Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-02-04

TANNING A TERROR,
BY NJ. QUAD.

BY NJ. QUAD.
Copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso.
ciatton.l
For ten years Aunt Hannah Day.
widow and resident of the village of
Clyde, had been sort of terror to
most Of the residents. She lived alone
and was we'll to do, and she just dotted
on lawsuits. At the end Of ten years
Elder Thomas was about the only cit.
lien Of the town worth suing who had
not been sued. His time was close at
hand, however. He had two hives OF
bees in his back yard. and they had
swarmed earlier than was looked for
Not finding new hives ready, they had
passed over into Aunt Hannah's or.
chard and stung her and her COW and
pig before going farther. She decided
to start suit for damages.
Elder Thomas had never had law.
suit nor been summoned as juryman
or witness. He had dread of the
law, and the knowledge that he was
going to be sued set him trembling. II
was no use for him to go over and see
Aunt Hannah. She never changed her
mind nor settled case. He heard Of
her decision one morning, and he spent
the forenoon worrying over 1t. He wa
still worrying after dinner when he
set out with hoe on his shoulder tc
work in cornfield half a mile outside
the village. On the edge Of the field
was creek, and on the banks Of the
creek was an old shed in tumble
down condition. The elder had beer
killing up corn for about quarter OF
an hour when voice called to hin
from the shed. He raised his head and
listened, and it called again. He drop
ped his hoe and took few steps for
ward, and the voice cried out:
"Stop, Elder Thomas! Stop RICH,
where you are!'
"Who Is it?''
cts me-Aunt Hannah"
care you in the shetl?"
eyes,"
"For the lands sake, but what are
you doing way out here. and what's
happened to you?"
"You keep your place right where
you are, and I'll tell you. l came out
to pick some blackberries, and after i
got here the fit took me to go in swim.
ming in the creek. l undressed in the
shed and padded round for half an
hour, and when came out of the wa.
ter found that an internal hog had
chewed all my clothes to rags. There
amt piece left as big as my hand
I've been waiting here a whole hour"
but what are you going to do?" ask.
ed the elder as he scratched the back
Of his head.
Don't ask fool questions! I've got
to get home, haven't I? And can't
get home without some clothes. I'd
need clothes even IL I waited till mid.
night"
II guess you would; but. you see.
can't lend you any of mine. All I've
got on is shirt and trousers
"Wh0 wants to borrow any Of you;
I don't, I'm sure. want you to &C
home and tell your wife about it and
bring me back bundle of her clothes
You don't s'pose I'd 60 back to town
in trousers. do you? What you sneak
ing up higher for?"
II want to sit down on that log and
talk to you a mint You sent me
word this morning that you was going
to sue me about the bees"
Eyes, did. 1t was all your fault,
and you'll have to pay smart money
for it,
1t struck the elder as he sat down
on the log that the situation was in his
hands, so to say. The spot was q
quarter of mile off the road and very
retired. There was hardly a chance OF
the woman finding another messenger
for two or three days. Accident might
enable him to accomplish what dele
cations and committees had failed to.
"Well. why don't you go? asked
Aunt Hannah after a long minute
do you think l want to stay here all
the afternoon? There may be more'n
forty hogs in my garden by this time.
There are tramps around. and mebbe
some Of 'em are robbing the house."
Eyes. jest as you say" replied the
elder, "but think we'd better have q
talk before l go after any clothes,
Why should go after clothes for q
woman who's going to make me trou
ble?"
You didn't take care Of them bees"
sand you didn't take care of your
clothes"
"But I've never stopped lawsuit
and never will"
"And I've never lugged clothes for a
woman fool enough to let hog chaw
up her buds. Ill go back to work, and
you can get some one else."
Aunt Hannah was spunky, and she
stood out for half an hour. Then she
called the elder back to the log and
agreed not to begin suit against him.
''That amt enough" he replied.
1--WE been thinking. You've made lots