The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-03

N"TIIFVNT ITT|TITTTg WITT 80 "
Aatilda's room to hni her perched on
Tracy's knee. with the latter's arm
around her waist.
Great Gawdt' exclaimed Tim az his
face turned white and the big freckles
shone out like polka dots on a white
handkerchief.
You get out. snapped Matilda.
Tim shut the door behind him ana
said. i alnt going out til this thing
is zcttled, where i nay four hundred
dollars?'
Gone where the %voodbine twin
eth" replied Matilda, as she put her
arm ~conddinply around Tracy neck.
This was the u~nkindest cut OF al
and poor Tim shook with rage as ne
ked
Amt you going back South with
me-"
not by a damn sight" roared
Tracy, ana Matilda out both arms
r0uud his neck and shook her head
in the negative.
This was the limit and Tim pulled
off his little Prince Albert and laid IT
on the table. The other two occupants
Of the room eyed him with silent con-
tempt as he removed his cuffs and lit
tie brown derby and placed them with
his coat.
Now stranger" aid Tim, as he SPIT
on his hands and slapped his thighs.
J'E DiAi IN bA L = ~ ~
hug mems wives VIVA don't belong to
you"
Matilda. familiar with the rules and
slogan of the ring Jumped upon a chair
and said that she would referee the
fight, and began to give orders ac-
! cordingly.
Tracey walked slowly over to Tin,
who made a wild lunge at his adver-
sary. Tracy stepped to one side and
Tim h4Gte1 the wall aEin0 off "A
piece of plastering and a hunk of skin.
He made a second charge and the
same tactics was leSorted to as be-
fore, the discarded lover introducing
himself to the opposite wall. He then
tried d clinCh with his antagonist.
VainIy did he kick and scratch; he
was no match for the scientific boxer
and pretty soon Tracy rave him one
on the jaw that sent him spinning over
a chair, his head smashing a pile Of
empty beer bottles while the tan shoes
cut SIS and SIS in the air. Tracy calmly
rolled a cigarette while the eXultant
Matilda clapped her hands in delight
and began to count But Tim was up
and at it again. only to meet q stiff
light in the eye which sent his red
head again to the floor with a sicken-
ing thud. When the mist had cleared
it began to bore through Tins red
head that outdoors was good enough
for the idol Of the family, and regain
ing his feet he staggered out into the
yard, assisted by vigorous kicks from
Tracy.
Matilda came to the door. holding
! Tins discarded pparel at arms
length and tossed the things out into
the street. Tim put them on with diff
ficulty. His head achtd and his hands
and face were swollen while one eye
was shut up tight. He limped off to-
wards his hotel. the tan shoes pinch
ing his toes WorSe han ever before.
When at a safe distance he looked
back at his enemies and shaking his
fist, gave them both a verbal invitation
to that country where snow melts as
fast as it falls.
He stopped at a hardware store and
bought a revolver and loaded every
chamber, though uncertain VIA he
was to do with it. Reaching his DON
he closed the door and surveyed him
self critically in the mirror. AS his
mind flew over the recent events his
lips quiVcred and a tear oozed out of
the closed up optic and zig-zagged
down his freckIed cheek.
BY some means Tins trouble was
made known at the hotel and a num-
Der cf travelling men and bell boys
gathered outside his room and began
70 boot and guy him through the key
hole. They shoWered rice over the
transom and sang parodies or Dixie,
: oIib III III II
There is only one girl
In this world for me.
Her face is on the dollar
And her name is liber-tee."
Tim being a little short just then
on both girls and dollars couldn't
stand that and he threw open the door
and covered the crowd with his gun.
Nov sire" said he. you fellers
what sung about the girl in dollar can
sing it again if you want to. but afore
you hoist the hymn l want to tell you
that thar is only a pistol barrel atween
you an the next world
The crowd saw danger lurking in
Tins one available blinker and they
scampered off.
The next morning it was a very dis
appinted" man indeed that crossed the
Mason and Dixon line.
Tins money gave out at Washing
ton City n after spending nearly a
day IN trying to get out of the place
! he struck the trail on foot. At Peters
burg he swung on to a SouthbounG
freight. He was not used to hoboing
and he Jared roughly. but mother.
home AND the sunny South was beck.
oning to him and when all of tina
reaches out for a fellow. at one time
it takes a heap to hold him back and
as fast as Tim was kicke off from
one IidIu lit Ciif1lDSu on announcer.
Just ten days after Tim had left
MogartSville. k Hodge and some 9th
er loafers were seated out in front OF
a store. Ike glancing over towards
the station say Tim coming up the
hill. BOYS" said Ike, the prodiga.
IS returning"
Tim saw the crowd and came
traigh to them. He carried the
troublesome tan shoes in his hand. H
was besmeared with grease and Goa.
dust and the little brown plug was
'all knocked in" while the tails OF
the Prince Albert tapped dejectedly
around his legs.
silence fell upon the group of loaf
ers as Tim began to himself
without being questioned.
Boys said he, That durn turkey
dinner has cost me -four hundred and
SiNty-seVen dollars. and if any of YOU
have a notion of marryin'. sarch hell
carefully afore YOU start North ater
one what adVertizes."
With that as a preliminary. he told
the whole story of his trip without
keeping back a single event. When he
came to his scrap with Tracy, the bows
unable to hold in rOared with laughter
The hulCOr of the affair began to an
= Tapll TO Tim ~ nd ha ~Io -. -.