Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-06-28
HIS WEFE'S
STRATEGY
BY DONALD ALLEN


There's Jim Thomas coming down
the road.
well, what of III"
"IIc looks all dressed up"
Hes probably going to dance
somewhere"
Hes probably coming right here TO
see our Minnie"
Then he'll have creased his boots
for nothing Minnie amt wasting her
time on no such fellows as Jim
Thomas"
The farmer had more to say, but be-
fore he could say it Jim Thomas had
arrived lie was young man of
twenty-five who had no particular oc-
cupatiou, but traded horses, helped TO
put up windmills and now and then
acted as n piano agent.
He sat down beside the farmer,
reached for his jackknife and stick
and proceeded To whlttle and talk.
Mrs. Milton came to the door to shake
the tablecloth and gave him a nod,
but during the two hours he remained
he saw nothing Of Minnie. He seemed
much disappointed.
When he had departed the farmer en-
tered the sitting room and said to the
Wife.
Look a-here, Martha, what's the use
in hurting a fellows feellngsT
"What fellow"
"Jim Thomas, Of course. You didn't
say three words To him, and Minnie
didn't appear at all. 1t was reg'lar
snub, ana felt sorry for him.
Then your sympathies are wasted.
/ want to tell you that Jim Thomas is
n sneak. and II Minnie ever speaks to
him again III box her ears, though she
Is going on nineteen years old"
The farmer sat down and pulled Off
his boots.
Martha" he began, I've known for
two weeks that there was something
up and that Minnie and you We're keep
ing II from me- Now, then, want to
know all about it, Jim Thomas was
down in the lot where | was at work
today. and he had just begun to tell
me that Minnie and Burt Anderson We're
mad at each other when Elder Davis
came along and hung around so long
that Jim had to 90 before finishing his
story. You might as well tell me the
whole story"
Il told you Jim was sneak an
swercd the wife. If he hadn't been
there wouldn't have been any fuss be
tween Minnie and Burt, and If he
hadn't been he wouldn't have shown
his face here tonight"
This seems To be 'tarnal nice how
dydo-two folks engaged to be married
and lighting like cats and dogs. What's
the row about:"
Nothing but Burt's jealousy. Min
ME wrote her name in an autograph
album. and Eurt found it out through
Jim Thomas and gave her blowing
up about it, She s.lsaed back, and he
got mad. and that's the reason he
hasn't been here for the last two
weeks"
what in thunder is an aw-to-graff
albumf" asked the husband after think
ing for a minute or two.
Its book that folks write their
names in, and you needn't swear about
IT. 1t belonged to a summer boarder
down mt Scott's."
And all she did was to write her
name in it,
That's all, though Jim made Burt
believe the fellow was struck on Min
ME and said she had eyes like sloe."
What sort Of crittcr is Il sloe?"
Il don't know, and don't care, and
| want 10 tell you that you are not to
mix into this business"
But amt ! her father, and amt 1t
my business to 20 to Burt Anderson
and tell him that Minnie is hundred
times too good for him"
NO sir, it amt, Abijah Milton. you
are a thick headed man, and you are
so nearsightcd that you run against
fences. II you had your way you'd
spoil your only daughters happiness
forever You are not going to have
your way You are going to fold your
arms and keep still and let me work
this thing odt myself
by thunder, Martha, but
swearing some more, No wonder
you have become afraid of lightning!
Swearing won't help you, however.
You have got TO do as | say. If Jim
Thomas comes around again you can
talk about windmills all you want to,
but don't talk about Minnie. If you see
Burt Anderson use him Just as you al
ways have The rest can be left to
me"
And whatu you do?" asked the hus-
band and father.
You wait and see. II you don't see
Burt Anderson around here in less than
two weeks then my name wasn't Mar
tina Tompkins before l married you,
and | didn't take a prize spelling the
whole school down"
Il don't see how But she inter
rupted D.. sayiug it was time to wind
the cloca and e. to bed and during the
nest ton days she resolutely refused
To- answer d word whenever he ap-
preached the subject. Then one even
ing SHE qucr,nd OF him:
PA what's Burt Anderson working
at now
"IIorils etn in the field alongside
thr ron. - r..tB the answer.
"Hn yau link he'll be there tomor-
row.
Like. t5 81. Why"
"Ncr. m 'lg Did our old horse
Charln r.. .m away|