Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-03
The Vengence
Of Big George
By REX BEACH.
Copyright BY OH. I. Wood.

Georges loquacity choked him, his
story coming forth mangled and irrele-
want, yet soaked with feeling.
..I've drug her clean from town." he
concluded, ''workin' till rye lost the re-
spect Of my own dog team. She hung
60 the sled like a bobcat while me
ana Peneecbe double tripped it
through tine bad places. She'd set On
the load till she'd get frost bit rather
than walk, and In order to warm up
she'd nag me till I'd have to speak my
mind. which Is something I seldom do
10 a lady. As to dissipatin' unpleasant
animosities, she can clean her system
so fast she'd make Gatlin' gun sound
like stutterin' Swede."
.Here comes Mac!' cried some one,
and the groom entered.
Have you got herY' he questioned
eagerly.
"Sure! She's upstairsy'
"Whoop-ee!' shouted the groom.
cline up, boys, and diagram your
booze while hunt up my bride. I've
got money and wife to spend it on"
The crowd lunged at the bar witha
yell, and he continued noisily:
Here's to the first bride Of Candle
Creek"
From above came a female voice:
"Is that You, Peter"
Peter started 50 violently - to slop
his liquor upon the gr1nning George
Truly, here was an eager lover. A
moment later on the stairs above ap-
peared large red woman, who swish
ed downward and flung herself at the
gaping Pete with a cry Of great glad
ness.
But Mcdonald was man Of action
He ducked through the crowd, and,
missing him, the bride fioundered into
the arms of the astonished whalef.
Fighting her against the bar, George
moved nervously away, while the
crowd stared in amazement. a
tits the wrong onev yelled McDon-
Md. pointing with shaking finger.
"What!' cried Big George, while the
lady showed symptoms OF collapse.
That amt her. I told you to bring
Kitty that works In the Monte Cnsto
restaurant" He glared at George. who
mopped gathering sweat from his
brow. 'This here's Maggie Lanahan,
from the Monte Carlo theater. left
town on purpose to get shed Of her. !
wouldn't give ye IS for her, let alone
$780," s
ats a lier' screamed Miss Lanahan,
flaming up like. plumbers torch.
"You begged mo to marry you, and
now that ysure rich you're trying to
throw me down, but Tll"-
Mcdonald tore open the door and hed
out into the chill evening.
Turning, the lady emptied such .vitu-
peration upon Big George that he
shriveled and squirmed, while the
male population Of Candle City snick-
cred. AT this, bursting into wretched
sobs, she fed upstairs.
The object Of her obloQuy wrestled
with his speech, then, moistening his
dried lips, gave clearance to hoaEse
curses.
"How could tenT' he cried. II lost
the bill Of lading and remembered
Pete said Monte Something r-other,
so l still hunts the Monte Carlo, bag
GIN this -critter. Do you mind what
he said about leavin' town on ner ac-
count, boys? Well, it's my idea he's
compromised himself, and we'd ought
to make him marry her. Anybody can
see she'd make bully runnin' mate
for him. She's that robust she'd never
miss meal year"
Mercenary motives and visions of a
completed vengeance lent eloquence to
Georges plea, while his harangue had
the more weight inasmuch as Melon
aid was very unpopular. Moreover,
beauty In distress appeals to the
American heart, no matter how strain
ed the relation between fact and
fancy. The woman's final tears had
done much to wash out the memory
of her tongue flashing.
"He's deceived this innocent lamb"
said George. Can we stick around
and see snow white doves life blast:
ed by rummy like Pete? Can we
let him spoil this beautiful flower?"
well, hardly!' exclaimed the listen
ers.
Call a meeting on him." cried one.
sIf what she says is true, Wen make
him marry her."
.sThat's right, call Q miners meet
ing" and George climbed the stairs,
hts beaming contentment lighting the
shadows.
The rejected import was oscillating
between extremes Of hystericai rage
and lachrymal depression.
Look a-here," George began, "don't
you worry-just femme operate the OBJ.
sequies, and you'll be one Of the Nc
Donalds in a week. Wen slough you
off If 1t takes a wheel, for it's agin
precedent to have detached females
disturbin' the magnetic balance. You
won't be no drug on the market"
How good you are" she sighed.
1.-THE protection Of a strong man IS
very grateful to woman" She spoke
dreamily after her rage, threatening to
fall toward him.
You stand pat" he admonished.
''and I'll do some genteel jury packin'
that would excite the enyies of trac-
ton company"
Next day on the storm door OF the
post note proclaimed that Peter Nc
Donald, having fouted the girlish at
fections OF Margaret Lanahan. on
Thursday next was called upon to do