Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-07-22

Hello, Joe! You dead one, too?''
he said.
Almost replied Brooks. brighten
ing up a little in spite of himself un-
der the influence Of his friends good
natured smile and cheeriness that pos
itively emanated from him. Just
come up?'
Yep, and reckon in about time to
help he said, glancing at the crock
cry on the table
sJust in time" assented Emma.
whose dropping spirits also began to
rise under the diversion caused by his
sadvent. .Blt first explain what you
mean by not coming to dinner
Il couldn't come. really. tried my
best. but | had to attend to such lot
of business that couldn't be put off
that was unable TO get here in time.
hope you didn't wait long for me-
I'm awfully sorry"
You look It'll don't think she
scolded. 60 on; get busy if you're
going tor
"Al right be answered, taking up
a small pile of cups and saucers very
gingerly. Where do these go? If
you left it to me. like as not I'd be
putting soup plate behind the door
and slip a broom into the sideboard'
They go right in here"
He stopped on the way to the side
board and turned to Brooks.
Seen the latest extra. Joe.?" he in
nrsn oex,s+ t,a l1xv
scratched getting out of Rio Janeiro.''
You don't say!"
Kind O scraped over the bar. She'll
only be day late now
do be csreful with those cups, jim
Ey," admonished Emma. They're
china
Don't you suppose know thatY'
Il mean real china,'' she empna-
sized
"All china and Cinnamon look alike
to me. Here's the paper, Joe. You'll
find all about the Orinoco on the in
side page"
He drew it from his pocket, and as
he did so one of the cups balanced on
the saucers slipped off and smashed to
bits on the carpet.
Nov, Jimsy, you certainly are going
to get it," commented Joe, rising and
taking the paper extended to him.
Smith looked appealingly at bis
hostess.
sJimsy," she chided, assuming an
expression of mock gravity, how
could you-my very best Sunday go to
meeting china! How could your
.sNot how could I-how did I?' he
corrected, STOPPING and picking up the
pieces. "You know, Emma, I've had
butter fingers ever since / was little
shaver, and guess | always will
have-in business and everything else" :"
Why, how do you meanY
ssI've been clumsy all my life, that's
all. Everything I've ever had in my
hands that was worth much I've gen.
orally let slip and fall. Out in Colo
rado when | was a kid around Lead
vile they used to say that / sure
would turn out to be sawed off and
hammered down, good for nothing
man. So you see the way things have
turned out. I've broken about even
with that prophecy"
s'How broken evenY
Taking their side for the book, I
win the first bet and lose the second
There amt nothing sawed off and
hammered down about me, is there?"
II should say not" she said, with
merry laugh. You've been pulled out
like piece of taffy."
Then I win, but it was In doubt
quite some time. Never really did
start to grow until | was fifteen, ant
then l just eased out into my present
altitude. But the second proposition
that good for nothing bet-I guess they
VIM
Nonsense, Jimsy. How can you say
such thing? You're good for whole
lot"
Emma he declared soIemnly,
there have been moments Of financial
stringency when that declaration SEEM
ed to be open. to doubt"
sJimsy. you're an idiot!'' she laugh
ed.
'Discoveredw be avowed, bowling
tremendously.
Brooks, who had been reading the
paper, threw it down angrily.
"D-n himw he growled.
''Joer' exclaimed his wife reproach-
fully.
'D-n who?" inquired Smith.
why, Williams" he replied.
Lots have done that said the su-
perintendent But what's the matter
now, Joe?'
"His luck" went on Brooks. "The
Orinoco isn't scratched If any one
else owned ship and she got into
muss like that the chances are hun
dred to one that she'd have foundered
been a complete loss"
That's right" assented Smith.
But Williams-he don't lose her. He
couldn't
u Al.