Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-12-02
WHAT ALLIED
JIMMIE

Members of the group scattered
about the smoking room looked up at
the new arrival. He was tall and
young and his clothes were of the
latest pattern.
"Why, there's Jimmie!" was the
cry. Hello, Jimmie!"
"Where've you been?"
First time you've dropped in this
fall!"
"'Ullo," said Jimmie. He said it in
a particularly standofish way, too, but
the exuberance of the good feelings
among his friends prevented the fact
from being noticed. He stood there
surveying them rather scornfully.
Why don't you sit DOWN." asked
the bravest of the group. Here's a
chair that's not working. Or have
| William bring you on a whole couch.
Or ask to have a billiard table pushed
in and a rug thrown over it! Just
anything, Jimmie, so you're suited"
"Huh!" said the object of these
pl%easantries. Don't know that I'm
going to stay!"
Then why Gomez" went on the
bravest. "You don't look happy, now
that 1 observe you more closely. You
don't seem pleased to death to be
where you are. What's the %trouble?"
ooh, nothing" said Jimmie. He sat
down grudgingly and stared at the
fire. The group surveyed him with
interest.
tCIloor ~ The %hoofNv Io%NI- TIN
mie?" inquired the young man to
whom the stage is the panacea for
all woes. There's a cracking good"
mo-" interrupted Jimmie shortly.
He yawned. 1--WE cut out the thea
ter. If it isn't foolish it's stupid.
Nothing in it,"
Anybody been around to see Ar
thur lately?" hastily asked the paci-
fer to the group who believed in a
change of subject. Gle"
Last time," said Jimmie cuttingly,
"that 1 went around to see Arthur he
was out. What's the good of having
friends if they're out when you call?
Why can't a fellow stay in occasion
ally? Besides, he's had a cold and
ought to stay in! Why can't he have
sense enough to know he shouldn't be
outdoors on such an evening as the
one when / called there?"
We'll. maybe he felt better" said
the pacifier, soothingly. Anyhow, 1
just asked to fill up time. Did you
have a nice summer? Your caro- said
you liked the place."
Jimmie shrugged his shoulders.
NO." he growled. ."The limit. The
lake was wet and that was all you
could say for it. Bad meals at the
hotel and the porches filled with old
women, who were eternally knitting
things. When the sun didn't bake you
the wind blew you to kingdom come.
Fish didn't bite and the golf course
; was a regular corduroy road. Nice
/ summer! HUH"
81 didn't know there was a place on
J earth as bad as that" unused the
young man at the farther corner.
I you nave my sympathy. But might
one ask-why didn't you get put of
} there?"
!, "Huh!" growled Jimmie. What
: would have been the use? Next
s plece'd have been just as fierce If
not worse!"
J "Say," broke in the sunshine Of the
, group n%ervously. eff any of you fell
lows are looking for a tailor let me
( tell you to go to Scissors. He made
Y me the"
: "Scissors!" cried Jimmie in tones
5 of molten scorn. He glared at the
J abashed speaker with indignation that
I scorched. "Of all the inspired idiots
\ of the tapeline, of all the stone break
. ers, butchers and ditch diggers lei
Z loose in a tailor shop, Scissors is the
: worst! He couldn't sew up a bag
: that would look like a bag! Yor
r should see the thing he made for me
J and called a dinner coat!"
) Here, Jimmie" said the Oldest mar
? of the group in real anxiety, ARE yor
; feeling just right? Head doesn't ache
s Liver in good order? You look kline
v o. thin, is why / ask"
3 ooh, my health's all right" re
5 turned Jimmie, with deep gloom
} you'd have to take a gatling gun tt
3 kill me. Why should anyone ask abou
y my feelings? Who really cares how
anybody feels?"
: The group eyed Jimmie with mucl
curiosity. Something certainly wal
; wrong with him.
Look here" said the bravest man
why don't you go and call on SOM
. girl and cheer up? Go get some of tn
: nice ones to DO a rarebit for you il
: the chatting dish and"
Jimmie sprung to his feet. "Girls!
) he exploded. why should a man Q
. sense waste time on girls? Chatter
} ing creatures, with imitation brain
s and cast-iron hearts and no apprecis
y ton of devotion when they see it
Giggling fiirts! That's what they are
> they
. Hold on, Jimmie" said the DARN
3 one, who had an inspiration. can
girl you're specially fond of gone an
s got engaged to another MANI"
5 Jimmie glared down at him wit
y Il r. +: l-.l L--