Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-16

wearing Joe Clarks watch and cham,
and Mrs. Pretty was up at Joe's
| 'ouse to see whether there was any of
is furniture as she lad a fancy for.
/ She didn't seem to be able to make
up FER mind at fust between q chest O.
drawers that 'ad belonged to Joe's
mother and grandfather clock She
/ walked from one to the other for about
| come in to 'elp her, told 'er to 'avo
both.
you're quite welcome" he ses.
"Ain't she, Joe?"
Joe Clark said YES" and arter he 'ad
/ helped them carry 'em 'ome the
bedstead to pieces, cos Bob said as it
was easier to carry that way. Mrs.
Clark 'ad to go and sit down at the
bottom O. the garden with the neck of
'er dress undone to give herself air, but
when she saw the little Prettys each
! walking ONE with one Of 'er best
chairs on their 'eads, she got up and
!
"I'm sure don't know where we are
to put 1T ALL" ses Bob Pretty to Joe
Gubbins, wot was looking on with
other folks, "but Joe Clark is that
generous he won't ear Of our leaving
anything"
HAS e CORN mad?" ses Bill Cham
bers, staring at i'm.
] Not as knows on" ses Bob Pretty.
Its is good 'artedness, that's all. He
feels sure that that cats dead and that
/! he'll ave George Barstow's cottage and
/ furniture. I told i'm he'd better wait
( till he'd made sure. but e wouldn't"
Before they'd finished the Prettys 'ad
and Joe Clark 'ad to go and get clean
straw for his wife and children to
sleep on; not that Mrs. Clark 'ad any
sleep that night, nor Joe neither.
! Henery Walker was the fust to see
what it really meant, and he went
rushing of as fast as 'e could run to
tell George Barstow. George couldn't
| believe I'm at fust, but when e did he
/ swore that II air Of that cats head
was harmed ed ave the law o. Bob
Pretty, and arter Henery Walker 'ad
gone e walked round to tell i'm so.
you're not yourself, George Bar
stow, else you wouldn't try and take
away my character like that" ses Bob
Pretty.
"Wot did Joe CLARK give you all them
i things forY' ses George, pointing to the
furniture.
''Took a fancy to me, s'pose," SEES
Bob. People do sometimes. There's
something about me ut times that
makes 'em like me-"
HE gave EN- to you to kill my cat"
ses George Barstow. ITS plain enough
for anybody to see"
Bob Pretty smiled. II expect it'll
turn up safe and sound one o these
days." he ses, land then you'll come
round and beg my pardon. P'r'aps"-
"P'r'aps wotY ses George Barstow,
after waiting bit
"P'r'aps somebody as got 1t and Is
j keeping 1t till you've drawed the ELS
out o. the bank" ses Bob, looking at
i'm very hard.
1--WE taken it out O. the bank" ses
George, starting. IF that cats alive,
Bob, and you've got 1t, there's the Els
the moment you and 1t over
"Wot dye mean-me got it?' ses Bob
Pretty. "You be careful o. my char
acter."
81 mean If you know where it u.s." ses
George Barstow, trembling all over.
II don't say I couldn't find it. If
that's wot you mean" ses Bob. II
can gin'rally find things when want
to-"
you find me that cat, alive and well,
and the moneys yours, Bob" ses
George, 'ardly able to speak, now that
he fancied the cat was still alive.
Bob Pretty shook his cad. mo, that
won't do" he ses. "S'pose did ave
the luck to find that pore animal, you'd
say I'd had it all the time and refuse
to pay"
II swear wouldn't, Bob" ses George
Barstow, jumping up.
"Best thing you can do If you want
me to try to find that cat" says Bob
Pretty, sis to give me the ELS now, and
I'll go and look for it at once. can't.
trust you, George Barstow.'
"And can't trust you," ses George
Barstow.
every good" SEES Bob. getting up
''There's no arm done. P'raps Joe
Clark III find the cat Is dead and p'r'aps
you'll find it's alive. It's all one to
me-"
George Barstow walked off 'ome, but
he was in such state O. mind he
didn't know wot to do. Bob Pretty
turning up Is nose at Els like that
made i'm think that Joe Clark 'ad
promised to pay i'm more If the cat
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