Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-02
claimed Frank. "I'll look out for the
old man next time.n

Cldtnlcu rank. III look out I0k tue
old man next time"
A very serious mistake, that night.
Toppleton thought somebody was
making. Almost all Of his clerks had
left. CHANGING to look out of his
countingroom, he saw an arm that,
/ reaching round the corner Of set Of
shelves on which were expensive
broadcloths, abstracted q fragment
and then was quickly withdrawn.
Indeed u thought Toppleton.--
THAT was neat operation Look
here What did | see on that arm. or
the wrist, rather :? something blue p
Humph I"
The next day the clerks wondered
why Toppleton seemed to be bowing
so much when near them, STOPPING
down to the level of their hands.
"Funny?" said Jim Blake. "I
thought Toppleton would turn canni-
bal and eat my hands to-day"
II thought he was going of with
nv sleeve-buttons," remarked Frank.
HE said they were pretty pattern,
and eyed them covetously."
Toppleton himself said. "If that
thief is round tonight, fishing cloth
off from that shelf, be may have an
unexpected biten
That night, when almost all the
clerks had left the store, that same
arm began to slyly fish round the cor
ner of the shelves on which were sort
ed the expensive cloths, and there
was indeed and unexpected bite."-
1t was vigorously grabbed by some-
body hidden under the counter. When
the fisherman" and his game" were
brought face to face, Frank Thomp-
con saw Toppleton on the end OF his
line 1t was the last day that Frank
had chance to "fsh" or do any work
in Toppleton's store.
The next evening Dave Baldwin
said to his mother: II am sorry to re-
port that my elbows show rent, not
in the patches, but one side.'
Don't you worry. saw 1t was
| giving way when l put the patches
on, but | couldn't mend it then. I'll
slip needle through it in jiffy. Let
me take it now"
! What shall put on p
"Oh--o oh throw on my sack, if
you can't do better You needn t be
ashamed of it. It's paid for" said
the debt-hating mother.
Good evening"
It was o mans voice. In aston
ishment Dave aud Mother Baldwin
looked up.
Excuse me. You did not seem to
hear my rap at the front door, and as
it was open / thought / would step
in and say here-but excuse me"
Its Toppleton ~ whispered Dave.
"Dear Dear mel Let me get
behind you! No, | won't !" Then
Dave came forward. boldly and man.
fully, arrayed in bis mothers sack.
Mother, this is Mr.. Toppleton-
II was just mending his coat, and he
---he-n
"Oh, no apologies, madam, "said Mr.
Toppleton, grinning and rubbing bic
hands. 81 couldn't help hearing you
say it was paid for, and that is not q
bad motto to follow--to pay for what
you buy as soon as possible. | wish
one of my clerks had followed that
rule; but / suppose you know about
it, and / won't say anything more on
that point / came to say that |
thought young David was q trusty
boy, and | would like to promote him.
There is an open place In higher de-
| partment. and he is welcome to it."
They next day Dave took bis new
position in the store. Various expla-
nations were given by his fellow
clerks.
There, +" said Jim Blake, +" II can
explain it ALL 1t is owning to the
fact that Toppleton heard our talk in
the store about patched elbows |
mean to put patch on mine right
of"
He did not by any means, but the
next week bought an expensive suit
which, at the end of two years, be
had not paid for
Practicing ssBusIness Principles,