The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-08
CHAPTER XVI. (Continued)

llaEinE prepared Il meal to his
king, Jerry set the table with a
'nglc plate cup, and saucer. then
seated himself swith a luxurious
srunt. He ate slowly; he rolled
very mouthiul with relish: he
lctchcrizcd it with calculated delib-
ration: he paused between times to
DOW loudly upon his coffee and to
smack his lips sounds that in them
selves were a provocation and All in
suit TO his listener. When he had
cleaned UP his intcrminable repast
md was finishing the last scrap,
Tom rose and made for the stove.
Jerry watched him, paralyzed in
mld-motion. until his partners hand
vas outstrctchcd, then he suddenly
shouted:
Get away from thcre!"
Tom started. what for?" he
lucricd, light Of rebellion far:ng
INTO his eyes. Amt you through,
with, With Your supper? You been at it
long enough"
You sec nc catin', don't you
After ! get fed up and my teeth
picked ! got all my dishes to wash"
That wasn't our arrangement"
ut was So
pull cat all night" Tom COM
planned. almost teariully. You'll
set there and gorge till you bust"
"That's my privilege. | don't aim
to swallcr my grub whole. In, shy
few teeth and some OF tho balance
don't meet. SO can't consume Wit
ties like | was q pulp-mi'l. ! didn',
start this row.
who did,
Nov amt that a TOOL question:: :"
cry leaned back comfortably and
began an elaborate vacuunl-c cleaning
process OF what teeth he retained.
w no starts all our rows. ii don't :
No. I'm as casy-going as creased
I'll. and most anybody can get along
with nc. but, tread on my tail and
| sWop ends. pronto. That's nc. |
go my own even way. but | live up
to my bargains aud ! see to it tina,
others do the same. You get the
lell away from that stove!
Tom abandoned his purpose. and
with the resignation of a martyr re-
turned to tceter upon the edge OF
his bunk. He remained there. glun,
nlalcvolcnt, watchiul. sntl his
cabin-matc had lcisurcly cleared the
table. washed and put away his
dishes: then with Sigh OF fat re-
plction. Mnmist;,habiy intended as a
provocation. the tormcntor lit his
ply fc and stretched himself luXuri-
ouSly upon his bed.
Even then Tom made 10 move.
lc merely glowcrcd at tho rccum-
bent figure. Jerry blew a cloud OF
smoke, then waved Il generous ges-
Nov then, fly at it, Mr.. Linton
nc said. swcctly. 1--WE ct my fiji:
I've had an ample sutlicicncv; I'm
through and i'll for the night"
oh no, you aint! You get up
md wash that skillet"
Mr.. Quirk started guilty.
Hustle your crcaking joints and
scrub it out" ..,
"Pshaw! I only fried slice"
Scrub it," Linton ordered.
This command Jerry obeyed, al
though it neccssitatcd heating more
water, a procedure which, OF course.
he maliciously prolonged. Waited
till was all spread out, didn't YOU -
ne sneercd, as he stopped over, the
woodbox. That's like you. Some
people arc SO small-calibcred they'd
rattle around in a gnat's bladder
like mustard seed in bass drum"
Pm particular who l cat after,' -
Tom said, so be sure you scrub it
clean"
Thought you'd spoil my smoke.
We'll, l can smoke standin' on my
head and enjoy it," There was a
silence. broken only by the sound OF
Jcrry's labors. At last he spoke
Once again l repeat what l tod
you yesterday. | took tho words
out OF your own mouth. You said
the woman was a hcllion-"
II never did. Even if | had l
wouldn't allow a comparative
stranger to apply such an cpithet to
a member of my family"
You did say it. And she amt q
member of your family"
Toms jaws snapned. IF pa
thence is virtue" he declared, in
quivcring anger, Ill slide into heay-
cn on skids. Assassination ought not
10 be a crime; it's warranted, like
abating a nuisance: it aip't even a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. She was
noble woman" ~
''Hcllion! | got it on the author
ity Of her own husband-you!'
Tom rose aud stamped over to the
stove; he slammed its door and clat-
tered the coffec-pot to. drown this
hateful persistence. Having had the
last word. as usual, Jerry rctreated
in satisfaction to. his bed and
stretched his aching frame upon it.
The diley cabin was fragrant with
tho odor Of cooking food for a Sec
ond time that evening when tho
sound of voices and a knock at the
door brought both old men to their
feet.
Before they could answer, the door
flew open and in and out Of the
frosty evening came Rouletta Kirby
and 'Polcon Dorct. The girls cheeks
were rosy, her eyes were sparkling !;
she warmly greeted first one part
ncr. then the other. : Pausing, she
shifted tho air hungrily.
=. "Goodyp she cried. "We'rc just
in time. Aud we're as hungry as
bears.
dis gal amt never got 'nough to
cat since, she's seeck in Wife 'Orse."'
'Polcon laughed. For las hour