Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-04-07

AuSu. 1uluOle up. there. WANT 10
talk to you"
Blueworthy didn't exactly tumble,
SOS to speak. but the door opened. and
he M shutting and grooming into
sight. His face was twisted up. and
be had one hand spread fingered ON
the small of his back.
Dear, dear!!' says he. I'm dread
full sorry to have kept you waiting.
Mr.. Wingate. I've been wrastling with
this turribl" lumbago. and I'm 'fraid
it's affecting my hearing. I'll tell
you
Yes? Well. you needn't mind" l
says. "'Cording to common tell, you
was born with that same kind of lum-
bago, and it's been getting no better
fast ever since. Jest drag your suf-
ferinss out Um to this bench and come
to anchor. I've got considerable to
say, and I'm in IL hurry"
Well. he grunted and groaned and
scutfied along. When he'd got planted
on the bench he didn't let up any-kept
on with the misery.
"Look here" says l, losing patience,
when you get through with the Job
business I'll heave ahead and talk.
Don't let me interrupt the lamentations
on no account. Finished? All right.
Now you listen to me-"
And then | told him just how mat
tiers stood. You never see q man more
surprised or worse cut up. Him to
the poorhouse-him. one of the oldest
families on the Cape? Well, the dig
nifty didn't work, so he commenced on
the lumbago, and that didn't work nei.
Their. But do you think he give up the
ship? Not much! He commenced to
explain why he hadn't beer able to
earn a living and the reasons why he'd
ought to have another chance.
l actually pitied him. 1t seemed a
shame that a Teller who could argue
like that should have to go to the
poorhouse. He'd ought to run a sum-
mer hotel. Thinks l. I'm an idiot. but
I'll make him one more Offer"
So l says: "See here, Mr.. Blueworthy,
l { could use another man in the stable
at the Old Home House. If you
want the job you can have it, only
you'll have to work, and work hard"
Well, sir, would you believe it? His
face fell like a cookbook cake. CPL
I'll consider your Offer" he says.
That was too many for me. "Well,
I'll be y~ardarmed!." says l and went
off and left him considering. l don't
know what his considerations amount
ed to. All l know is that next day
they took him to the poorEouse.
And from now on this yarn has got
to be more or less hearsay.
Seems that while | was down noti-
flying Blueworthy Cap'n P%oundberry
had gone over to the p%oorhouse to tell
the Widow Badger about her new
boarder. The widow was glad to
hear the news.
He'll be somebody to talk to. at
any rate" says she. Poor old Betsy
Mullen amt exactly what you'd call
company for Il sociable body. But I'll
mind what you say, Cap'n Benijah.
I'll make that lazy man work or know
the reason why"
So when Asaph arrived per truck
| "dSOu oC - 1OC IlIC l1CAI ullClu OOll
Mrs. Badger was ready for him. The
minute he landed she SEM him out by
the barn with orders to chop a couple
of cords of oak slabs that was piled
there. He groaned and commenced to
develop lumbago symptoms. but she
cured EN- in a hurry by remarking
that her doctors book said Vigorous
exercise was the best physic for that
kind Of disease and so he must chop
hard. She waited till she heard the
AK chunk" once OF twice, and then
she went into the house. tiggering that
she'd gained the first lap anyhow.
But in an hour or so it come over
quiet out by the wood pile. She hur-
ried to the back door. and there was
Ase setting on the ground in the
shade. his eyes shut and his back
against the chopping block and one
poor, lonesome slab in front of him
with a couple Of s%plinters knocked
off it. That was his afternoons work.
Maybe you think the widow want
mad. She tiptoed out to the wood pile,
grabbed her new boarder by the coat
collar and shook him till his head
played Johnny Comes Marching
Home" against the chopping block.
You lazy thing, you!" says she,
with her eyes swapping. Wake up
and tell me what you by sleep
ing when l told you to work"
"Sleep!' shutters Asaph. kind of
reaching out with his mind for a life
preserver. IL want asleep"
you want. hey" says Deborah.
"Then twas the best imitation ever l
see. What was you doing. if faint
too personal a question"
"I-I guess l must have tainted. Pm
subject to such spells. You see. ma'am.
I amt been well for
eyes. | know. | understand all
about that. Now, you march your
boots into that house. where l. can
keep an y on you. and help me get
supper"
Blueworthy. he marched, but 'twa'n't
as joyful a parade as an Odd Fellers'