WHY HE DIDN'T EXPLAIN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3652, 29 March 1883, Page 4

WHY HE DIDN'T EXPLAIN.

Some eight or ten years ago a silverytongucd chap, Avho claimed to be a fruittree agent, sAvindlcd the farmers of the country in a shameful manner, and one resident of Nankin Avas so mad about it that he came to Detroit, searched the rascal out, and gave him a pounding in the street. After he got through his Avork he told the felloAV he Avould lick him tAvioc as bad if he ever put eyes on him again, and it AA'as a threat he remembered and nursed. About three AA'eeks ago the Nankin man Avas travelling in AA 7 ashtcnaAV County, and as be journeyed along the higliAvay ho met a traveller avlio so closely resembled the fruittree SAvindler that he halted and called out: —■ ' Here you are again A'ou bold-faced rascal r' ' Yes, I'm here,' avus the calm reply. 'A Vol I, so'ni I, and I'm going to lick you until you can't holler '. I said I'd do it, and I ahvays keep my Avord. Climb doAvn here !' The stranger 'chimb' Avithout protest, shed his coat as he touched the ground, and a fight began. In about two minutes be had used up tho fanner aud was coolly replacing his coat. ' See here,' said tho man from Nankin as he Avipcd his nose Avith a burdock, ' you fight better than you did eight years ago.' "' AVell, I dunno". This is my first affair Avith you.' ' Didn't I Avollop you in front of the Detroit Post-office eight years ago.' ' No, sir ! I Avas in Australia up to a year ago.' ' And you never suav me before :' ' Never.' ' And Avas never in Nankin ':' 'Never.' 'AVell, I'll bo hanged ! come to look at you I can see that you are not the man 'i Why on earth didn't you explain, or ask me to ': You must have thought me mistaken.' • Oh, yes, I kneAv you Avere mistaken ; but I hail just discovered that I had driven seven miles on the Avrong road, and AA'as Avishing some one Avould come along and give me tAvo Avords of sass. I did'nt Avant any explanation about it. A rotten SAveet apple Avill cure that black eye in three or four days, and salt Avater AA'ill tighten your front teeth in a Aveek or so. I feel fifty per cent, better, and I'm ever so much obliged to you !'—American Paper.