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

den M startling disappearance or
Mrs. Grummit as she got into bed
failed to move him.
1.-THE beds broke, Bob" she said
family.
Beds won't last forever" he said
shortly. "Sleep ON the floor"
Mrs. Grummit clambered gu and after
some trouble secured the bedclothes
and made up q bed in a corner of the
room. In a short time she was fast
asleep, but her husband, broad awake,
spent the night in devising further i'm
practicable schemes for the discom-
future Of the foe next door.
He saw Mr.. Evans next morning as
he passed on his way to work. The
constable was at the door smoking In
his shirt sleeves, and Mr.. Grummit felt
instinctively that he was waiting there
to see him pass.
II heard you last night" said the con-
stable playfully. "My word! Good gra-
cious!!'
whats the matter with your" de-
manded Mr.. Grummit, stopping short.
The constable stared at him. "She
has been knocking you about" he gasp
ed. "Why, it must ha' been you scream
ing, then! / thought 1t sounded loud.
Why don't, you 20 and get a summons
and have her locked up? I should be
pleased to take her"
Mr.. Grummit faced him, q%uivering
with passion. "Wot would it cost II 1
set about your" he demanded huskily.
1.-TWO months" said Mr.. Evans,
smiling serenely. "p'r'aps three"
Mr.. Grummit hesitated, and his fists
clinched n%ervously. The constable,
lounging against his doorpost, sur
veyed him with a dispassionate smile.
'tThat would be besides what you'd
get from me-" he said softly.
"Come out In the road" said Mr..
Grummit, with sudden violence.
ITS agin the rules" said Mr.. Evans.
Sorry l can't. Why not go and ask
your wife's brother to oblige you"
He went in laughing and closed the
door, and Mr.. Grummit, after a
frenzled outburst, proceeded on his
way, returning the smiles of such ac-
quaintances as he passed with an Icy
stare or a strongly worded offer to
make them laugh. the other side of
their face. The rest Of the day he
spent in working so hard that he had
no time to reply to the anxious in
quirles Of his fellow workmen.
He came home at night glum and
silent, the hardship of not being able
to give Mr.. Evans his deserts without
mourning hard labor having weighed
on his spirits all day. To avoid the an
noyance of the piano next door, which
was slowly and reluctantly yielding up
1.-The Last Rose of Summer" note by
note, he went out at the back, and the
flrst thing he saw was Mr.. Evans
mending his path with tins and other
brlc-a-brac.
Nothing like It," said the constable.
looking up. "Your missus gave 'em to
us this morning. A little gravel on top.
and there you are"
He turned whistling to his work
again, and the other, after e%ndeavoring
in vain to frame a suitable reply, took
a seat on an inverted washtub and lit
his pipe. His II hope was that Con-
stable Evans was going to try and
cultivate a garden.
The hope vas realized a few days
later, and Mr.. Grummit at the back
window sat gloating owe a dozen fine
g%eraniums, some lobelias and calceo-
larias which decorated the constable's
plot of ground. He could not sleep for
thinking of them.
He rose early the next morning and,
after remarking to Mrs. Grummit that
Mr.. Evans flowers looked as though
they wanted rain, went off to his work.
The cloud which had been on his spir-
its for some time had lifted, and he
whistled as he walked. The sight of
flowers in front windows added to his
good humor.
He al still in good spirits when he
left off work that afternoon, but some
slight hesitation about returning home
sent him to the Bricklayers' Arms in
stead. He stayed there until closing
time, and then, being still disinclined
for home, paid a visit to Bill Smith,
who lived the other side of 1unwich.
BY the time he started for home it was
nearly midnight.
. The outskirts Of the town were de-
serted and the houses in darkness. The
clock Of Tunwich church struck ~,
and the last stroke was just dying
away as he turned a corner and ran
almost into the arms Of the nan he
had been trying to avoid.
"Hello!" said Constable Evans sharp
ly. Here, 1 want a word with you"
Mr.. Grummit quailed. with me,
sir?" he said, with involuntary respect.
What have you been doing to my
fowers?" demanded the other holly.
"Flowersy" repeated Mr.. Grummit,
as though the word were new to him.
"Flowers? What flowers"
You know we'll enough" retorted
the constable. you got over my fence
last night and smashed all my flowers
down"
You be careful wot you're saying"
urged Mr.. Grummit. why, I love
flowers. You don't mean to tell me
that all them beautiful flowers wot
you put in so careful as been spoiled?"
"You know all about it," said the
constable, choking. 81 shall take out
a summons against you for it."
"Ho!" said Mr.. Grummit. "And wot