Evening star., 1909-03-14

everlasting conk pounded off of newell
I'd be nice looking big lumberjack TO
face the world in a case like that. now
wouldn't I? I'd never feel like holding
my bean up again. I'd want to go off
into a cave somewhere and do the Dutch
act with a blunderbuss or dull shoe
makers knife.
Now you've got the dope why I'm
not talking. It's because l don't want
to get things in the record that might
trip me later on. l know the gang want
to hear what I'm going to do. l know,
too. that they're entitled in a sort of a
way. to know a good deal about 1T. But
they can't know any more about 1t than
know myself. can they?
Me for the wait-and-se stuff. ] don't
know anything ike so much about TINS
Jefries fellow and what he still has left
as d like to know. And l don Know
one-quarter much about him as L
sure am going to find out before l get up
on top Of any of these chimneys around
here and begin to shoot off my face.
iii slip You a little tip, though. that
you can follow for yourself and that you
can let your readers in on if you want
to. and that Is this same:
I'm going to be right when I fight this
Johnson fellow--if I do fight him. And
if l come out and let slip the chirp, be-
fore such battle takes place. If it does
take place. that I'm going to hand john
his. you can gather up the kitchen
oilcloth and the knick-knackS of the
mantelpiece and bet 'em all. without
fear of the consequences that III cop.
That's all. Understand. ! haven't said
that m going to do any of these things
But I'll never get into the ring with
Johnson or anybody else again unless L
feel dead-sure that I'm pretty nigh as
good as the young fellow who was put
ting EN- away back yonder i'll the other
years, and when l hand out the word
I'm pretty nigh that good. why. get your
checks down. That's all
Had little talk. then. with Mrs. JEFF
fries. She's a mighty tidy, trig-look1ng
little woman-very little. but beautifully
fashioned-of German descent. and she
speaks with ever so slight German ac-
cent. Her hair is jet black and she's
there with all the puffs and things that
women weave into their hemp these
days Wears all the togs that you see
pictured on the woman'S page, too, and
knows how to wear 'em. Played some
on the piano in their suite for me. and
she knows how to play, too-picked it
all up since her marriage to Jeff. for
the rest, she's just a well balanced. level
headed. thoroughly pretty little woman
who doesn't put on any Jugs because
she's the spouse of the man who never
did take the count, and anybody can
see when they're together. that the big
feller looks upon her as empress of all
the universe. Speaking of the Jugs
thing by the way. Mrs Jeffries said a
quaint lnlDR. SHt tolu iIit tiidL III t'S
old years, when she was "only little
east side girl quote her own words
it was a genuine treat for her TO take
walk over to New York's west side just
to see the fine houses and hotels ana
things.
And | never thought in those days.
she said with an agreeable little laugh.
that I'd ever be stopping at one OF the
beautiful hotels that l used to look upon
with such awe at that time.
nT.- dGall IF
printed" Mrs Jeffries went on becoming
bit serious. about my 'forbdding Jim
to do any more fighting. There never
was the slightest truth in those stories.
| never have said one word to him about
his fighting. | won't say that l particu
larly like the fighting business, but l have
never presumed to dictate to my husband
in a matter of that sort. Fighting is his
business and has been ever since he was
a very young man, and, if he wants to
fight why. that's his affair. and not
mine and 1 never made it mine, and the
stories to the contrary used to make me
feel quite badly. though I've become used
to them in a way now.
The stories that always irrtated me a
great deal more. though. were about
Jim's alleged drinking. Why. Jim never
was a drinking man. 1t is the rarest
thing for me to even smell drink on his
breath-and I guess I'd smell 1t on him.
wouldn't l. if he'd been drinking?' and the
little woman sort of blushed at the oscu-
latory implication she presented The
eastern papers-they used to be sent to
us-often were filled, not so long ago.
with stories about Jim's 'carousing'
around Los Angeles and San Francisco
whereas / can't remember night since
our marriage when he hasn't been home
by 10 o'clock. and | have never yet seen
him even slightly under the influence AS
a matter of fact he isn't drinking man
at all Once, a few years ago there
Was a story published to the effect that
! had pulled up in an automobile in San
Francisco and dragged Jim by the ear
by the ear. mind you'-from a drinking
place. I'd like 10 have hold of the man
who wrote that miserable piece of non
sense-Id give him Il shaking that he'd
remember and she looked as if she could
do it, and Jeff handed me d knowing
wink.