Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-05-27

W'HIpIE Ft5
A little group of men stood in front
OF the booth where visitors to the sum-
mer amusement park throw balls at a
cow Of grotesque dolls.
A big fellow with hoarse voice and
. very sad face was disputing with
the proprietor.
81 gave you a dime" he snarled.
-"It wasn't a nickel, it was a dime"
The proprietor of the booth, mild
little man with weak blue eyes, shook
his head.
81 haven't taken in dime to-day"
he said. Here's my bank" and he
pushed an open cigar box toward the
big fellow.
"I don't care anything about your
bank" the big fellow cried. II tell
.fou 1 gave you a dime. I've had my
three shots-now gimme my change"
The little man looked about despair
fnEly. No park policeman was in sight.
The crowd was growing larger.
"You gave me a Nickel" said the
little man, 'fbut 1 don't want any fuss"
The big man snorted.
"Do you mean to say I'm a liar?
he demanded.
That's what you are" came a voice
from the rear Of the crowd.
The big man whirled around
"Who said that?"
"I did," the voice replied.
The big man Strengthened up on tip
toe.
''Where are you?"
'Here," replied the voice. it sounded
from the left OF the crowd, which had
now grown to considerable proportions
"Lemme git at him." roared the big
man.
And he pushed into the group.
"Look out where you're going" eau
toned a stout man, as he thrust an ell
bow into the fellows side.
easy, there" snapped little man.
you're on my feet" And he kicked
the big fellow viciously.
In an instant the sentiment Of the
roup changed. The loungers had en-
loyed seeing the little proprietor baited
By the red-faced man. Now it turned
against the bully. 1t pushed and buff
teted him, and when he was clear Of
L he had lost his desire to find the
man who had impeached his veracity.
As for the latter, he seemed to have
melted into the air.
The crowd broke UP with the depar-
81, IN, or
two there was no one left In front Of
the booth save a boy.
He was boy of perhaps 10. clear
eyed lad with a sunburned skin and
dark curly hair. He was neatly
dressed, but his clothes were old-fash-
loned In cut, and he wore a broad
hrimmed straw hat that had seen other
summers.
The boy looked up at the little pro-
prietor.
bad man." he said.
The proprietor nodded.
"Yep. He was out for trouble, all
right. That was a big bluff, of course,
but what could 1 do7 I couldn't af-
ford to have any trouble with him
Business is bad enough as 1t is"
He sighed as he spoke.
The boy looked at him curiously.
bad season, eh?"
Worst l ever knew. An I've had
some pretty tough ones" His eyes
wandered over the grounds. There's
that loafer, now. He's having a fuss
over there at the chutes He'd better
not fool with those fellows. They'll
drop him in the pond" He softly
chuckled. at wonder who twas called
him a liar?"
ST did," said the boy.
"You2 Why. you wasn't even look
En- at him."
The boy laughed
"Guess 1 hadn't the courage to look
at him when l said it,"
"But the voice come from over there, >
persisted the proprietor.
''It was my voice" The boy suddenly
stopped as II to pick something from
the ground. As he did so a dog snarled
and barked at the prOprietor's heels.
"Get outw the little man shouted, as
he quickly looked around-and 10!
there was no dog there. He turned to
tbe boy. did you do that?"
"Yes."