The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-09-26

singing gayly, You have me hypno
tlzed, mesmerized, paralyzed."
Huh, hope she does paralyze you
and quick, tool" glared Jed with with
ering scorn.
But the blissful lover tripped blithe-
ly on. In the middle Of the road he
met the town terror wearing an imp
ish grin and an immense peony fas-
tened to his coat.
Hello, Bub," the colonel beamed /;
that's a smashing button-hole bou-
quet you've got. What'u you take for
| it-a dinner"
"Sure, hand 1t over"
The dime changed owners and Bulbs
peony bobbed giddily from the colo
nel's coat lapel.
Now where's he goingT' worried
Jed, who had watched the transaction
He knew the colonel needed a guar
dian the worst way, but. glory be to
the love Of the United States" who
wanted to tackle job like that7
From the Widow Jones' shed door
came unmistakable sounds Of vigorous
scrubbing and the colonel headed that
way. If his feet had been prone to
lag, the militant ''rub-a-dub-dub"
would have been an added spur.
Great Griefl" Biny exclaimed. as
she saw him march bravely up the
walk. She shifted derisively. "All the
common sense these he-creatures own
could be packed in a peanut shell and
then leave room to spare. What's he
parading over here wash day for, and
all dolled up with that blazing posyT
She had an overwhelming desire to
call out, "Hey, peony, where you car
rying the little chap" but refrained
and bent chuckling over her tub.
"'Morning, Biny," chirped the colo
mel. Thought I'd come over and help
turn the wringer or something"
Suiting the action to the word, he
grasped the handle and turned energet-
ically while the solemn-faced Biny fed
clothes to the revolving rollers. They
were getting on swimmingly. the colo
mel exulted.
Still, as everyone knows, the course
OF true love never did run smooth, and
the colonel's affair was to be no excep-
ton to the general rule. He presently
struck a snag in the shape Of an OBJ
stinate button that would not go
through. Undaunted, he gave a ire
mendous pull to the wringer handle as
Biny pushed from her side, and over
f1h hn In
sudden deluge completely obliterating
the little fellow.
Awestruck by the catastrophe, the
startled Biny stood like craven i'm
age. When she became aware Of
gurgling sounds coming from
beneath the biggest tub. she remem-
bered that her sutton was buried some
where under the debris, and set to
work.
Suffering Jonahw spluttered the
wilted colonel as she fished him out of
the wreckage.
"Oh-h-h, Lemuel, DEAR" quayered |
the widow. She was down on her
knees in the swirling flood, paving |
over the wet clothes in frantic effort
to locate the dear Lemuels lost peony. |
In less time than it takes to tell 1t, |
hat gentleman had marshaled his |
scattered wits. He plunged his drip |
ping self down beside her In the soapy |
puddle, and clasping her neck with
'trangle hold, planted full on her sur
1rised lips a kiss that he would have
ermed "smashine."
II II did not strike forcibly on the
ears of the watching Jed it was be-
.ause he had been stricken stone deaf.
well. I'll be everlastingly drawn
md quarteredI" Jed exploded. well
that's settled; p'r'aps now I'll have
little peace"
In the shed the tableau went on.
"Biny, will you be miner" gasped the
olonel, his mouth full Of soapsuds.
I'm famished for some of your waf-
es"
Eyes, yes, I'll marry you tonight II
QUILL just let go my neck. My wind
ipe's almost squashed."
The colonel, his eyes filled with Wis
,ns of smoking waffles, subsidized hap
lily upon the cake of soap.