Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-04-04

sure you. In fact, I'm not sure that.
not being traveller, I ought not to apol-
oglze to you for coming into the com
merclal room; but the fact is the fire in
the coffee-room has gone out, ana the
waiter said he thought you would not
mind me coming in here"
"Qulte welcome, sir, quite welcome, "
said Mr.. Hicks with almost monarchical
grandeur. "It's against custom, know,
tor strangers to enter the commercial
room; but under the circumstances. I
don't think We'll mind. Will we, gentle
men?"
The gentlemen chorusei that thew
didn't mind; SO the little man proceeded
with his writing, and Mr.. Hicks with his
tale.
swell, as was saying, gents, made
up my mind to take this young Brown
smith down peg or two. So what do
you think does? I goes to the stables.
and | says to the hostler: "Bill, if you'll
get Mr.. Brownsmith's cob aud gig out
OF the way the first thing Tomorrow
morning, and VIXEN he orders them, say
you're very sorry, but you've let them
out to another gent by mistake, here's
sovereign for you. OF course, it was
worth good deal more than sovereign
to me to get the young chap out of the
way, for saw he was pretty cute, an1 I
knew he would be after my customers,
But that amt all; for I knew it was the
easiest thing in the world for him to hire
another cob and gig until his own was
J returned. So 1 goes down into the hall
; very late that night, where all the bags
was-bags in those days were very much
more alike than they are now, and used
to be chalked with the numbers of their
owners rooms to distinguish them-and
l quietly yubs out his number and puts
him on to another lot of bags, so that if
he did start he'd find himself in a hole.
and mistake. Next morning I was
uncommonly hatfable with him at break
fast, pretending, OF course, not to know
he was IN the same line as me; and
starts OFT and does all my business.
When l came back [ fouHd the poor
young chap running about like mad
man. He was satisfied that the gig
business was a mistake; but when he
came to find that another man had gone
Oft with his bags, and had left him with
lot stuffed full Of French frilling, l |
thought he'd have brought the 'ouse
| down. He got the landlord and the ALL !
porter, and the chamoermaids and the |
walters, and he threatened to have 'em |
up before the magistrate; and all the
time l was GRIMM in my sleeve and |
| pretendln' to be as concerned about it as
any one
Swell, and what happened % asked
one of the audience as the speaker
paused.
"What 'appened? Well, I'll tell
you,' replied Mr.. Hicks. 8. The gent
who had taken Brownsmith's bags BY
mistake for his own 'ad gone off to asst
lngs, and there was nothing to do but
to wait till he came back. And when
the gent did come back, you can mag
Inc that there was pretty row in the
place, in which of course I joined, say.
ing that it was disgraceful thing, and
threatened the landlord that I'd take nv
custom over to the other 'otel if better
watch wasn't kept for the future. The s
poor young fellow took it very ard, he
did; and when ne got bis gig and bags
and went round the next morning. and =
found that all the business had been =
done, he came back, and he sat down in ,
that corner there and told me it would
ruin him, cause it was his first lob for ,
Stokes & Nokes, and he was on trial." r
Weren't you very sorry you'd done :
it % asked one of the party.
"Me sorry % said Mr.. Hicks with
contempt. "Not me. Ais fail in love. +
war and commerce; and if hadn't done y
it, he'd have done me by cutting me out f
Of lot O. business. As it was I never r
set eye on him again, and I've card he o
got the sack from Stokes & Nokes,
Sorry? Not me!' a
There was an expression on the faces q
Of some of the young men as if they o
thought it was rather low trick; but
they made no remarks, and after some Il
further conversation, general yawning Y
and knocking out OF pipes and draining Il
If glasses proclaimed the hour of bed. y
so the great Mr.. Hicks took up his can
lie and Departed; his example was v
quickly followed by the rest, and the n
little old gentleman who had been writ g
rg his letters was left alone.
When the door had osed upon the 81
asst bed-goer he shut up his writing y
case and took up the position in front Of IL
the fire lately occupied by Mr.. Hicks.
Something in the story he mad heard "
seemed to tickle his fancy immensely; Il
or he stood there chuckllug t. himself e,
md rubbing his hands as if ia great
5leer "Clever chap that Uncommon n
y clever chap !" he muttereu to him.
self. Hes quite right. Young Brown o
smith did give up travelling; and if he lc
hadn't, he wouldn't be one Of the richest
men in the country, as he is now" O:
He rang the bell for the waiter. When
he man appeared the little old fellow sc
aid: "What time does Mr.. Hicks start m
lpon business in the morning p at
swell, 1 'ardly know, sir, replied ~ %,
he waiter. "You see, he don't come h;
lere reg-lar-in fact, can't call to mind al
avin' seen him before. But the gents &C
Mostly goes ont about 10 O'Clock. Ell
Tell the bouts to call me at seven, y
will you?" said the old gentleman; and pl
aking his candle, he went to bed. OF
The next fJreDOon Mr.. Hicks saunte1ed
najestically forth from the inn upon a
ound of visits; and as he walked along
10 seemed absorbed in the contempla-
ion OF his own figure III the shop win II II
lows, as if anticipating with DO small de- z
rec of pleasure the sensation such y
representative of Hooker & Smoker n
ould make in the shops Of the humber =,
radesmen. He entered the establish IL
aent of Mr.. Willow, who said upon his Ia Ia
oor that he was patron1z ID by the 1
toyal Family, but assureuiy not to a VI
nth part OF the manner in which he was u
'atronized by Mr.. Hicks. ST
Anything in our way, Mr.. Willow" a. a!
aid the great man condescendingly. IL
Hooker & Smoker, you know" nj
Nothing for Hooker & Smoker, re- a,
lied Mr.. Willow eolemnly. tn
"Nothing, Mr.. Willow, nothing re
IRE you quite sure?" asked Mr.. Hicks. 81 81
astonished. ID
tive said nothing, think" said Mr.. W
Willow. "I'm busy. Please go away; t t
here's good man." fe
Mr.. Hicks left the shop slowly and NJ NJ
"surely," he thought, u! IN
he waddled on to his next customer, III
surely no ones been interfering with a,
locker & Smoker. No order from Will OF
ow9 Tia nnaocoun&oh1o tn