The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-01-03

| taxing uONn DOOh ultcI oooAp
none Presently he smiled again, and said
that he must be moving on, and very po-
li,.ly thanked Mr.. James for his kindness
"Nowhere," he was so good ms TO say,
docs one get 30 much personal kindness and
attention as at Emblem's Good morning
Mr.. Jame,; good morning, my friend"
| Mr. Jane. grunted, and closed the door
after him.
ugh" he said with disgust. ~ know you |;
| know your likes Want to make your set
complete-ehi Want 10 sneak one OF our
books to do il with, don't youi All" He
looked into the back shop before he returned
u his paste and his slips. That was Mr..
Potts, the great Queen Anne collector, sir.
Most notorious book snatcher in all London,
and tho most barefaced. Wanted our fourth
volume Of the Athenian Oracle ! saw his
eyes reached out this way, and that way,
and always resting on that volume. saw
him edging along to the shelf Got another
odd volume just like il in his wicked old
hand, ready to change when / wasnt look
ingn
his dream OF Iris and her fathers letter;
"Ah, they will try it on. Keep your eyes
open, James"
mo thanks, as usual" grumbled Mr..
James as he returned to his gum and his
scissors Might as well have left him to
snatch thu book"
Here however, James was wrong, be-
cause il is the first duty Of an assistant to
hinder and obstruct the book -snatcher, who
carries on his work by me uhods OF crafty
and fraudulent exchange rather than by
plain theft, which is mere brutal way.
a..t N..la DO 4
he hnds the shop which has a set containing
the volume which Is missing in his own set;
next, he arms himself with volume which
closely resembles the one he covets, and
then, on pref nee Of turning over the leaves.
he watches his opportunity to effect an ex-
change, aud goes away rejoicing, his set
complete No collector, as is very well
known, whether Of books, coins, pictures,
medals, fans, scarabs, book p ates, auto
graphs. stamps, or anything else has any
conscience at all Anybody can cut out
slips and IN Ike catalogue, but it requires
a sharp assistant, with eyes all over his
bead like n spider, to lie always on guard
against this felonious and INSCRIPTIONS
collector
Next there came two school bows together
who asked for and bought crib to Virgil
and then a girl who wanted som. cheap
French reading book. Just as the clock be-
gan 30 strike five Mr.. Emblem lifted his
head and looked up The shop door opened,
and there stepped in. rubbing his shoes on
the mat as il he belonged to the house, an
elderly gentleman OF somewhat singular ap-
pearance He wore n fe2 cap, but was
otherwise dressed as an Fnglishman--in
black frock coat, that is, buttonod up-ex-
cept that his feet were encased in black cloth
shoes so that he went noselessly. His hair
was short and white, and he wore small
white beard; his skin was rather dark
brown; he was, in fact, Hindoo. and his
name was Lala Roy
He nodded gravely to Mr.. James and
walked into the back shop
at goes well,r he asked, with the buy
ing and the selingf
Surely, Lala, surely"
"a quiet way Of buying and selling; a way
fit for one who meditates,n said the Hindoo,
looking round. TELL me, my friend, what
ails the chilii Is she sickP
1.-THE child is well, Lala."
Her mind wandered this morning. She
failed to perceive simple method which !
tried to teach her. feared she might he
ILL.,"
"She is not Ill, my friend, but think her
mind is trt ubled."
"She is woman We are men. There is
nothing in the world that is able to trouble
the mind Of the philosopher"
Nothing said Mr.. Emblem manfully, as
il he, too, was a Disciple Nothing, is there
nowf'
The stoutness of the assertion was sensibly
impaired by the question
mot poverty, which is shadow; nor pain,
which passes; nor the loss OF woman's love,
which is gain; nor fall from greatness-no-
thing. Nevertheless,n his eyes did look
anIiou in spite of his philosophy. this
trouble OF the child-will it be soon be overf'
al hope this evening"" said Mr. Emblem
'Indeed ! am sure that it will he fnised this
evening"
IF the child had mother. or brother,
or any protectors but ourselves, my friend,
we might lea We ner to them But she has
nobody but you and mo- ] am CAD that
she is not ILL.,"
He left Mr. Emblem, and passing through
the door of communication between house
and shop went noiselessIy up the stairs.
One more vistor--unusual FOR so many TO
call on September afternoon. This time
it was younCish man Of thirty or so, who
stepped into the shop with an air of business
and, taking no notice at all Of the assistant,
walked swiftly into tho back shop, and shut
the door behind him.
al thought So" murmured Mr.. James
"After he's been counting up his invest
ments, his lawyer calls More invest
ments.
Mr.. David Chalker was solicitor and, |
according 10 bis friends, who were proud OF
him, a sharp practitioner. He was, in fact, |
one of those members Of the profession who, |
starting with no connection, have to make |
business for themselves This, in London. |
they do by encouraging the county court, |
setting neighbors by the ears lending money |
IN small sums, fomenting quarrels, charging |
and generally making them
olives a blessing and boon to the district
where thev reside But chiefly Mr.. Chalker |
occupied himself with lending money.
.'Now, Mr.. Emblem" he said, not in a |
tone, but as one who warns; now, |
Mr.. Emblem"
Now, Mr.. Chalker," the bookseller re-
,eated mildly.
What are you going 10 do for mer
81 got your usual notice" the old book
,eller began, hesitsting. SIX months ago"
,nuran Won Iii Tbraa SfYv 10 tina |