The Hope pioneer., 1922-10-05
The
Woman-Tamer
By CLARA DELAFIELD

Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union
That's Bill Jugson. That was his
brother Tom you seed, him that runs
the feed store. Nope, they don't speak.
And yet there was a time when the
Jugson Brothers were known as David
and-what was. the other feller's
name?
Twenty years they'd lived together
in the old homestead since old Mrs.
Jugson died. She was a woman, she
was. Beat up old Jugson every time
he come home with a load, and was
said to take the strap to Tom and Bill
after they'd reached twenty-five. l
guess it was old Mrs. Jugson that
made the boys decide never to marry.
Can you blame 'em?
"No woman should ever come be-
tween them, they said, and there they
lived, doing their own chores, two old
crusty bachelors. Wouldn't have
woman on the place. One night Tom
him that runs the feed store-come
home with a strange look in his eye.
Bill takes squint at him and says,
"A woman put that there
ssTom denied it for long time, but
at last the truth come out. He'd met
Mrs. Johnson, the widow of the sta
tion agent, and it seemed to have been
a case of love at first sight-least-
ways, on Mrs. .Johnson's part. Tom,
like fool had fell for her at the
church sociable, which he still at
tended every year, because old Mrs.
Jugson had larruped him for not going
twenty years before.
"Next night Mrs. Johnson walks in
at the door.
"'This is my brother Bill,' says Tom,
uncomfortable like. Pleased to meet
YOU says Mrs. johnson. AS for Bill
Jugson, he nearly swoons when he
sees what's coming after Tom. Mrs.
johnson had figger like bag Of
beans, and red hair. She looked de-
termined, but it was the red hair that
finished Bill. He took a greater dis
like to her than to any woman he'd
ever seen.
"'Why, you poor boys says Mrs.
Johnson, do you live like this? You
want woman's hand around,
Strengthening things out for YOU
"'Bill and ne don't like things
straight says Tom timidly.
"'It don't matter, it's good for you,'
says Mrs. Johnson, and puts in two
hours raising Cain generally about the
homestead. When she was through,
Bill couldn't find his pipe, and Tom
only had one slipp9r.
"'What'll l do about it, Bill? asks
Tom that night. I won't get clear Of
her till she's married me- Help me.
Bill
Bill pondered. You don't deserve
It, Tom,' he said, but I'll do what
can for you. When she comes in to-
morrow night, to tidy up again, you
hide in that there Closet
"Sure enough, next night Mrs. john
son was round to the, house with a
bundle. I've brought you boys some
homemade cakes she says. where's
Tom?'
"Bilr cackled. Toms OUT he said.
Fact is, l didn't like to mention it
before, but Tom goes On spree now
and again. He's over to Lentville, rails
ing Cain in the Saloons All this, Of
course, happened some years ago.
Mrs. johnson looks at him in q
queer kind Of way. He hasn't got any
other vices, has hep she asks.
"Bill thought while. because he
wasn't very quick. 4 dunno if you'd
call gambling a vice. he says What
l objects to is the way he treats won,-
en- when his tempers up
"'How's that? asks Mrs johnson
quickly.
"'Beats 'em,' says Bill. That's why
we can't keep woman about the
place. He's like fiend, Mrs. John
son. But that amt nothing to his
language
81 see l was mistook in him. Mrs.
Johnson sighs, and doesn't stay very
long. When she was gone, Tom pops
out of the closet.
'Whadya mean by telling that pack
of lies on me?' he roars to Bill. Now
you've druv her away. Temper, have
I? Language, eh? Well, you'll see a
bit of both now!'
"With that he lets fly with his fists
1t was the first quarrel the brothers
had ever had, and Bill, seeing now that
Tom had really wanted the Widow
johnson, and had been purtending oul
Of deceitfulness, warns up too They
was pretty evenly matched, and they
went at it hammer and tongs for
nearly halfan-hour At last, when they
was both wore out and both showed
signs of wear and tear, the WIDOW
Johnson walks in on 'em again.
"Bill opens the door. 4 had to come
back she says, I was so worried
about your poor, weak brother. Ought
MT you to go over to Lentville and see
If you can persuade him to leave that
den of iniq-'
with that she spots Tom, standing
ShepniSh in the narlOr and in q minuyp u