The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-04

Good man. but unfortunate"
Well, II he suits you, Nellie"
"He does!"
I'm glad of it," retorted Mr.. Shrimp.
| lin. taking a chew OF tobacco. For
| don't reckon he'd ever suit any one
else!"
You and none OF my family never
liked joel" said Mrs. Montgomery
Well, why should WEI" demanded
Mr.. Shrimplin impatiently.
Your wife,-my own sister, too
said he should never darken her door,
and he was that proud he never did
You couldn't have dragged him
there said Mrs. Montgomery, and
the ready tears dimmed her eyes.
And you couldn't have dragged
him away quick enough IL he had a.
come. Now don't you get fearful
over Joe. you can't call him no prodi-
gall his yeal's tough old beef by this
time But ! never had nothing In
particular against him more than |
thought he ought to be kicked clean
on the face of the earth" said Mr..
Shrimplin, rolling his dropping flaxen
mustache flercely between his stubby
thumb and its neighboring forefnger.
Such personal relations as the little
lampllghter had sustained with the
handy-man had invariably been Of the
most friendly and pacific description.
Esteeming Joe a gentleman of I'M
certain habits, and OF criminal in
stincts that might at any moment be
translated into vigorous action, Mr..
Shrimplin had always been at much
pains TO placate him. In the heat or
the moment, however, all this was
forgotten, and Mr.. Shrimplih's love
OF decency and rectitude promptly as
serted itself.
Its easy enough TO pick flaws in a
popular good-looking man like Joe,"
said Mrs. Montgomery, with whom
time and absence had been at work,
also, and to such an extent that the
first dim CLINT Of a halo was begin
ming to fix itself about the curly red
head of her delinquent spouse.
And a whole lot of good them good
looks OF his has done you. Nellie" re-
Joined Mr.. Shrimplin, with a little
cackle OF mirth.
He never even seen his young.
est" said Mrs Montgomery, giving
completely away to tears at this
moving thought OF the handy-man's
deprivation.
II reckon he could even stand
that" observed Mr. Shrimplin unfeel-
ingly Il bet he never knowed 'em
apart"
why he was just wrapped up In
them and me--just wrapped up"
cried Mrs. Montgomery.
We'll. he had blame curious way
of showing it; 10 one would ever
have suspected it OF HIM" said Mr..
Shrimplin.
II guess this wouldn't have hap
pened II his own folks had had moro
faith IN Joe, that's what wore on him
II seen Il wear on him." decldred
Mrs. Montgomery. in a tone Of mel
ancholy conviction.
I'm the main I'm a truthful man,
Nellie-I wish to be anyhow; and
I'll tell you honest | was never able
to see much in Joe aside from his
good looks, which know he had, now
that you call them TO mind. No--I
think a coat OF tar and feathers would
be about the thing for Joe; he's the
sort of bird TO wear that kind Of
plumage. My opinion Is that you've
seen the last OF him; no sense In
your thinking otherwise, because
you're just leaving yourself open to
disappointment"
Yet Mr.. Shrimplln remained to re.
instate Mrs. Montgomery in htr
home. II was his expert hands that
set up the cracked and rusted kitchen
stove, and arranged the scanty and
battered furniture in the several
rooms. Nor was ne satisfied to do
merely this. for he presently des-
patched Arthur into town after an ex.
cellent assortment OF groceries All
the while, however. he neglected no
opportunity to elaborate for Nellies
benefit his opinions concerning the
handy-man's utter worthlessness. AT
length this good Samaritan paused
from his labors. and RECALLING himself
with a fresh chew OF tobacco and a
parting gibe al Joe, set briskly of
for his own home.
The street lamps demanded his i'm
mediate attention, and il was not un-
I'll this his days work was finished
that he found opportunity to tell Mrs.
Shrlmplln OF these straits 10 which
Nellie had been reduced He con-
cluded by reiterating his opinion that
her sister had seen the last OF Joe.
Il don't know why you say that"
was Mrs. SLrlmplin's unexpected re-
joinder.
"Ain't rot mighty good reason q
say it?" asked her husband Don't
you know, and Amt every one always
said Joe was Just too low TO live? Id
like TO know II II wasn't you said
he should never set his foot inside
your door,?
u might say II again. and then I l