Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-06-06

you realize that I'm "a"
"Ah, don't start that" sneered the
conductor, Il can spot q gambler as
far as l can see one. You and your
side partner here want to look out,
that's all. or I'll drop you at the next
tank" Then he walked out, his very
shoulder blades uttering threats.
Dr.. Temple stared after him. but
the gambler stared at DR.. Temple
with a homage. $50 you're one of u.s."
he said, and Selling the old mans
limp hand. shook it heartily: u got
to slip it to you. Your makeup is
great. You nearly had me for a come,
on Great"
And then he sauntered out, leaving
the clergymen's head swimming. DR..
Temple turned to Mallory for explana-
tons, but Mallory only waved him
away, tie was not quite convinced
himself. He was convinced only that
whatever else anybody might be, no
body apparently desired to be a clergy
man in these degenerate days.
The conductor returned and threw
into Dr.. Temple the glare of two basil
isk eyes, The old man put out a be
seeching hand and began:
MY good man, you do me a grave
injustice"
The conductor snapped back; you
say a word to me and I'll do you worse
than that. And ii I spot you with a
pack Of cards in your hand again, III
tie you to the cow-ketcher."
Then he marched off again. The
doctor fell back into a chair, trying to
figure it out. Then Ashton and Eos,
dick and little Jimmie Wellington and
Wedgewood strolled in and, dropping
into chairs, ordered drinks. Before
the doctor could ask anybody to ex,
plain, Ashton was launched on a story.
His mind Was a suitcase full Of anec.
dotes, mostly Of the smoking.room
order,
Wherever three or four men are
gathered together, they rapidly organ
ize q clearinghouse Of off-color stories,
The doctor listened in spite Of him,
self, and IN spite Of himself he was
amused, for stories that would be
stupid Il they were decent, take on a
certain verve and thrill from their
very forbiddenness.
The dear old clergyman felt that it
would be priggish to take flight, but
he could not make the corners Of his
mouth behave. Strange twitchngs Of
the lips and little steamy escapes OF
giggle-jets disturbed him. And when
Ashton, who was a practlced racon-
teur, finished a drolatic adventure
with the epiIogue, And the next
morning they were at Niagara Falls"
the old doctor was helpless with laugh
ter. Some superior force, the devil
no doubt, fairly shook him with glee.
"Oh, that's bully" he shrieked, Il
haven't heard a story like that for
ages"
why. where have you been, DR..
Temple?" asked Ashton, who could
not imagine where a man could have
concealed himself from such stories.
But he laughed loudest Of all when
the doctor answered; You see, l live
in Ypsilanti. They don't tell me
stories Ike that"
"They-who?" said Fosdick.
"Why, my pa-my patients" the
doctor explained. and laughed so hard
that he forgot to feel guilty, laughed
so hard that his wife in the next room
heard him and giggled to Mrs. Whit,
comb.
"Liaten to dear Walter, He hasn't
laughed like that since be was ia
medical student" Then she buried
her face guilty in a book.
Wasn't it good?" Or, Temple de
manded, wiping his streaming eyes
and nudging the solemn-faced English
man, who understood his own nations
humor, but had not yet learned the
Yankee quirks.
Wodgewood made a hollow effort at
laughter and answered; Extremely
very droll, but what I don't quite
get wa5-why the porter said The
others drowned him in a roar of laugh.
ter, but Ashton was angry. why, you
blamed fool, that's where the joke
came in. Don't you see, the bride.
groom said to the bride then he
lowered his voice and diagramed the
story on his fingers.
Mrs. Temple was still shaking with
sympathetic laughter, never dreaming
what her husband was laughing at
She turned to Mrs. Whitcomb, but
Mrs. Whitcomb was still glazing al
Mrs, Wellington, who was still writ
ing with flying fingers and anderson
ing every other word.
Some people seem to think they
own the train" Mrs. Whitcomb ragged
That creature has been at the writ
t ing desk an hour. The worst of it is
J, Pm sure she's writing to my hus
/, band"
{ Mrs, Temple looked shocked, but an
; other peal OF laughter came through
the partition between the male and fe
male sections of the car, and she
beamed again. Then Mrs. Wellington
} finished her letter, glanced it over, ad
dressed an envelope, sealed anC
! stamped it with a deliberation thai
! msddened Mrs. Whltcomb. When al
last she rose, Mrs. Whiteomb was IL
? the seat almost before Mrs. Yelling