Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-01-14


rousing slap for his endearing pains.
60 on. you wretch" screamed Mrs.
Bings. DO you think want that
awful. dirty face up against miner"
Bings gave II up and went out. He
had promised Morton to stop for him.
and sneaklng into that gentleman's
yard, he approached the house by the
back door. expecting to enter the Gel.
lar and join Morton, likewise dis
gulsed as q tramp. That was what
they had planned and Morton was to
have left the cellar door unlocked.
As Bings rounded the corner OF the
house. the kitchen door opened sud.
denly and Mrs. Morton's mother, q
kindly old soul and philanthropic,
caught sight Of the intruder.
Mercy" she calculated, hooking
the screen hastily. Then her good.
ness OF heart got the better OF her
fear and she opened the door again.
Come right in, my man." she cried,
alphabetically. Come right In. 1
have some cold meat here and some
warm coffee"
Bings tried TO tell her what he
wanted, but Mrs. Ackley is a little
deaf, and she didn't understand.
"oh. that's all right" she replied,
taking him by the coat sleeve ginger.
ly and hauling him into the kitchen.
Again Bings tried to tell her and
again abe misunderstood. For an.
swer. she hastily set meat, bread and
coffee upon the kitchen table, and
pushing the unfortunate man into a
chair. breathed a sigh OF content.
you don't eat as though you were
very hungry" she suggested, watching
Bings narrowly.
BIngs fell to with a zest. "Yis nom,
I'm hungry, thankee, NOM"
He had Just eaten a hearty meal and
his inner man demonstrated intensely
at the insult OF more food. Bings
groaned softly and was Just about
to break and run when Morton burst
into the kitchen arrayed in all the
glory OF the rag bag.
Mrs. Ackley gave one scream of
fright, yelled: Murder" and col
lapsed.
After a time. order was restored
and the two pseudo hobos set out for
the scene Of the festivities. Morton
was shaking with laughter.
Shall we stop at the restaurant and
get something to eat" he suggested.
Bings merely growled his disapprov.
al. as he unbuttoned his vest and vain
ly sought to get more breath.
Let's cut through the alley" sug.
gested Bings, remembering his wife's
warning. As they entered the dark
passage way, a shrill whistle at the
other end attracted their attention.
There was a rattle Of wheels, a fash
Of light and q policeman had them
under the muzEle of his gun.
Here. you two guys. I've been look.
in fer you fer 9 week. Git into tn
wagon!"
Bings tried to explain.
Jaw. cut IT," advised the police
man.
Then Morton endeavored to Illumlne
the text
Say. youse feliers might as we'll
shut up" hcidly interrupted the oificer.
Eyes kin tell yer story TO the Judge in
IN mornin'."
An hour later Jasper p. Scroggs. at.
torney At law. was called TO the tele-
phone. and Mrs. scroggs overheard the
following one-sided conversation:
yes. What's THAR
"Oh, Bings--ahd who?
"Yes. Bings and Morton-In jail9
"um. well. don't know exactly.
How much did you say7 About
e4O9
well, all right III be down right
away.
"Good-by."
Soon after. a cab bowling alons
the avenue. carried two very dlsrepu
table buns to their respective homes
and neither Bings nor Morton has
played hobo since.
s.