Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1916 — JOKE ON A PRACTICAL JOKER [ARTICLE]

JOKE ON A PRACTICAL JOKER

Inoffensive Citizen Turned on Him, Hit Him Between the Eyea and Then Jumped on Him. _ Thei practical joker teas sauntering along in the dusk. The inoffensive citizen was sauntering along in the same dusk, unmindful of the presence of the practical joker. The practical joker, recognizing a friend In the inoffensive citizen, chuckled to himself and quickened his steps to overtake him. The inoffensive citizen was thinking of a story he had read about footpads, and wondering whether anyone would ever try to hold him up. The practical joker suddenly tipped the inoffensive citizen’s hat over his eyes. The-inoffensive citizen wheeled instantly and landed a fine, large blow between the practical joker’s eyes. The practical joker went ddwn. The inoffensive citizen promptly sat on him and hit him again. The practical joker yelled: “For heaven’s sake don’t hit me again. Johri.f JJon’t you know me?” The inoffensive citizen said, “Great Scott!” ■ The practical joker said, in ah injured tone: “Hang it all, John, it’s only a joke.” The inoffensive citizen looked at the practical joker, who now had one eye closed, and laughed. The practical joker angrily asserted that it was no laughing matter. “But you said It was a joke,” returned the inoffensive citizen, “and I think you are right.” And he laughed again. But the practical joker hasn’t been able to see the point of it to this day. Still, it was unquestionably a good joke.