The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-28
In q Tight Fix.

1t was the beginning of summer va
cation and windy day. If it had not
been windy day probably the events to
be related would not have occurred for
it was the wind that upset wooden
dummy in front of Ketchum Brothers
clothing store; and it was this catastrophe
that gave Tom Williams a new idea. He
was leaning against lamp.post on the
opposite side of the street considering
how he ought to spend his vacation and
wishing he owned bicycle; when he
saw the dummy fall, besmearing the suit
of clothes on it with dust, the thought
popped into his head that he might ask
the proprietors of the store to hire him to
take the dummy's place. He would do
it for small wages and keep the clothes
that were exhibited from getting soiled.
The money he earned would buy him a
bicycle perhaps.
In less than half-hour after this idea
had taken possession of Toms head he
was standing between two other dunn
mics, wire ones, behind the plate.glass of
Ketchum Brothers attractive window
with placard on him which bore the
legend, "This nobby suit $12." The
affair had been arranged 80 easily, the
manager of the store had struck bargain
with him so spontaneously, and he had
been boosted up before the window 80
speedily that his wits were rather con-
fused. He had intended to stand out.of-
doors, where there was plenty of room !;
but the manager preferred to put him in
the window. When the people on the
sidewalk began to linger at the window
and stare at him he was rather glad that
he was inside. Somebody might come
along who knew him, he reflected and
the thought startled him--his big brother
John mi ght spy him out. He meant to
turn his back instantly if he saw any one
he knew looking in.
But no one looked in whom Tom ever
saw before. All that day and the next
only strangers appeared at the window
And on the third day of the undertaking
the manager of the store took fancy to
dress him in girls clothes. In this dis.
guise his own mother would not have
guessed who he was. So he soon became
careless of his secret and stared recklessly
at everybody. A great many glanced in
at the clothes on the dummies, and at the
display in general; little girls in particu-
lar, with their mammas, stopped to ad-
mire his dress; and boys now and then
took the liberty to wink at him or make
faces.
Everything would have gone on all
right, and Tom would probably have
earned the money for bicycle, if he had
not committed slight indiscretion. 1t
happened that he had not been arrayed in
girls clothes a great while when boy
named Seth Chopper came along, and
halted before the window. At sight OF
him Tom Immediately became excited
Seth had borrowed his jack knife-a first
rate one, with five blades-when theS
went to school together nearly year be
fore, and had carried it off with him. He
had never seen him since, and he might
never see him again. In fact, without
stopping to think definitely what he was
doing, he stepped down from the window
lodged behind pile of clothing on q
counter, and then the next moment stole
out OF the wide, open door near at hand
de saw Seth sauntering down the avenue
half a block away, and hurried after him
"Look here, Seth Cropper," he said
selling him by the arm and trying to re-
cover his breath. "I've been looking TO-
you this long while. I want that knit,
of mine you've got"
Seth turned red and looked puzzled
"Who are you haven't got any knit,
Of yours. Let 60 of my Jacket 4" he said
rather savagely.
an let go of you when you give m,
my knife and not before" Tom answered
tightening his grip. "You know wei
enough who am, l guess"
Several persons passing along stopped
to find out what the trouble was. In
minute there was quite crowd, and
policeman across the way began to NOV
leisurely in their direction.