The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-09-12
OLD DU MPS.


a solemn face and what we thought
ridiculously polite way He'd take
off his hat when he came in and say:
Good morning, gentlemen, l trust I
see you all in good health this fine
day" And some OF the boys would
grin, and some you'd nod-and some
wouldn't do anything; but / never
could help standing up and bowling,
perhaps, because my mother would
have said ought to do it.
To be sure he was only on salary,
like ourselves, but had been at Rock &
BurtOn's twenty-five years ago, and
young fellows had come and gone, and
there he was And it was gentlemanly
OF him, | said; and even if he was a
little snutf-c0lOred creature with q
queer little wig, why, he looked and
could bow ike gentleman, too.
said so once to Merrivale, next
desk to mine; but-well. | didn't try
it again. You see, MerrivaIe was up
to everything, dressed elegantly,
sneered at everything almost, and |
came from a country town and he was
a city man.
Everybody was down on cold
Dumps, as he was called, especially
after he made us that speech about
our conduct to the ladies. Dump
made the speech, you know, and it
was MerrIVale who said the ladv only
came IN to look at him. I'm sure she
really wanted to know the way to the
street she asked for, and how she
colOred and hurried out. And Dumps.
with his brown wig and stiff WAYS.
looked to me ike the gentleman that
day, and Merrivale, with his fine curl
ing hair ard black mustache and
broad shoulders like the puppy.
The man who calls a blush to the
cheek OF good woman by look or
tone must have forgotten his mother"
said Old Dumps.
"When that lady asked you a civil
question she relied on her belief that
you were a gentleman, Mr.. Merrivale.
When you answered her as YOU did. and
spoke OF her as you did, anyone could
read your insulting thoughts. Mr..
Merrivale, and you did not even rise
from your seat, sir. You proved that
she was very much mistaken"
"Nean to say that | am no gentle
man ?" said Merrivale.
In this instance, sir" said Old
Dumps, you certainly have not con
Quoted yourself as one should"
Merrlvale pulled his coat halfway off
and pulled it on again.
"Pshaw !" he said, 'she knows he's
safe. There'd be no fun in knocking
down an old bag Of bones like that. I
could do 1t with my little finger. But
you attend to your own business, will
you, Old Dumps | can behave nv
self without your advice, and that
am the first woman that's come in
Just Tor a sort OF Irritation. I'm used
to Just that sort OF thing. am
''Mr. Dumps IS right this time"
BAH said Nerrivale. "Yon, pc
from the country
Thank God for it, then, my young
friend, said Dumps, and sat down.
Alter that Merrlvale was never even
halfway civil to Dumps and the bows
followed Merrlyale's lead. But I liked
the old fellow. When we met in the
street I'd take off my hat and shake
hands and say some Of those polite
things that mother used to teach me
to say.
Who were the boys? Why, there
was Merrivale, with his darling airs
and his way OF letting you know that
he was a favorite with the ladies.
And Carberry, who didn't care
about style, but knew the city.
And Grab, who was hard andsbrewd
and smart, and had stocks OF his own
already
And Slower, who used to come with
red eyes and headaches and boast that
he'd been making night OF it.
L was lonely enough in the great CITY.
and l should have liked to hayeioined
company with Dumps and walked
home with him from church some.
times, but | was afraid of meeting one
the boys, and never did. Rut !
would bow to him, and we took Our
hats of to each other always.
had written to my mother that I
was doing well and liked my business.
and would be down to see her ON SIM
day, when was sent for to 90 into
the inner office; and there can't 90
through with it can't even remem-
Der details, but | was charged with be
ing thief
You'd have to understand our par
ing, to know how | was su TTCS dc r
had robbed them OF S400 ~ ''''''
They urged me to confess NOS
innocent. and 7 said ~ w. + " O.
told me that they did not wish ~ ~
hard on me. / was vonnq M c;t -,
was bad place for 6ovs 2Tba- T.o,,I!2l
be merciful and only dismiss - ne
Only dismiss 49, my u'S'ills7 me-
incubation. No''''
All could say had no eject rrba,,
had proved me guilty bafors h. ny ":-
cused me, they said ana a. i'll TT
staggered out into tba co. M
BOYS were eatting ,aa5I- - ~ - noI ! nc
saw that they knew wbaf I had IN Ia%.