An Old Alibi
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 9:45 pm
I scented trouble from the way Bill Jones stormed in the store that day the paint brush whiskers on his chin but half concealed a fiendish grin; He held within his open hand a pocket knife of our best brand, and showed with a contemptuous snort where both blades had been broken short.
"How did you do it Bill ?" said I; he grinned but did not bat an eye but was well primed and answered quick, "Just cutting on a soft pine stick". I grinned myself, I did, b`jing, to hear that old familiar thing that`s heard in every hardware store a hundred times a year or more.
I handed out another knife as you`ve done all your business life to fellows who could tell a lie and look you squarely in the eye. Next day a lawyer held me up, a rich man but an ornary pup, with a pen knife gapped like a saw......and I was mad but held my jaw.
I asked, "How did you do it, Dick?" he answered, "On a soft pine stick". I cleared my throat, I choked, I spat and said, "I`m sorry to hear that". I was....but why he`ll never know till he gets where all liars go, and meets the millions there with Nick, lost whittling on a soft pine stick.
One rainy, windy dismal day, when April gazed on nearing May, I found the jewel of his race...a boy with freckled, sun-kissed face, and honest eyes but sheepish look, who grinned and from his pocket took a broken, saw-toothed, once-was knife. I groaned and joy went out of life.
"My boy", I said, "Now say it quick, you broke this on a soft pine stick". "No sir", he said, as my heart sank, "I broke it prying on a plank". With joy I threw my arms apart and hugged the rascal to my heart. "My boy", I cried, "you`ve saved my life, here, take this pearl, four bladed knife".
"But wait", I said, "just wait until I wrap it in a dollar bill". Life has some wonders yet to show and I`ll confess I didn`t know a man or boy of any rank could break a knife upon a plank; the only way to do the trick, I thought was on a soft pine stick.
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I don`t know who originally wrote this but it was used by J. Russell Case in 1952.
I thought someone here would enjoy reading it, as I did.
Kind of takes you back to a better time
"How did you do it Bill ?" said I; he grinned but did not bat an eye but was well primed and answered quick, "Just cutting on a soft pine stick". I grinned myself, I did, b`jing, to hear that old familiar thing that`s heard in every hardware store a hundred times a year or more.
I handed out another knife as you`ve done all your business life to fellows who could tell a lie and look you squarely in the eye. Next day a lawyer held me up, a rich man but an ornary pup, with a pen knife gapped like a saw......and I was mad but held my jaw.
I asked, "How did you do it, Dick?" he answered, "On a soft pine stick". I cleared my throat, I choked, I spat and said, "I`m sorry to hear that". I was....but why he`ll never know till he gets where all liars go, and meets the millions there with Nick, lost whittling on a soft pine stick.
One rainy, windy dismal day, when April gazed on nearing May, I found the jewel of his race...a boy with freckled, sun-kissed face, and honest eyes but sheepish look, who grinned and from his pocket took a broken, saw-toothed, once-was knife. I groaned and joy went out of life.
"My boy", I said, "Now say it quick, you broke this on a soft pine stick". "No sir", he said, as my heart sank, "I broke it prying on a plank". With joy I threw my arms apart and hugged the rascal to my heart. "My boy", I cried, "you`ve saved my life, here, take this pearl, four bladed knife".
"But wait", I said, "just wait until I wrap it in a dollar bill". Life has some wonders yet to show and I`ll confess I didn`t know a man or boy of any rank could break a knife upon a plank; the only way to do the trick, I thought was on a soft pine stick.
______________________________________________________________________________
I don`t know who originally wrote this but it was used by J. Russell Case in 1952.
I thought someone here would enjoy reading it, as I did.
Kind of takes you back to a better time