The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-10-05

breed you oversee. Jumping on a dead
level was his strong suit. you under
stand, and when # come TO that Smiley.
would ante up money on him as long
as he had red. Smiley was mon.
strous proud OF his frog, and we'll he
might be, for fellers that had Travelled
and been everywheres all said he laid
over. any frog that ever they see. Il
well, Smiley KEEP the beast in a lit
tie lattice box. and he used to fetch
him downtown. sometimes and lay for
bet. One day a feller-a stranger in
the camp he wns-,come acrost him
with his box and says:
"'what might It be that you've got
in. the box?' i.
".And Smiley. said, sorter Indifferent
like. 1T might be parrot, or it might
be a canary maybe, but 1t ain't-it's
only just a frog 53
""And the Teller took 1t and looked at
It careful and turned 1t around this
way and that and says: HIN! So it's.
Well. what's he good for?'
."5sWell.' Smiley says, easy and care
less. he's good enough for one thing. !
should Judge. He can outjump any
frog in Calaveras county
'The Teller took the box again and
took another long. particular look and
give 1t back to Smiley and says very
deliberate. We'll. don't see no p'ints
about that frog that's any better'n any
other frog
"'AIaybe yen don't Smiley says.
Maybe you understand frogs, and
maybe you don't understand Fem!
Maybe you've had experience. and
maybe you amt only amateur, as 1t
were, Anyways I've got my opinion,
and I'll resk $40 that he cnn outjump
any frog in Calaveras county
"And the Teller studied minute and
then says Kinder sad-like, We'll. I'm
only a stranger here. and amt got
no frog, but il I had a frog, I'd bet
you
"And then Smiley says: That's all
right; that's all right. !. II you'll hold
my box minute I'll go and get you
a frog And so tho Teller took the
box and put up his SAC, along with
Smtley's and set down to wait.
$50 he sat there a good while think
ing and thinking to hisself. aud then
he got the frog out and pried his
mouth open and took teaspoon and
filled him full Of quail shot, filed him
pretty near up to his chin and set him
on the floor. Smiley be went to the
swamp and stopped around in the mud
for long time, and finally he letch
ed frog. and fetched, him in and give
him to this Teller, and says:
- "'Now, IL you're ready set him along
side Of Dnn,l. with his forepaws just
even with Dan'rs, and I'll give the
word Then he says, 'One-two-
three-gitp And him and the Teller
touched up the frogs from behind and
the new frog hoped off lively. but
Dan'l give Il heave and hysted up his
shoulders so. like Frenchman, but it
warn't no, use, he couldn't bulge He
was planted as solid as church, and
he couldn't no more stir than II rlle
was anchored out. i Smiley was a good
deal surprised. and he was Disguised,
too, but he didn't have no idea what
the matter was, OF course.
1.-THE teller took the money and start
ed away, and when he was going out
at the door be sorter jerked his thumb
over his shoulder, SO Mt Dan'l. and says
again, very deliberate. WELL he says,
81 don't see no p'ints about that frog
that's any bettcr'n any other frog.
Smiley he stood scratching his
head and looking down at DanI n long
time, and at last he says, 4 do wonder
what in the nation that frog throws
or forI wonder If there amt some
thing the matter with him! He pears
to look mighty baggy somehow And
he ketched, ,DanI by the nap of the
neck and befted him and says, Why,
blame my cats. IL he don't weigh FIVE
pounds and turned him upside down.
and he belched out q double handful
of shot. And then he see how it was,
and he was the maddest man. he set
the frog down and took out after the
Teller. but he never ketched him,
and"-
(Here Simon Wheeler heard Ills
name called from the front yard md
got up to see what was wantedI
Turning to me as he moved away, he
said, "Just set where you are. stranger,
and rest easy. amt goin' to be gone
a second" Il
But, by your leave, did not think
that continuation of the history OF
the cnterprising vagabond, Jim Smiley.
would be likely to afford me much in
formation concerning the Rev. Leon:
tdas W. Smiley. and SO i started away.
At the door met the sociable Vice.
Ter returning, and he buttonhoIed me
and recommended:
"Well. this yer Smiley had yaller
one eyed COW that didn't have no tall,
only jest short stump like bannan-
ner, and ~. ~, ss>.
However, lacking both time and in
clnation. did not wait to hear about
the afflicted cow, but took my leave.
H Health of tho Mind.