The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-17

great Olee. ''OI6V6r C0ap IndU! IN
commonly clever chapr he muttered tC
himself ''He's quite right. Young
Brownsmith did give up travelling; and
if he hadn't, he wouldn't be one of the
richest men in the county, as he is now. .
He rang the bell for the waiter When
the men appeared, the little old fellow
said: ssWhat time does Mr.. Hicks start
upon business in the morning ?'
"Well, 'ardly know, sir, /" replied the
waiter. "You see, he don't come here
reg lar-in fact / can't call to mind
hever 'avin' seen him before. But the
gents mostly goes out about ten O clock. y
"Tell the boots to call me at seven,
will you?" said the old gentleman; and
taking his candle, he went to bed.
The next forenoon, Mr.. Hicks saun-
tered maiestically forth from the inn
upon a round of visits; and as he walked
along he seemed absorbed in the CON
temptation of his own figure in the shop
windows, as if anticipating with no small
degree of pleasure the sensation such a
representative of Hooker & Smoker
would make in the shops of the humble
tradesmen. He entered the establish
VI NlIs w lllOW, WIZ octlu upOn Ills
door that he was patronized by the Royal
Family, but assuredly not to a fifth part
of the manner in which he was patronized
by Mr.. Hicks.
Anything in our way, Mr.. WillowP''
said the great man, condescendingly.
Hooker & Smoker, you know"
Nothing for Hooker & Snooker," res
piled Mr.. Willow, solemnly. i
s'Nothing, Mr.. Willow, nothing. are
| you-qu1te surep'' asked Mr.. Hicks, some
what astonished.
GIVE said nothing, l think, said Mr..
Willow. ''Pm busy. Please, go away,
there's good man"
, Mr.. Hicks left the shop SLOWLY and
wonderingly. Surely" he thought, as
he waddled on to his next customer
''surely, no ones been interfering with
Hooker & Smoker. No orders from
Willow! It's unaccountable.
He entered the shop of Mr.. Burs-
lem, who, not being patrolized by
Royalty, preferred not to be patron
lied by one, and who had The repu-
tation of being curt, sharp, short
man of business. Mr.. HicEs entered,
and on the principle that time is money,
did not detail his business, merely in
Dictated the name of Hooker & Smoker,
and stood with disorder book ready
open.
Nothing at all, my good man." said
Mr.. Burslem-''nothing al all-Good-
| morningn'
Nothing att began Mr.. Hicks,
| fairly bewildered.
"No; nothing at all. Good-morning,"
put in Mr.. Burslem, so that there was
nothing to be done but to return the
wish ruefully and go out.
s'Now there is something wrong"
said Mr.. Hicks to himself, as he stood
on the pavement outside Mr.. Burslem's
door. my two best customers, and no
orders! l never knew it before, never!
Who can it be? Young Jones was here
two months back and got forty pound
odd in orders. And |, Joseph Hicks,
the chief traveller to Hooker q Smoker,
am told that there's nothing for me!
"My good man, ;" too, forsooth! Unjust
try Mr.. Cole"
He entered Mr. Coles shop. Mr..
Cole was not there, but appeared in a
few minutes. Mr.. Hicks went through
his formula. Mr.. Cole replied imme-
diately: mot to-day, Hooker Il Smoker.
I'm supplied"
"Suppliedr' almost shrieked Mr..
Hicks.
Eyes, suppledr' said Mr.. Cole, but
not syllable more.
Mr.. Hicks was now fairly reused.
Suddenly, the recollection of his tale in
the Commercial Room on the preceding
evening flashed before him. Could some
of the young fellows have been playing
him trick similar in nature to that
which he had played so many years be-
fore on young Brownsmith? Sitting
his anger and modification as best he
could he strobe on to the shop of his last
customer, 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 APP
peal, "will you tell me if any one has
been before me, and has done the bust
ness which hitherto Hooker e. Smoker
have performed for youp"
I1OOhCl w OHOOh6r SJlll uO our DuSl-
ness" said Mr.. Ironstone.
"Well, but represent 'em," said Mr..
Hicks.
Come, come" said the dealer, sooth-
ingly, as if he was speaking to child;
"don't take up my time, there's good
fellow. I've told you that have no or
ders, so 60 away quietly, or 1 shall be
obliged to call your keeper
"My whatp My keeperr' roared Mr..
Hicks. "What do you mean, sirp''
Surely you don't think I'm lunaticP'
81 dent think it; Pm sure of i'll
baoo0 it, replied Mr.. Ironstone, and
coming round the counterhe 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 felt that with little
more he would actually be out of his
mind. Then he strobe back to the inn,
resolved to make a terrible example of
the plotters that evening.
He was very moody and silent at
dinner, 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. Afterwards, when,
according to custom, the chairs were
, drawn round the fire and the best part
of the day begun, Mr.. Hicks rose