The Washington times., 1906-07-08

the table. Mr.. Grummit. who was bad
~ IN need of cheering up. empued her
half-cmptv glass Of beer and wiped
his lips with the back OF his hand.
Come away. I tell YOU" ne called.
"D'ye hear? Come away. You'll be
locked up II YOU don't"
He gave n little laugh at the sar-
casm and sticking his short pipe in
his mouth lurched slowly 10 the front
room door and scowled at his wife as
she urked al tho back of the window
watching intently the furniture which
was being carried In next door.
Come away OF else you'll be locked
up repeated Mr.. Grummit. you
mustn't look at policemen's furniture;
It's agin the law"
Mrs. GTummit made no reply but.
throwing appearances 70 the winds
stepped 10 the window until her nose
touched, as a walnut sideboard with
beveIled glass back was tenderly borne
inside under the personal supervision
OF Police Constable Evans.
They'll be 'aving a Dianner next,
said the indignant Mr.. Grummit, peer
ting from the depths of the room.
They've got one" responded his
wife; there's the end II II stickin' up
IN the van"
aIr. Grummit advanced and regard
ed the end nxedIy. Did you throw all
them tin cans and things into their
yard wot 7 told you TOP he demanded.
"He picked up three OF 'em while
was upstairs" replied HIS wife. I
card I'm tell her that they'd come IN
handy for paint and things"
That's 'ow coppers get on and Aiy
planners said the incensed M
Crummit, "sneaking other peoples
property. I didn't tell YOU 20 throw
good 'uns over. did /? Wot dye mean
by itT''
Mrs Crummit made no reply. but
watched with bated breath the
triumphal entranor Of the piano. The
carman set II tenderly on the narrow
footpath. while p. c. Evans. STOPPING
low. examined II at all points, and
Mrs. Evans. raising the lid, struck
a few careless chords.
Showing on" explained Mrs. Grum-
NIT. with a half turn. "and she's got
fingers like carrots
IT'S disRrnce 10 Mulberry Car
dens 10 ave a copper come and live
IN H." said the indignant Grummit;
"and TO conn and live next 20 me-
that's what can't get over. To come
and live next door 10 man wOt has
been fned twice, and both times
wrong Why. for two pins I'd 10 in
and smash Is piannsr first and I'm
after H. lie won't live ere long. you
take my word for it
"VVhy?" repeated Mr. Grummit.
why? Why, becos III make the
place too 'ot 20 hold him. Amt there
enough houses IN Tunwich without
I'm a-coming and living next door 10
me?"
For a whols week the brain conceal
ed in Mr.. Grummits builet-shaped
head worked in vain, and his temper
got correspondingly bad. The day af-
ter the Evans arrival he had found
his yard Uttered with tins which he
recognized as old acquaintances. and
since that time they had Travelled
backward and forward with mOnOton-
ous regularity. They sometimes made
es many as three Journeys a cay. and
on one occasion the heavens opened
TO drop a battered tin bucket on the
back Of Mr.. Grummit as he was try
ing his bootlace. Five minutes later he
spoke of the outrage TO Mr.. Evans.
who had come out to admire the sun
set
~ heard something fall" said the
constable, cycling the pail curiously.
You threw It," said MT, Grummit.
breathing furiously.
Me? Nonsense" said the other, cas-
". II was having tea in the parlor
with my wife and my mother-ln-law.
and my brother Joe and his young
lady"
ANY more OF 'em?" demanded the
Aapless Mr. Grummit. aghast at this
list Of witnesses for an allbl
1T aint' a bad pail. II you look at u
properly" said the constable. II
should keep Il II I was you; unless the
owner offers a reward for u. It'n hold
enough water for your wants"
Mr.. Grummlt flung indoors and, after
wasting some time COncOcting impOs-
slble measures OF retaliation with his
sympathetic partner. went off 10 dis
cuss AFFAIRS with his intimates at the
BrtCklayers' Arms. The company, al
though unanimously agreeing that Mr..
Evans ought 10 be boiled. were mis-
erably deficient in ideas as 20 the
means bv which such a desirable end
was 20 be attained
Make i'm A laughing-stock. that's
the best thing" said an elderly laborer.
THE police don't Ike being laughed
at
'"Ow7' demanded Mr Grummit. with
some asperHy,
There's plenty O. ways" said the
old man.
IT should md an out fast enough
II 'ad a Hlcket dropped on my back.
7 know"
Mr.. Grlmmlt made a retort the
feebleness OF which was somewhat
balanced By It's ferocIty. and subsided
into glum silence. His back stiH arch
ed. but. despite that aid 10 intellectual
effort, the only ways he could imagine
Of making the constable look foolish
contained en- almOst certain risk Of
hard labor for himself
He pondered the question for a week.
and meanwhile the tins-tO the secret
disappointment Of Mr.. Evans-re-
mained untouched IN his yard. For
the whole OF the time he went about
looking. as Mrs. GTummit expressed
It. as though his dinner had disagreed
with him.
I've been talking 20 old Bill Smith"
he said, suddenly. as he came IN ono
night.
Mrs Grummit looked up, and noticed