New-York tribune., 1906-11-11

IN anywhere, and Bob walking up and down
smoking OF is pipe and watching is wife hoe
atween the plants and cut OF dead marigoid
blooms
THAT'S a pretty garden you've got there Bob,
joe grinnins.
"T I've wuss,' Bob.
"'Going In for the Flower Show. Bob9 sss
Henery, with wink at US.
90 course I am.' Bob. 'oldng rs 'ead up;
my marigolds ought to pull mo through, he ses.
"Henery wouldn't believe It at first, but when he
Bob show rs missus 'ow to pat the path down
with the back o. the spade and hold the nails for
'er while she nailed climbing nasturtium to the
fence he went of and fetched Bill Chambers and
two Others and they all leaned over the
fence breathing their ardest and saying of all
the nasty things to Bob they could think OF.
q" It's the best KEEP garden IN the place. Bob.
7 amt afraid O. way o. cultivating
flowers. Bill Chambers. Old fashioned ways suit
best learnt 'ow TO grow flowers from my
father
"'You amt 'ad the cheek to give your name II.
Bob2 Sam Jones. staring.
Bob didn't answer I'M Pick those bits O. grass
out O. the path old gal,' he to rs wife; they
look untidy. and untdiness can't abear.'
He walked UP and down smoking IS pipe and
pretending not 10 notice Hsnery Walker, wot 'ad
moved farther along the fence and was staring at
some drabble tailed looking geraniums as II ed
seen 'em afore but wasn't quite where.
"'Admiring my geraniums. Heneryr ses Bob. a,
last
"'whersd you get 'emr ses Henery. 'ardly able
to speak.
My florists ses Bob. in a offhand manner.
Your wotr' asks Henery.
my florist Bob
"'And who might e be when 'e's at homer
asked Henery.
"''Tain't so likely I'm going TO tell you that, ,
ses Bob BE reasonable. Henery. and ask your
self whether it's likely should tell you rs
why I've never sich fine geraniums afore.
I've been nursing 'em inside all the summer and
Just planted em out
back fence ses Henery Walker speaking very
slowly
"'do' ses Bob. surprised. 7 didn't know you
'ad any geranums, Henery. thought you was
digging for gravel this year
'Henery didn't answer i'm. Not because e
didn't want to- mind you. but because he couldn't
That one,' Bob pointing at broken
geranium with the stem OF is pipe, IS Dock o
Wellington. and that white one there is wot I'm
| going TO call Prettys Pride. That fine marigold
over there wot looks like a sunflower. Is called
Golden Dreams
"Come along Henery' ses Bill Chambers, burst
Ing come and get something to take the taste out
| of your mouth.
I'm sorry can't offer you flower for your
button'oe' ses Bob perlitely but it's getting so
near the Flower Show now can't afford It. II you
chaps only knew wot pleasure was to be ad sitting
among your innercent flowers, you wouldn't want
| to go to the public house often.
HE shook is 'ead at 'em, and. telling his wife
TO give the Dock o. Wellington mug OF water, sat
down in the chair agin and wiped the sweat OFF is
| brow.
"Bin Chambers did BIT O. thinking as they
walked up the road, and by and by e turns to Joe
Gubbins. and e ses:
Seen anything O. George English lately Josf
Eyes. ses joe
"seems TO me we all ave ses Sam Jones.
None OF 'em liked to say wot was in their
minds 'aving all seen George English and swore
pretty strong not to tell is secret and none of erl
liking to own up that they'd been digging up their
gardens TO get money as ed told 'em about But
presently Bill Chambers ses:
"'Without telling no secrets breaking no
promises Joe, supposing certain 'ouse was men,
toned IN a certain letter from forrin parts wot
| 'ouse itT
'Supposing II was so.' Joe, careful too;
the second 'ouse counting from the Caulifower.'
The ninth 'ouse. you mean, ses Henery
| Walker, sharply.
"'Second 'ouse IN Mil Lane, you mean ses
| Sam Jones. wot lived there.
''Then they ali see 'ow they'd been DONE and
| that they wasn't in manner o. speaking. refer
| ring to the same letter. They up and sat
| ere where we're sitting now. all dazed like. It
wasn't only the chance o losing the prize that up
| set 'eu, but they'd wasted their time and ruined
| their gardens and got called mad by the other
folks. Henery Walkers state O. mind was dread
| full for TO see and he KEEP thinking OF orrible
things to say to George English. and then being
afraid they wasn't strong enough
| While they talking who should come
along but George English hisseh! He came right
up to the table and they all sat back on the bench
and stared at I'm fierce. and Henery Walker
| crinkIed is nose at him.
! Evening he ses. but mono OF 'em answered
i'm: they all looked at Henery to wot e wa:
| going 10 say
| "'Wots up?' ses George in surprise
| " Gardens Henery.
| " 50 I've card ses George.
! HE shook is cad and looked at them sorrowfu
| and severe at the same time.
% so card and I couldn't believe my ears I'll
| I went and looked for myself he ses. and wot
| TO say Is this: you know wot I'm referrfnl
| TO. II any as found wot don't belong 4
! him e knows who 10 give II To. II amt wOt
! should ave expected of men wots lived in IN,
same place for years. Talk about honesty.
e shaking is cad agin. i should like to Sc,
Il little OF it
Peter Smith opened his mouth to speak ant
'atdly knowing wos . was doing took = pull ~ u