Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-27
The Daily Story
MRS. MULLIGANS VIEWS-BY F. A. MITCHELL
copyrighted. ~ Asso Literary Bureau

marked the stranger in a quiet voice.
(which is Joe's cabin?"
They pointed to Ohio's abiding place.
and the woman went on. directing her
steps toward It, One OF the others
called after her:
You'd better not interfere with any
thing that belongs to Ohio. He's just
awful"
us he?" said the other in the same
modulated voice. and proceeded on her
way.
Goodness graciousr' exclaimed the
woman who had warned her. III she
touches anything there. when he comes
home he'll kill her"
Don't you believe it, said Mrs.
Mulligan. ITS my opinion that there's
somethin' in the comm o this Teddy.
II man hasn't got anything there's
nobody to take an interest in i'm, but
just as soon as prosperity comes TO i'm
a woman appears. and it's likely that
she's got a string tied to i'm. I'm
thinkin' that the leddy's goin' to clip
his wings. 40 he won't be flynn so high
as he was"
The stranger. finding Ohio's door Sc
cured with paddock. left 1t to return
with bit OF iron. with which she re-
moved the staple: then went in and de-
liberately took Off her hat and wraps.
Women In the surrounding cabins
were cycling her with wonder, while
groups of citizens were gathering to
see what next would happen. But
the stranger went about making her
self comfortable. apparently uncon-
scious of the awful doom hanging over
her.
''There'll be a murder" exclaimed
Mrs. Walker.
Don't v believe It." said Mrs. Null
ligan. shes his wife"
How do you know that?"
81 can tell 1t. because she's not
a-feared of i'm. She's got cinch on
i'm. you may be sure Mebbe it's I'M
paid alimony; mebbe it's bigamy; any
way. she's got the whip hand OF i'm
and like enough without either the ALI
mony or the bigamy either. Wait and
see."
The stranger was seen to be hunting
in Ohio's larder. She got out a can of
tea and other articles and proceeded
u
forth a ham that had not been cut and
began to silver savory slices SILVER
passed over the lookers-on. Ohio had
secured the ham at great price be-
fore leaving and had warned the camp
! that II he found on his retuEp that It
had been mOlested he would break ev-
/ cry bone in the body OF the molester.
The next day when the stage arrived
! Ohio was aboard. Several persons who
remarked him hurried up the gulch' 10
spread the news and see the fun when
he found his cabin had been jumped.
The consequence was that every man,
woman and child turned out and gath
cred about the Ohio homestead. When
the proprietor came up and saw the
crowd he asked what was the matter.
Being told that his cabin had been
opened. his supplies used and his bed
slept in. his anger rose. but when In
formed that his ham had been cut and
partly eaten he roared Ike a bull.
Rushing 70 his cabin. he opened the
door. which the lady within immediate
ly shut behind him. Since the calico
curtain to the window had been drawn
the audience were cut off from wit
Messing what was going on inside.
Most of them listened for shrieks, but
no shrieks were heard. Ohio and the
Jumper remained unseen for some ten
minutes; then the two came out to-
gether The change in the former was
marvellous He had entered the cabin
like a lion and had come out like a
lamb.
Gents and ladies'" he said. ALLOW
me to introduce 10 you all my wife"
Loving wife," the stranger sug-
gested
MY loving wife" Ohio went on.
For several months I've enjoyed"-at
a look from the wife he changed the
word enjoyed to suffered-"a period of
single blessedness."
"Cursedness." the lady suggested.
"Cursedness. am happy to say that
shall have her assistance in work
ing and developing my mine. which
has thus far made n fine showing.
hope you'll all cOme"and pay your re-
spects to Mrs Ohio-I mean Wheeler"
That was the last Of the domination
of the people OF Lucky Gulch by Ohio
that made him very tractable. II turn
ed out that she held over him no such
cudgei as unpaid alimony or biGamy
but ruled him just rs other wives rule
their husbands No one could under
stand why he had been impeled to
domineer the camp before the arrival
OF his wife till Mrs. Mulligan. with that
remarkable retrospective perception of
hers. explained the phenomenon.
ITS this way" she said. when we
marry the men there's no peace TN the
, family till we break EN- in 10 married
harness. Then they amble along peace
, ful enough. But onct in awhile they
: like to get ont like horse turned into
D pasture and kick up their heels and
4 roll A man in such frOlic likes to
: get back TO bOssin again and isn't sat
a isfied unless he shows what an awful
tyrant he is But he knows his master.
{ and when she puts the bit I'm biz
r mouth he takes to IT as easy as baby
r 70 the bottle"