The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-25

Johnny Nelson FASTENED TO the cor
ner OF the bunk house and then chang
ed his pace until ne seemed to ooze
from there to the cook shack door
where he iazily leaned against the
door Jamb and oStentatiously picked
his teeth with the negative end OF a
match. The cook looked up calmly,
and calmly went on with his work.
but If there was anything raSping
enough TO cause his soul TO CULVER II
was the aforesaid caliStheniCs exc
cuted 10y Johnny and the match; for
Cookies blunt soul hated hints. If
Johnny had demanded, even profanelN
and with large personal animuS, why
meals were not ahead ot time. II
would be Il simple matter 10 heaVe
something and enlarge upon his short
cut speech. But the SubuetieS left
1he cook nOundcring in "A mire Of rage
which he was careful to conceal
from Johnny. The nuisance had been
eVinCinC undue interest i'm early sup
DerS for nearly "a month, IL COuldn' [
be tapcwOrms. because supper was the
only meal involved, and furthermore.
Johnny ate very little. 80 Cookie
stranElcd the biscuit i'm his hand. but
smiled at his tormentor
We'll. all through ." he asked,
Elancing at Johnny's clothes.
I'm hOpin' to begin and the tooth
pick moved rapidly.
How lOnE2"
Till supper's ready"
nix. hut YOU can wear il twenty
minutes ~ vou'u get my grub quick"
he replied. Got to meet Lucas at
half past .. lie cautiously dropped
the match he had thOughtlessly pro-
duced.
The cook tried to look his belief
and accepted the offer. JOhnny's re-
markahly clean face. plaStered hair
and general gala attire suggested that
Lucas was woman-which Lucas
would have profanely denied. Also
Johnny had been seen washing Ginger.
and when a punCher washes a CayuSe
ats a sign of insanity. Besides, Gin
ger belonged to Red. who also had
owned that lone dollar. Reds clothes
did not fit Johnny.
Coin to surprise Lucas?" inquired
the cook.
What you mean"
Cookie glanced meaninSlY at the at
tire; "Er-you amt i'm tn habit Of
putin on war paint for to see Lucas,
Johnny's mental faculties produced:
"Oh. were goin' 10 a dance"
Where 'bouts?' exploded the cook.
Way up northW ones mind needs
TO be active as a flea TO lie properly
to man like the cook. He had made
CHASTITY mistake.
by gollN; I'll give tn boys cold
grub an go With YOU and the cook
began to save time.
Johnny gulped and shook his head:
Cookie caught the pan on his foot
before it struck the floor and gasped:
Invite? Amt il free-fer-all?''
NO; this is a heightened thing-a-
bob. Costs dollar q head. too
"High-toned2 snorted the cook. de-
risively. Don't they know YOU? An
i thought Red was broke. Show me
that permit"
Lucas. got it-that's why I've got
to catch him."
"oh, An is he goin all feathered
up. toO?"
shore. he's got to-"
Huh, He wouldn't dress like that
to see fight. Has she got any sis
ters2' Cookie finished hopefully.
Now what YOU talkin' about?"
Why, Lucas answered the cook
placidly. "Lemme tell YOU something
When YOU want to lose me have a
invite to a water-drinkin' contest An
before YOU 20. be shore to rub Hoppy's
boots some more; that's such a pasty
shine itn look like sandpaper before
you get TO TIL dance You want
TO make il hard an slippery. AnlTve
read som ers that only wimmin ought
TO smell like a drug store. You bet
ter let her do tn fumigatin."