River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-30
THE BITTER BIT
By ARMIGER BARCLAY
(Copyright.)

Anonyme cheerfly. der Wind Won't
! stop mel" Then he added with grin:
''Vere's your tree hundred weight
| penalty?" eF
Il won't keep you waiting longer
than | can help" answered Haverson.
Here's Mills. coming with it now"
Aasvogel, following our glance,
looked at the wagon with mild sur
prise as though mentally calculating
the weight of it's contents. Then, fol-
| lowed by his friends, he went for
ward to meet it.
Perplexity held them all as they
watched Mills and two workmen un-
load a huge bundle of some shiny
fabric incased in netting, several coils
of rope and length of india rubber
tubing. There were other things in
the wagon-long metal cylinders
mainly-but they hadn't time to in
vestigate these
Volts all dis?" inquired Aasvogel
in bewilderment.
You'll see presently" returned
| Mills as his assistants lifted the mys-
ferrous bundle and made one end of
it fast to the rear OF the Anonyme.
Il say, Mills, vot are you. playing
att" objected Aasvogel
But Mills took no notice and went
on with his preparations. Aasyogel
grew hot with indignation. He ex-
pressed his feelings to his friends in
mixture Of explosive German and
inarticulate English. When they had
all worked themselves up to state Of
frantic uncertainty, they moved off
in body to where we stood discus
sing the details of the race with the
officials of the track.
Perhaps you'll egsplain vot all dis
means? demonstrated the million
aire. Tying tings on der back of my
car amt part of our contract"
Its quite simple" answered Hav.
erson, suppressing a grin. Its only
a balloon"
"A balloon! Vot for?"
Haverson shrugged his shoulders.
''Look here" he said rather YEARLY,
you agreed to carry three hundred
weight which should consist of any.
thing | liked to name. You admit
that?"
I Aasvogel was speechless.
Well" continued Haverson, 81 de-
cided that the weight shall consist OF
a balloon, that's ALL" He turned away
i1differenNy
There followed a hurried confer.
ence between Aasvogel and his
friends, then the former approached
us once more.
"Of course, Haverson," he said, "you
can prove dis rotten ting of yours
doesn't weigh more dan We arranged
for?"
But here the referee interposed.
Its all right, Mr. Aasvogel," he
smiled. Here are the conditions you
both signed. The envelope and the
gas together weigh under 200 pounds.
Haverson doesn't want to be hard on
you; he's let you off the rest!"
''Damn!"
1t was all Aasvogel could say. He
moved modify out of the circle of
chuckling onlookers, and rejoining
his friends stood gaping at the mon
ster as it grew and grew to huge di-
mansions.
A select few had of course, all
along, been aware of the conditions of
the match-in other words 'in the
know" They, like ourselves, had been
careful to keep their knowledge to
themselves. But with the appearance
of the balloon the secret had leaked
out, and then the whole gathering
found it impossible to restrain it's
amusement. Each time the balloon
strained and jerked violently at the
car men doubled up with laughter.
One or two, members of the Mobile
club, who loathed Aasvogel, grew pos
itively ill with merriment.
Aasvogel's face was picture; his
distress comical to witness. Alarm
for the safety of his car, fear of losing
his money, disgust at having been
sold were some of the emotions
that disfgured it. He danced in i'm
potent rage.
While he was thus engaged, the
starter signed to us to bring up our
car. In a CONFUSION of laughter I
took my place by Haverson's side, and
the Laander drew level with the
Anonyme.
Now, then, Mr.. Aasvogel, are you
ready?" he called as seriously as he
knew how.
But Aasvogel only clinched his fists
and poured out volley of impreca-
tions. A full minute elapsed Then,
fixing Haverson with the most malign
look that his evil face could conjure
up. he burst out:
4 pay Forfeit"
Next day joyful crowd in the hall
of the Mobile club surrounded the
notice board on which it was officially
recorded that Mr.. julius Aasvogel had
resigned his embership-without .e-
grets!
Sweet Revenge.
In this dim, secluded place
With a glass before your face
You may smile and smile;
You, the maid who scorned In glee
Both my vow of love and me-
Tn v0lr f1uoaDlv