The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-03
EVENING STORY
Tick and Catlly.
CBy F. H. Sweet.)

faint always the dedicated or the
well dressed that
The finishing of Aunt 'Lizbeth's re-
mark to the story she was reading was
cut short by the entrance of Cathy.
'Sawed-Off thing out there asl<in'
for Mis- Sherman" she snorted.
When 1 'quired his business he told
me to shoot for the boss, he didn't
treat with menials. Can 1 order him
away?''
No. Mebbe it's the plumber, an
with leakin' pipes he's a man we can't
worry none. Let him come in
But it wasn't the plumber.
+ Been lookin' over your place,
ma'am," the caller said affably, as he
advanced into the room. "Shows ev-
erywhere the need of a good, handy
man like me. Ought to had me long
me, you're eXcusable. l fixed that sag
gin barnyard gate as 1 come thru"
II been amin to balance that gate
for a month but couldn't seem to get
to it," commented Aunt 'Lizbeth.
Course not cheerfully. Two
tidily, when they've got their hands
full with housework an chickens an
milkin' Farm needs man. Lucky I
got hungry trampin' an seen this
house an come in for bite.
rs it? ?" dryly. 1 never give bite
to a tramp.
Who said give?" Indignantly. 81
work for everything 1 ask. An if you
amt got work. 1 guess I've got mon
ey" He jingled a pocket. An I amt
a tramp. | worked in Il printin' shop
where l come from, an was thinkln
of tinsmithin' at the next town. But
/ amt farmed in quite long SPELL so
1 b'lieve I'd rather do that now. Start
ed me to thinkin' so by seem broken
fences, winders saggin. stones an gull
lies in roads that ought to be tended
to, an other things. I'm handy that
way, an 1 always like to work at what
I'm handy with an where I'm needed
Must be mighty old, the way you
talk" scorned Cathy.
I'm twenty-four, but age amt
nothin'. 1 started out at fourteen,
maxim up my mind to be well round
ed in all trades. That's why I've tried
en-
''Plumbin' ?" inquired Aunt Liz
beth.
Three months with bunch of rob-
bers over in the next state. They
sawed off my wages cause they said
l was sawed off, so I opened a hole
in a pipe I'd just fixed, an left the
water runnin.''
Waters drippin' in my kitchen
right now" lamented Aunt 'Lizbeth.
Been dom it since midnight. Run
min everywhere. Spose you could
fix it up a special job, me not hirin
you reg'lar?"
But you are hirin' me reg1ar," he
cryin to me from all over the place.
Got any tools and things to mend the
pipe with ?''
"Cathy'n show you"
The fellow turned and regarded
Cathy as he would an unusual curio-
sity, provoking grin on his face.
Pretty stingy on looks" he COM
mented, but That amt sayin' she
can't cook, which is the main point"
Looks" Cathy snapped. Guess
you never heard tell of a lookin' glass
Sawed Off,
I always did say I'd never marry
a red-headed girl, even if she could
cook" complacently But my names
better than Sawed Off. Kindly keep
it in mind, Firebrand''
Look here" broke in Aunt Liz
beth brusquely, Il want this fussin
an quarrelin' stopped right now.
Cept you can clear out. The leakin'
pipe don't matter, for I've sent for the
plumber twice, an he'll come when
he gets ready.
plumbers never come till they're
ordered four times, an then fused
att calmly. 4 know. for I'm one
Now I'll go an fix the pipe"
Aunt 'Lizbeth's lips frightened as
the two went back toward the kitchen.
Cathy's angry answer rising high
Il can't have them two in the
house together, even if I could afford
a man, which 1 can't" she thought.
IF there's anything I abominate it's
fussin' in a house-tho even that's
better than spoonin'. The carpenter
hired for two days tried to spoon with
Cathy, till she slapped him. 1 declare
for it, was glad she did, too, tho I do
hate quarrelin'. But Cathy's trea-
sure even if she has tongue l guess
there's little danger of losin' her. tho,
for no mans going to win Cathy with
soft speeches. It's mean of me. but
L m real glad she's so homely. There"
as a sudden banging came from the
kitchen, 'if he amt got to work al
ready I'm tickled to have that job
done, an will find it real satisfyin'
to send the other plumber packin' if
he should come. 1 hope this Tick'll
be willin' to job round thru the day
an do what he can. I know the place
needs a mans work, but when l have
to plan an scrape to keep just Cathy
an me goin' it's out of reason to think
of more-not considerin' they'd ever
lastingly snap an fuss I'll tell him
so frankly at dinner"
But when dinner came there was no
Tick.
"All that starvin' was just talk"
snapped Cathy Bet he stole enough
along the road to keep him stuffed all
the time. Anyhow, he filled his pock-
cts with old apples out of the crib,
sayin' they'd be plenty enough till
supper, when I'm to have one fit for
a king The impudence of him!"
Did he do the plumbin' job all
right"
YES grudged Cathy, '.just as
goods the best kind of plumber could,
an in half the time. He's real neat
and slick with tools. I'm bound to
say that for him. He unstopped my
sink drain. too. an rehinged the blind
an 1 noticed him doin' things round
the barn When he started off he said
he was goin' to look the farm all over
To find ont what If could do an, what