Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-14

clad legs stretched on tho
fender. His wife's half eaten
dinner was getting cold on the table.
MI. Grummit, who was badly in need
Of cheering up, emptied his half empty
glass Of beer and wiped his lips with
the back of his hand.
"Come away, l tell you." he called.
sD'ye hear? Come away. You'll be
locked up II you don't"
He gave a little laugh at the sar-
assn and, sticking his short pipe in
his mouth, lurched slowly to the front
room door and scowled at his wife as
she lurked at the back Of the window
watching intently the furniture which
was being carried in next door.
Come away or else you'll be locked
up" repeated Mr.. Grummit. you
mustn't look at policemen's furniture.
It's ag'in the law"
Mrs. Grulnmit made no rAv. but,
throwing appearances to t. winds,
stepped to the window until her nose
touched as a walnut sideboard with
beveled glass back was tenderly borne
inside under the personal supervision
of Police Constable Evans.
They'll be having a palmer next"
said the indignant Mr.. Grummit, peer
ing from the depths Of the room.
They've got one" responded his
wife. There's the end Of it sticking
up in the van"
Mr.. Grunmit advanced and regarded
the end fixedly. did you throw all
them tin cans and things Into their
yard wot ] told you TOT" he demanded.
.He picked up three Of EN- while I
was UPSTAIRS replied his wife. II
'eard I'm tell her that they'd come in
handy for paint and things"
That's 'ow coppers get on and buy
planners" said the incensed Mr.. Grum-
init, "sneaking other peoples property.
/ didn't tell you to throw good 'uns
over. did 1? Wot dye near by iii"
Mrs. Grummit made no reply, but
watched with bated breath the trl-
umphal entrance Of the piano. The
carman set it tenderly on the narrow
footpath while p. G. Evans, STOPPING
low, examined 1t at all points, and
Mrs. Evans, raising the lid, struck a
few careless chords.
Showing off" explained Mrs. Grum-
init, with a half turn, land she's got
fingers like carrots"
cts a disgrace to Mulberry Gar
dens to ave a copper come and live in
It" said the indignant Grummit, land
to come and live next to me That's
what I can't get over. To come and
live next door to a man wot has been
fined twice, and both times wrong.
Why, for two pins I'd go in and smash
lis pianner first and i'm after it. He
won't live ERE long, you take my word
for It"
why not?" inquired his wife.
'sWhyw repeated Mr.. Grummit.
"Why2 Why, becos I'll make the place
too 'ot to hold i'm. Amt there enough
houses in Tunwich without i'm con
ing and living next door to mey"
For a whole week the brain conceal
ed In Mr.. Grummit's bullet shaped
head worked in vain, and his temper
got correspondingly bad. The day aft
er the Eyanses' arrival be had found
his yard Uttered with tins which he
recognized as old acquaintance, and
since that time they had Travelled back
ward and forward with monotonous
regularity. They sometimes made as
many as three journeys a day, and on
one occasion the heavens opened to
drop a battered tin bucket on the back
OF Mr.. Grummit as he was tying his
boot lace. Five minutes later he spoke
OF the outrage to Mr.. Evans, who had
com out to admire the sunset.
81 heard something fall" said the
constable, eying the pail curiously.
.You threw It," said Nh. Grummit,
breathing; %furiously.
ME? Nonsense" said the other
easily. II vas having tea in the par
Tor with my wife and my mother-in-
law and my brother Joe and his young
lady"
And more of 'em?" demanded the
hapless Mr.. Grummit, aghast at this
list Of witnesses for al alibi.
ct amt a bad pail, If you look at
It properly" said the constable. Il
should keep it If / was you, unless the
owner offers a reward for it. It'll
hold enough water for your wants"
Mr.. Grummit flung indoors and, after
wasting some time %concocting impossi-
bic measures of retaliation with his
sympathetic partner, went of to dis
cuss affairs with his intimates at the
Bricklayers' Arms. The company, al
though unanimously agreeing that MI.
Eyans ought to be boiled. were miser-
ably deficient in ideas as to the ean
by which such a desirable end was to
be attained.
'MaFe i'm a laughingstock; that's
the best thing said an elderly laborer.
s.The police don't like being laughed
at"
"'Ow| demanded Mr.. Grummit.
with some asperity.
There's plenty O. ways" said the
old man. II should find EN- out fast
enough If l lad a bucket dropped on
my back, I know"
Mr.. Grummit made a retort the fee
bleness Of which was somewhat bal
anced by Its ferocity and subsidized into
glum silence. His back still ached, but
despite that aid to intellectual effort
the only way he could imagine of
making the constable look foolish con-
tanned IN almost certain risk Of HARD
labor for himself.