The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-18

Of Hooker ilsynoo Eer, and stood With
his Q: deI-book ready open. & 4
Nothing at all, my good man. said
MI. Burslem, nothing at all. Good
!, Nothing at 9 began Mr.. Hicks, fari-
ly bewildered. g -
Mr.. hicks was now fairly reused. Sud.
denly, the recollection of his tale in the
commercial room on the preceding eve-
ming flashed, before him. Gould some Of
the young fellows have been playing him
2 trick similar in nature to that which
he had played so many years before on
young Brownsmith? Sitting his anger
and modification as best he could he
strobe on to the shop of his last custo-
iner. Mr.. Ironstone.
Nothing to-day, Hooker & Snooker,"
said Mr.. Ironstone, before Mr.. Hicks
could put the question.
Mr.. Ironstone," said the astonished
Hicks. in an almost pathetic tone of ap.
peal, "will you tell me if any one has
been here before me and has done the
business which hitherto Hooker &
Smoker have performed for you?"
Hooker & Smoker still do our BUSH
ness" said Mr.. Ironstone.
well, but represent 'em," said Mr..
Hicks.
"Come come," said the dealer sooth-
ingly as if he were speaking to child /;
don't take up my time; there's good
fellow. I've told you that have no or
ders. SO 60 20 away quietly, or shall be
obliged to call your keeper"
my what? Ny keeper!" roared Mr..
Hicks. What do you mean sir? Sure
ly you don't think am lunatic?"
II don't think it; know it," replied
Mr.. Ironstone, and coming round the
counter, he gently took Mr.. Hicks by
the arm led him from the shop, and
shut the door after him.
Mr.. Hicks stood as one dazed for some
seconds. The buildings seemed to reel
around him, and he fell that with a little
more he would actually be out of his
mind. Then he strobe back to the inn,
resolved to make terrible example OF
the plotters that evening.
He was very moody and silent at din
ner, and the young fellows saw that
something had gone wrong with him, as
he scowled terribly over his food, and
only answered with fierce grunts the
questions put to him. Afterward, when,
according to custom, the chairs were
drawn round the fire and the best part
of the day begun, Mr.. Hicks rose majes-
tically and assuming his usual position
in front of the fire, prefaced his thun-
ders with loud "Ahemw
gentleman, it is with regret, strongly
mixed with disgust, that am forced to
address you upon certain subject-up-
on a subject which is as disagreeable to
me as it must be humilating to such OF
you as are concerned. In Snort, some
of you. taking mean advantage of my
attempt to amuse you last night, ave
been playing Inc undr'and trick"
The gentlemen thus addressed took
their pipes from their mouths and gazed
at Mr.. Hicks with amazement.
He continued: "The day for that sort
of thing has gone by, and it ill becomes
members of an honored profession to
indulge in tricks of which schoolboy
would be ashamed. To be plain with
you, gentlemen, I have been passed of
in the town as lunatic, and consequent
ly have found the doors of my most i'm
portant customers shut against me.''
In spite of the serious manner in
which Mr.. Hicks spoke there was a
very perceptible singer on the faces of
the young men around him, which he
was not slow to observe.
II see nothing to laugh at in it, gem
tlemen," he continued, supervising with
difficulty his rising wrath; ''in fact, there
are some of you who will probably have
very good reasons for regrettin' it when
l tell you that. unless I lind out which
of you is the offender, shall write to
your respective governors with view
OF having the matter thoroughly gone
into"
One and ell declared that they were
utterly ignorant of the matter, and with
such energetic protestatiens against the
iniquity OF the trick, that Mr.. Hicks
was forced to believe them.
was writing at the side table last night
knows something about it," suggested
Mr.. Hicks rang the bell for the waiter.
Waiter" he said, sis the gentleman
who came in here from the cofee-room
last night in the 'ouse?"
"Mr. Brownsmith, sir-O, no, sir; he
went away this mornin'; and he gave
me this note to give to you, not before
this evenin'," replied the waiter.
"Mr. Brownsmith! Is that his name?"
cried Hicks, in a faint voice.
eyes, sir" answered the waiter. "He
owns half the town, sir, and was here
looking after his property"
Mr.: Hicks opened the note and read
as follows:
My Dear Sir: You were good enough,
some forty years ago, to play me trick
which might have ruined any other man
for life, or at least have retarded his pro-
gress very seriously. I am not very vim
dictive; but never forgave you for it,
more especially as have had no op.
Portunity Of repaying you, We are at
last quits. You are beyond the reach of
actual harm now, as I presume you havo
feathered your nest pretty comfortably
in forty years; but az man is never too
old to learn lesson, hope by the re-
turn trick I have pl tyed you this morn
ing that you have learned one. I am, sir,
your obedient servant,
SAMUEL BRowNsM1TH.
-Chambers' Journal
Ignorance of Mexicans as to Com