Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-04-17
MARY'S fight
John Hears of One She Nearly
Had.


said; Il nearly had such fight TO-
day"
"A hghl?" said John. looking up and
blinking his eyes. "A fight, Mary?"
Such a fight" repeated Mary. gaz-
ing at her mutton chop in an abstract
manner as though she didn't know
that John was all agog. Such a fight
| nearly had" said she
But who WITH" demanded John,
Who WITH"
"A man. said Mary. still gazing at
her chop with pensive interest and
wagging her little head. "Ah!" she
sighed, and she wagged her little head
the more, John following her least
movement so closely with his eyes
that his head wagged, too.
What man." cried John, dropping
his jaw.
AS if by instinct Mary booked up
and gazed at John severely.
John" she said, your mouth is
open. How many times"
John shut it in all humility and
waited in patience for further details
of the fray
will you have some more mashed
potatoes, John?" she asked
mo, no" said John, Tell me-"
"Cr another chop? Here's such a
nice little one!"
Il say don't want any more. Now
tell me all about the fight"
down her sweet little nose and eyed
her chop.
why not?" said John.
Because"
Because what?" said John.
HE used such language"
And as John dropped his jaw thu
second time she gave him another
look and coldly cried: There you 90
again."
Hang it, cant help it," returned
John. WHO WAS THE MAN?"
"He-he was a peddler, and IN
tell you how it was. He rang the front
door belt, impudence of him-and
| opened the window an inch and
shouted: Back door for peddlers!'"
Hal" said John.
yes" said Mary.
And he wouldn't go?"
20. he went" murmured Mary. THE
kitchen door was locked-John,
you've no idea how annoying these
peddlers are-and when he raped at
the kitchen door l didn't open it,"
"Ha!" said John.
and every time he raped on the
outside of the door raped on the in
side of the door. and every time he
ratified the doorknob I laughed
"Ha," said John.
She looked up quickly, but Johns
jaw hadn't dropped again. She gave
him a look as if to say, I'll make
you drop it yet you bet!" and con-
tinued aloud, Then l whistled the
dog"
The dog" cried John.
The dog" said Mary in manner
of marked comDlacency.
What dog?" asked John, blinking
his eyes.
An imaginary dog" said Mary.
"Hal" said John.
"Fido.'
"Fido?"
AN magyar Fido."
Hal" said John.
Here FOL, l said, the moment |
l open the door l want you to spring
at this wicked peddler; but be careful
you don't catch hydrophobia, Fido.
And then I barked."
Again she looked up quickly, but |
Johns jaw hadn't dropped yet. She /
gave him most determined look and |
went on:
so then l went to the telephone
ITO the telephonei' cried John.
Yes" sal Mary ITO the telephone
for the police
.what-what telephone" cried
John.
An imaginary telephone cried
Mary. Il wound the alarm clock and /
set it off and after the bell had
stopped l shouted: Central. give me
he police headquarters, quick,
Hal" said John.
She looked at him in vain and bold
Y cried:
Then when the policeman came l
ct him in at the front door and took
lin into the kitchen.
You took the policeman
AN imaginary policeman
"Ha!" said John.
And l said: %, Mr.. Policeman
here's a peddler out here and l want
-ou to arrest him. And then | climbed
N a chair-like this-so it would
ound like a tall man speaking, and
hanged my voice and said: III shoot
iim.'"
And was he there all the timer"
aid John.
..Who?" asked Mary, standing on
he chair and watching him closely
The peddler."
"The imaginary peddler?
And in accents of joy she sternly
ried:
~Johnl There you go again."