunged about the central stove.
The sunlight fell on the rough floor in
streaks, and lighted Jimps' head till her
hair looked like notes in the sun. 1t
touched with flame the bowl of Jere-
my's pipe. The rest of the room was in
dusk, concealing from Jeremy, ever
fertile raconteur, that his mates had
yielded themselves to after-supper doz-
ing. Only his little girl sat, erect and
eager, as if drinking honey from his
lips. The unintelligibility of his tales
10 her childish perception only height
ened their charm. Like dim incanta-
tions. they had the spell Of the mystic,
and she translated them TO suit the
mood or the hour.
To cut long story short"-he re-
peated the euphemistic phrase as those
do who cut short stories long-''she
i. \
the goodness to remove that ere pipe
of yourn from your lips?' or words to
that effect.
" This be the smoker, madame says
I, ca'm-like and firm, and pipes be al
lowed. But would you be so obleeging
as to remove that ere dorg of yourn to
the freight, whar he belongs?'
How did the doggie look, jeremy"
cried Jimps, alive to this feature of the
incarnation.
Nothing is more annoying to the
story-teIIer than irrelevant queries that
swerve the course of the story mid
stream. But the snag was jumps, so
Jeremy treated it with respect.
The same war the hombliest critter
you ever laid eyes on. Molasses- -colored,
with ears like two pancakes on him.
You'd ha' thought them ears Of hisn
would have bothered him constable in
chawin' when he come TO chaw"
Jeremy's wit was richly rewarded by
Jimps' cascade Of laughter. He ram
bled on.
Her PAWN the smoke away and
sniffin' the foolishest. But I was never
one TO stan out agin a woman, only
thet long TO uphold my manly dignity:
so / lays my pipe daown on the sill,
aocidcntal-like, the while 1 mought be
ponderin' somethin' purity deep
Jeremy's voice, sinking mysteriously,
aroused Jimps' nimble imagination.
Her dark eyebrows were raised to a
point above her triangular brown eyes
as she leaned forward out of her high
chair. She looked like a startled in
sect.
How deep were it, Jeremy? Bout as
deep as that woodchuck hole by the big
beech tree?"
What be you talkin of, daughtie?
There warn't no woodchuck holes on
thet Adirondack express. We was
halfway between Big Moose and Beav-
er River. 1 reckon. when quick ez
wink thet wumman hipped my pipe out
Of the window"
oh, That were smart Of the lady,
weren't it?''
Jeremy, instead of gratitude for this
solitary instance of attention in a
roomful Of sleeping dummies, betrayed
The slightest bitterness.
A burned bit too smart fer me. So
] jist yanked her dorg up by his big
ears and he follered the pipe daown
The tracks. I'm blessed if he didn't"
The poor little doggie!" burst out
Jimps. in a frenzy Of unexpected COM
miseration.
She jumped from her chair and ran
70 Jeremy vengefully. Her red lips
quivered TO a sob. and her eyebrows
were ruffied
You hurt the poor doggie, and 1
won't love you any more"
What-what's this?" muttered old
Eli, turning in his barrel chair. who's
hurtin' little Jimps?"
Jeremy had at least gained a listener.
Eli, when he heard the next CATCH
word, recognized the tale, and groaned
at MS inopportune wakefulness.
Il didn't hurt the critter none,
daughtie. Listen and you'll find out.
At Clear Water / was stoppin' to see
my sisters folks, and purity glad 70 get
shook off from that jawin' wumman;
but off she gets, too, tn pursu the argy-
ment. when, what in the name of
wonderment did we see a-comin' daown
the railroad tracks,"
The thrill of an approaching climax
aroused the last sleepers, and Jeremy
was tickled by the stir.
Thet ere lap-eared dorg OF hern,
trottin' ez cool ez ye please"
''oh. was he reel cool?" rippled Jimps,
appreciative as always of minor points
Jeremy swept magnifcently on.
land thet gol-darned pipe OF mine
in his ugly mouth. Hey, what dye say
TO that, old man Joe?"
''The dear little doggie,''. bubbled
Jimps. And the pipe in his mouf. And
were he smokin' il, jeremy"
The satire, unconscious though it
was. did not escape the quick witted
Ol.nbe-ncn. They burst .ato roars Ok