Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-08-11
Abigail's Express
Package
70, 1921. Western Newspaper union.)
BY MuRIEL BLAIR

lip, her free hand pointed down the
road.
He's coming, Jane,' she whispered
mysteriously.
Mrs. Searles looked up YEARLY from
her delivery book. "WhoW she asked
tersely.
THAT worthless husband of yours"
responded the other tartly. He's
been gone three days now on one of
his regular sprees with that Joe Tur-
ner and their worthless friends. Jane,
promise me you'll not take him back.
Show your dignity"
Abigail Smale stood up. Jane"
she said firmly, "last time he came
home you told him If ever another
drop of liquor passed his lips you'd
cast him off for good"
II guess you're right, Abigail" re-
| sponded Jane Searles meekly. E
Good! Good" exclaimed the other
heartily.
My dear!" said a thick voice be-
| hind her. Jane Searles turned. Her
husband stood on the threshold.
| Jane Searles went up to him.
"Jim," she said, II have been a good
| wife to you for nearly ten years, and
| I've worked and shaved for you, and
| I've stood for good deal, but it's over
| now"
"Janew Dear janet" murmured Mr..
| Searles uncertainty. But he withdrew
hastily as the slammed door grazed
| his nose, and looking back ruefully
at this unexpected phenomenon, he de-
cided that 1t was not propitious mo-
ment to renew the attack, and limped
back down the road in the direction
| of his crony's, Joe Turner.
"What, back again?" shouted the
latter, looking up from his forge.
"Wife won't have me-" murmured
| Jim Searles disconsolately, taking q
sea- beside the fire.
81 guess not" shouted Joe. II
warned We, JIM"
"But it's breaking my heart, Joe,"
muttered the other. Help me-"
Joe Turner pushed his friend into
the little room at the back of the
| FORGE.
you lie down there and take a
nap" he said. "I'll see what can be
done for you."
Jim Searles awoke that evening to
find Joe Turner toasting bacon over
| the fire.
"How d'you feel, Jim?" asked the
blacksmith, coming back with the
bacon. pretty bad, hey? Have some
beer?"
mot for me, Joe," said Jim Searles,
and the other gave him violent clap
on the back.
"Good for you, Jim," he shouted.
| "Now / can go ahead with good con-
science. Well, I've been up to your
wife's, jim; there's nothing doing
there. She won't take you"
The sound of hammering awakened
him the next morning. Slipping on
| his clothes, he went into the smithy,
to find Joe Turner putting the last
nails into a huge packing case which
stood on his cart, the horse being al
ready harnessed. On one corner was
a label bearing the words:
"ABIGAIL SMALE, Express Office,
Norbury. TO be kept till called for
whats that for, Joe?' inquired Jim
In amaZement.
"That's for you, my boy" answered
| the blacksmith. "Hop in"
"Package for Miss Smale, Mrs. Scar
les" called Joe.
,,;o toI inf
Mr.. Turner" answered the lady.
AS soon as Joe was gone Mrs. Scar
| les went over to the case and looked
at the label.
"That looks like Joe Turner's writ
| ing" he heard his wife say.
Jim heard her sob as she turned
away He heard her go into the par
lor, and, quietly forcing up two Stats
Of the lid, thrust out his head. Next
moment he withdrew It hurriedly, for
he heard his wife and Abigail Smale
entering the office.
"Well," shifted the latter, at GER
| tainly is relief to be able to come
around without seeing that filthy
| drunkard."
Jim heard his wife crying quietly.
II was going to say that there's a
package come for you, Abigail" she
said.
"For meT exclaimed Miss Smale In
surprise.
Jim Searles' head emerging gro
tesquely, like that Of jack-iD-the-box,
for once completely discomposed Miss
| Smale.
Good morning, ma'am," shouted
Jim briskly. I'm the filthy drunkard
that's been sent to you. hope you
have good accommodations for me,
ma'am"
ooh, this is too much !" gasped Abb
gail. "How dare you Jane, you
knew he was here. You set him on
| to do this"
Indeed, Abigail"
"I'll never come here again." cried
the irate spinster.
| Tt,.. .,nl,n an Iiixa rnon N1apa