Life — October 1, 1903 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE END OF THE SEASON IN BUGVILLE. GRAND FINALE BY THE Pine PLtes. ing his pay as usual—as if money were as free as the water we breathe !"" “But, dear ..... ” interposed his wife, ..... and then subsided into a mumble as she saw the light of battle in her husband's eye. “ What is the news?" she asked meekly, after the threatened storm had subsided. Fin- nan pursed up his lips and ran his eye down the Social Column. “Well, well, well!” he ejaculated, “Old Miss Boneyfish is engaged at 1 “Whoto?" gasped his spouse, too astonished to consider the laws of grammar. “To young Tom Cod," replied her husband, ignoring the slip.‘ He's the one who used to be so attentive to that little Miss Minnow, who afterward married Squid, the editor of the Eren- ing Tidal Wace, Old Cod is cashier of the Bank of Newfoundland and Tom will succeed him soon, for the old chap’s liver is in very bad condition. Well, he’s not such a bad catch, after all! And tothink he's been hooked by an old person like Finny Boneyfish! Why, I remember when she came out twenty tides ago—at the Fish Ball!" Mr. Haddock sank into =~ a peaceful reverie of the past, until he sneezed violently twice. “Do move out of that current, Finnan!" said his wife, “ you'll catch your death! And go on with the news, dear.”’ Finnan complied, after turning up the phosphorescence lamp. “Here's another item! The duel between Monsieur Picquer- elle and Sefior Swordfish was fought at flood tide on Friday.”* “The spot chosen for the conflict was a secluded corner of the Coral Grove in the Piscatorial Gardens. The seconds were Messrs. Cuttle and Scor- pion of the First Light Finfantry. After three rounds of brilliant sword play, Monsieur Picquerelle inflicted a slight wound on Sefior Swordfish—be- tween the seventh and eighth scales, which Doctor Sturgeon, the Fishician in attendance, deemed sufficiently grave to terminate the conflict.” “It ought not to be allowed,” said Mrs. Haddock, indignantly.“ Think of the example it gives the young ! Why, only the other tide Halibert wanted to fight one of his schoolmates who had called him a lobster, You must speak to him, Finnan.” Mr. Haddock beamed indulgently over his paper, grinned, and then, sap- pressing a yawn, said: “We'll think about it over night. “On Friday !’? shuddered Mrs. i ~< H. 2 ie ‘How very unlucky !"" 317 Call in the catfish, my dea The bell-buoy is striking eleven.” The old fellow looked out into the cool night water, up through the swaying branches of the coral trees where the flying-fish were roosting peacefully, to the myriads of twinkling star- fish beyond, . . . then, blow- ing out the phosphorus, he waggled off to the oyster-bed. Jinks, * The New Way. * i Na Koran, tribute, or the sword!" cried the Moslem, with a terri- ble look. The dog of an infide! knit his brows perplexedly. ‘It is difficult to choose among al- ternatives equally attractive,” quoth he, after a moment's thought, ‘* Sup- pose we leave it to The Hague Tribu- nal?” The pious Mussulman grumbled some, but he had not the face to de- cline the suggestion, knowing, as he well did, that the papers would be full of the affair next day. How Influence Influences. MORTIMER: Itgivesa maaa cheap om feeling to have to economize. MarMabvuKE: Yes; if he is a cheap mau. ASPAR: You say that Gayboy is in financial straits, and yet he keeps a carriage. Jumpurre: He has to, in order to dodge his creditors when he goes out. 3 “ wRERScCKERS.” comicbooks.com