The Wrong Man — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

ov , . s - eo a ES THE WRONG MAN. “The best of men are talked abcut, and them as talk abont : them are ginerally not the best!” | _ ** You seem to have took a wonderful liking to this Charles — Dudley ?” said the shoemaker. “Dunno as I have; but I hain’t took a dislike to him, as al] of you have, just ‘cause he minds his own business.” aed “Td like to know what business he’s got to be poking round : this village all this time. As for me, I think it’s for no good ;?” | whereupon the shoemaker compressed his lips, nodded his head, — buttoned up his coat, and looked as though he had pronouneed | the death-sentence of the person in question. . ‘ What I’ve been s’picioning all along,” added the tailor, who, — this time, resolutely faced the eyes that bore upon him, although _ he grew very red in the face under the ordeal. “When chaps come from the other side of the mountains, | without no one expecting them, it won’t do no hurt to watch — “em,” added the shoemaker. | “Then, I vow, Mr. Shoe-pegs, you need watching,” said the | peddler ; “ for that’s just the way you came.” “ Well, it’s none of your business if I did.” “And it’s none of your business if Charles Dudley did,” — peosutly answered Dodge, leaning forward, and nodding his ead very slightly at his opponent. At this point in the debate, the red-faced man, with his chair tipped inst the wall, commenced snoring so londly that the schoolmaster, fearing that he was choking. motioned to the tailor to awaken him. e latter, with the intention of rousin him, placed his hand on one of the sleeper’s shoes, and shoo it so awkwardly that the rear-legs of the chair slid forward on the floor, the man’s heels went up, his head down, jamming his hat over his eyes, and waking him most thoroughly. Fright- ened at the crash, the tailor caught hold of the man’s panta- loons to lift him tu his feet, but only succeeded in tearing a hole in the not over-strong garment. “There | = got to mend fiat hole,” said the red-faced _ man, wrath ully. “If you don’t [ll lam you.” “Tll do it; [ll do it. Ain't you hurt? “ Yes, nearly killed. What you shove me over fer?” “T didn’t mean to doit. I meant to wake you, is all. Can't I do something for your hurt ”’ “A little Monongehaly will help ’em amazin’.” __ The tailor saw at once the ruse that had been played upon — him, but had sense enough not to manifest any ill-pleasure; he, therefore, “stood treat,” after which the sleepy fellow sat down © in his chair, tipped it back against the wall, threw one leg over the other, and shut his eyes as before, _ At this juncture, and before the conversation was renewed, | _ gotae one was heard fumbling at the door outside. The tailor — after Jooking impatiently toward it for a few momenis, E aad - 1 ee * ~ ee ’ ~, Se = comicbooks:com