Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-17
EBENEzER'S REVENGE.

lou am I. Gut you 90.
He seized the unfortunate seaman by
an ample fold of skin at the back Of a
fat neck, and placing his knee in the
middle of his victims back, propelled
him through the glass doors at a speed
that sent him halfway across the road.
Ebenezer Hobbs sat up, half stunned,
on the spot where he had gone to
ground, and tried to balance the prob
abilities between the end of the world
and am ordinary earthquake. When at
last he recalled Mr.. Strip and the oc-
currences of the last five minutes,
longing for vengeance took possession
of his soul. Had he been drunk he would
have minded it less; he would in some
sort have had a run for his money. Now
he considered that he had been hanged
for very small lamb. And he was the
angrier because he felt that his election
had been due, not so much to festiveness
upon his part, as to the fact that he
was the rival in love-the successful
rival-of the man who had elected him.
Only week previously luck had come
to him in double measure Firstly, he
had fallen in for his late brothers
farm, and had at once decided to give
up the sea. Secondly, he had obtained
the promise of pretty Mary Lindon's
hand-Alary Linden, the dainty little
girl who dispensed stamps and money
orders behind the counter of the local
postoffice, Mr. Strip had also aspired
to that hand, but Mr.. Strip was mere
ly a low bartender. 1t was true that
Mary had looked upon him with a GER
tain amount of favor; but her mother, a
strong minded woman with an eye to
material prosperity, had stepped in,
quashed all romantic notions, and
caused her daughter to murmur a duti-
full yes when he, Mr.. Hobbs, had placed
his proposals before her.
As he sat in the road, vowing ven
geance and staring at the doors of the
Comfortable Gill, he became aware of
the object of his affections tripping light
ly down the village street. No man looks
his best a moment after he has been
thrown out of public house, and Mr.
Hobbs was no exception to the rule He
rose sheepishly and brushed the mud off
his trousers.
"Why, Mr.. Hobbsl" cried Mary, her
eyes wide with establishment. What
ever have you been doing?"
"Fve been chyeked out of that there
public 'ouse," he said viciously, shaking
his fist at the Comfortable Gill He was
going on to explain that it had not been
his fault when Mr.. Strip appeared at
the door to have another look at the re-
suits of his handiwork.
'Oh, Benz" gasped Mary in dismay,
whatever for?'
"For being drunk and disorderly," in
terposed Mr.. Strip quickly; 'for be-
having noisy and bad. Mary, my dear,
Pm sorry for you. It's terrible thing
for woman to ave a drunken hus-
band'
Il amt drunk" shouted Mr.. Hobbs
violently; "I'll show you whether I'm
drunk or not just take your coat off
like man and I'll show you who's
drunk"
You see. f gets that noisy!" said
Mr., Strip, shaking his head pityingly.
He vanished inside the doors, feeling
that he had scored the odd trick
Its all on account of you, Mary"
said Mr.. Hobbs sentimentally. "'E's
Jealous of me, that's. wot e is; and be-
cause of is nasty jealousy, me that's
respectable man is chueked out of a
pub at in the afternoon But never
YOU mind, my girl, never you mind. For
your sake I'd be chucked out of hun
bred public houses; aye, and any time of
the day up to closing time"
Having eased himself of this noble
sentiment he suffered himself to be led
away. But the iron had entered into
his soul, and he still brooded on ven.
geance.
whats the matter with you, Mr..
Hobbs-Ben, l meant" said the girl,
after one or two Intellectual attempts at
conversation. Are you i'll Have you
a pain anywhere?"
No, my DEAR" said Mr.. Hobbs, rous-
ing himself; Il was Just thinking."
We'll. don't" she entreated. Il don't
like to see you looking so strange"
Il was thinking 'ow l was to get even
| omously. and now I've got it. But
you'll ave to 'elp me, Mary"
She hesitated.
Pm sure Mr., Stripp Didn't mean any
HARM" she said uHeusily.
well l do" said Ebenezer tersely;
and it's your duty to 'elp me- Now
'ere's what You've got to dc. Write i'm
little note saving as YOU amt happy
| ana NbUtu itNt " SlShN 10 I'LL. n >
! beeu 'ankerin' after you, ! know. Well,
you can encourage i'm bit, and pre-
tend as things amt quite fixed up be-
tween us. You'll lead i'm on until the
day before VIC get married Then you
can tell i'm as yoc was only laughing
at i'm all the time
When Mr. Strip received his invita-
| ton he was, to say the least of it, as
tonished. Mrs. Linden had not regarded
him with favor for some time By good
luck he had the evening off. And he
FASTENED to the house of his inamorata.
to arrive there in time for tea.
He found Mr. Hobbs there. nd shook
hands with ill-simulated cordialitv. Mrs.
Linden welcomed him suspiciouslv. Mary
/ with ELUSIVE warmth. All four sat down
to table
clad to see as you've got an after.
noon off" said Mr.. Hobbs, with the nat
ronage of one who was now capitalist
and his own master. Il ALWAYS did old
| with 4 fair allowance or 'olidavs for