Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-04-03
An Object
Lesson
BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH
Opyrlght. 1910. by Western Newspaper Unioa.l

Brookville paused M the gate of the
little home occupied by John Rolfe and
his wife He fwmbled in his pocket,
drew forth piece Of chalk and
vhucllled
"NowS my chance + grinned the big,
loutish fellow I'm stir up some
thlng"
John Rofe hrltiud clump OF Shell
terug lilac bushes. stared vaguely.
then susliciuu-,y, and ihen with low
ering brow Viewed me intruder, who
passed up the walk in a stealthy way.
He stared harder a. Drake placed one
knee upon the loWermOst step of the
porch Slowly lie fists of John Rolfe
closed and Enclosed. He hunched back
as if actuai.d to sudden spring.
Drake reached w 10 The top step.
"Scold,' he >euwied
John Ruot. furious If face. a hur-
rlcane uf Indignation ana resentment,
made dash and lh,n a grab Ne had
the Nriihmg de>poilcr 81 those immac-
ulntcly clean steps ID his grasp lie
poised Inn aloft. Drake uttered a
gasp ana half a yell.
Hold on Hold on. was only play
Ing joke"
1T viii cost you something" growl-
ed John. Now, ihca. you meddling,
malevolent scum, lick it up; rub II
up, Just MS you ought TO and got to-"
And then, poising the miscreant
Drake aS he would . dishrag, John
swung him face down over the steps
He played his nose over the ill-natured
chronicle ia chalk \ smear showed
whore the word had been. John right
ed his prey and bounced him down up
on the lower step, with the words
You Sit there or III sit down upon
your!
Drake, farc was sight, His nasal
organ was a;uened and splintery. His
cheeks and cU.n suggested Il baker dis
figured by The loury substance he han-
died lie acted scared; he looked
sheepish.
Il only thought" he began timor-
ously
~You only lhought you'd stick an
who isnb a @adder and scandal-mon-
ger. and minds her own business 70
Numbered John. "Squirm, liatten our
like ne grease spot that you are, Blow
up and bust for all care, but don't
you get up or tIy TO sneak away, or
I'll lug you to The pond and give you
the ducking Of your life"
I'm sorry. Rolfe; honest am.
What YOU want of met stammered ths
creatfullen Drake.
Il want to give you an object lesson.
l want 10 send you back TO your gos-
sipins brood with new point of view.
Because my wife Keeps 10 herself and
talks our her mind on her own prem
Uses, which She has a right to do, you
fancy It's quite the thing TO humiliats
her by acts that iuSi about lit dig
ger Indian. 'ScoldT Thank goodness
I'm around to hop her relieve her poor
tired mind when the strain gets too
heavy I'd be fine SPECIMEN, wouldn't
!, to sneak off leaving her with no
chance to do il. I'm trying man. Abel
Drake. What with dragging mud into
the house and dropping tobacco over
the place, and keeping it like a disor-
derby rag bag, it's Il wonder she dont
fire the rolling pin after me and SUE
for q divorce Z"
"Of course OF course" bobbed and
cringed Drake, fearing his aroused
eloquent Captor might work himself ~
to a point where he would deliver a
new castigation.
Now, then, up with you, and Ia
with you'll" and Selling the shrnking
Drake by the collar, John forced him
into the house. Look at those rooms
Neat as pin, always Just rest your
eyes on that layout" and he dragged
Drake into the kitchen, orderly ana
shining, and showing a table fun OF
appetite-arousing pies, tarts and bis'
cults Duplicate il If you cal In TINS
town Out again Sit down." and ne
landed his mussed-up visitor on ths
step WITH a force that made Drake
groan. I'm relate TO you a little MS
tory. Five years ago, the time my %ifs
rescued a little child from in front Of
an automobile, she got knock that
has given her headaches ever since
So she's queer, eh2 Wouldn't some 81
those gewgawed, useless women VINO
screamed and tainted away and didnt
lift finger to save the child have act
ed queer after an adventure like thati
Bur the knock did not take the sood'
ness out of Martha. When she gets
tired she talks, and It's the sweetest
voice on earth to me II II Is de-
served raklng over the Goals for me-
Dear, sweet soul. When / think y
her shaving for me, lonely and ured
because she's in a rut with homely
dull old curmudgeon Ike me, | trd
like kicking myself For your mean
ness In trying TO make matters worse
IN kick you instead. Get Quit
John, queer smile upon his lips,
went out on the street and rambled