Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-03-11
3 gleasaut Story.
MR.. POKE'S NEIGHBOR.


last" said Mr.. Priam Poke. II saw
'em moving this afternoon They don't
appear to have much to move, and the
calico cover tumbled off the lounge as
they carried it in. and the cover under
Geath was extremely ragged A very
seedy old gentleman came with the fur
niture-nobody else"
There isn't any one else, Priam,
said Miss Poke, his sister; ave heard
all about him. He lives quite alone.
He's an infdel aud an inventor He is
at work at something he won't let any
one see and he doesn't even keep "a
servant, but goes to restaurant for his
meals"
Dear me, what a curious character !"
said Mr.. Poke; land | wonder what be
is inventing ? Let nobody see it, indeed
| mean to see it. mean to know all
about it. I'll find out what it is by
hook or by crook and when | say that,
l mean it, as you know, Melinda"
Melinda nodded. Mr. Poke had never
been known to scent secret without in
vestigating it. He was the busybody
of the neighborhood. Whatever could
be discovered, Mr.. Poke discovered
promptly. He had no hesitation in lis
tening at key-holes or prying into peo-
pies windows with his opera glass, aud
consequently always had fund of petty
anecdotes. When be set himself to work
to find out what bis neighbor was at work
upon. il was ten chances to one that he
would discover it. Especially as the
inventors house was no castle, but
rckety little building as seedy as him
self Inventors are seldom prosperous,
we'll brushed. well-fed people Neces-
sity has often been said to be the mother
of invention, but it is painfully appar-
ent that invention is often the mother
of necessity.
The seedy old gentleman worked away
upon something that required great deal
of hammering. He rushed in and out,
and came back with packages in the
dark gray paper used in hardware stores
Iron rods arrived one day 10 a hand
wagon but though Mr.. Poke noticed
all this he was no nearer the point than
before.
"He keeps his curtains down." said
this gentleman, in offended tones, land
shuts his shutters before he lights his
lamps, Melinda; but ! am not going to
be baffied. | intend to call on him.
"He meyer lets any one in, Priam,"
said Melinda.
He shall let me ill.," said priam,
"and I'll say to him, Just show me this
thing OF yours I'll make. him do it.
I've broken my neck stretching il out Of
the window, and caught cold in my head
peeping over the fence in the back gar
den, and | won't be bafiled, after all.
I'll call this week. Act Of politeDess (;
can't be offended--eh p
y don't know" said Melinda "He's
an inventor and an inide wouldn't
risk it,"
but | will, q" said Priam.
That evening, as Maggie, Miss Me-
linda's little servant girl, was returning
home from the bakers, with yeast ia
pitcher, long, gaunt hand came sud-
denly down upon her shoulders, aud
voice said
stop a minute; want to talk to
you"
"Ob, Lor' " cried Maggie: but look
ing up, she saw the face of the next
door neighbor looking pleasantly at her.
You've scared Inc TO death aud split
half the yeast, SIR" said she.
Sorry" said the man Look here.
What's that r.
"A twenty-five cent piece, replied
Maggie.
80
"Pnt y IN yoaF pocket and answer
NE few question: said the next door
neighbor.
"Yes, SIR" said Maggie.
who is that little man with the long
nose who lives next door 10 NE. aud why
is he always at my fence or my window
What causes lin to feel such anxiety
about my affairs, do you know y