Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-03-09
A BARRIERS STORY.

AZ q SOAtoiS "OS0As PoPSA,
out such items of news as are not OF
interest enough to give otfense to any
body Such, at any rate, is the com
mon talk of the place; though the
editor might be able to give no better
excuse than lack of enterprise for
emitting any mention of an affair
which, as l learned from barber.
made n local sensation, but did not
get into print.
This barber was himself but little
given to gossiping. On the contrary,
he was SO backward in expressing his
opinion, even when asked for it. that
stranger might doubt whether he
kept himself posted on the most IA
miliar topics of the day. Having
been his customer for several months.
I learned that he carefully needed
whatever took place under his notice.
1t became natural for me to suppose,
therefore, that his memory was stored
with interesting anecdotes and scraps
of local history.
A chance remark dropped one day
led him to recount some incidents III
a way which showed that my notion
of his capacity was not ill-founded.
1t was at the time raining drizzly
sleet that beat against the windows
to dismal strain. There was no GUS
tomer beside myself present. and be-
ing made to feel little uncomfort
able by the cheerlessness of the scene,
1 wanted to say something, and made
a remark like this:
Your craft has one advantage over
others. You have the genteel part OF
the town completely under youl
thumb"
"A large part Of it, that's a fact,
he said. without showing that he fel,
in the least fattered. And you may
say, beside, that many of a differen,
kind of people are our customers"
His snail, keen eyes moved quickly
from one object to another, seeming
not to rest except in the intervals
when he was intent ON the most par
ticular part of his work. He seemed
to be trying to recall something which
had escaped his memory. Having
hit upon the idea which he had ap-
paren.ly been puzzling to recall, he
said:
Il will give you case to show that
this is true: 1t was already growing
dark, one lowery afternoon, when ]
thought Of closing the shop, not hav-
ing had much custom all day. A GUS
toner came in, though, before I got
ready to go home. He was as sleeky-
appearing little fellow as ever got
into BARRIERS chair and asked to be
shaved chubby. smooth-faced, with
chin streaked in way to put a
notion of charcoal dust in my mind
/ did not notice any unmistakable
sign Of down upon the lip, but sup
posing the youth was ambitious to en-
courage the growth of aforesaid ar
ticle by frequent shaving, was will
ing to do what / could to help the
matter. When the job was done and
paid for, my customer proceeded to
smoke a cigar, at the same time offer
ing me one, which l took and lighted
from that of the polite stranger.
Before shutting up the place fol
the night l desired to look at my
watch, which, was surprised to learn
had been taken from my pocket while
I was in the act of lighting the cigar
I felt satisfied that the weed was given
to me On purpose to take up my at
tention, so that pocket picking might
be easy. That sort of experience has
taught me to be careful about taking
gifts from strangers. One act of this
person attracted my particular notice
and hat was the use of a hand bill
as cigar light. 1t was an advertise
mont of reward for the arrest of an
escaped burglar, and could not help
noticing the nervous way in which
my customer tore down the little
poster from the wall, and twisted il
into shape for lighting his cigar.
My efforts to have the thief over
taken were not successful. / did not
get my watch back, but I had the sat
isfaction of finding out the cause OF
the singular beard, or rather lack OF
beard, on the rogue's face. The pick
pocket proved to be woman in pan
falcons, and getting shaved was q
mere ruse to deceive me as well as
others who were on the lookout fol-
her. You may think it strange that
did not discover her sex, as 1 have
often thought to myself Twas nearly
dusk when she came. and 1 was in
something of hurry to get my work
done without lighting lamps; beside
it was storming and the wind blew
hard, which may have helped to CLOAK
the natural tones of her voice; though
not over ten words passed between
us, I should say"
He strapped his razor mechanically
in way BARRIERS have. and then RAJ
his thumb thoughtfully along the
keen edge of the highly polished
steel. After giving the razor strap q
few final strokes, and striking the
palm of his hand once or twice with
its broad blade. he proceeded with
his work. at the same taking up again
the thread of his narrative with an
earnestness which gave promise OF
heightened interest.
Il had given up hope of hearing
from the jade again." he continued
when 1 got satisfaction in knowing
that Justice at last had a reckoning
with her. 1t was two or three years
after the affair of pocket picking that
l had a notice served on me to at
tend court. People at the time were
looking forward to one trial with q
great deal of interest. A thief. guilty
of many daring crimes, had been
caught 10y the bravery Of clever
woman. He was to be tried together
with an accomplice. They had I'M,
dertaken to rob n rich live stock
buyer. This cattle buyer often made
a trip in the country among farmers
and te was in the habit of drawing
money from his banker the day be
fore. in order to take an early start
His house was fully half a mile away
from any other. and his family was
made up of his wife and child-a do
mestic but lately taken into their ser
vice being the only person residing
with them.