Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-13
Told DUMPS"
New York News.l


when he came in and say:
@Good morning, gentlemen. trust see
you all in good health this fine day" Aud
some Of the boys would grin and some
would nod-and some wouldn't do any.
thing; but never could help standing up
and bowling, perhaps because l knew that
my mother woull have said / ought to
do it.
To he sure, he was only on salary like our
selves, but had been at Rock & Burton's
twenty-five years, and young fellows had
come and gone. and there he was And,
you see, it was gentlemanly Of him, said
and if he was little snuff -colored creature,
with a queer little wig, why. he looked
somehow like u gentleman, too
said SO once to Merrivale, next desk to
mine; but-well-I didn't try it again.
You see Merrivale was up to everything,
dressed elegantly. sneered at everything,
almost, and I'd coma from country town
and he was city man.
Nobody was down on "Old DUMPS as
he was, especially after he made US that
speech about our conduct TO the ladies'
Dumps made the speech, You know; and it
was Merrivale who said tie lady 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 aud hurried
cut, And Dumps, with his brown wig and
stiff ways, looked to me like the gentleman
that day; and Merrivale with his fine curl
ing hair and black mus.ache and broad
shoulders, like the puppy.
"The man who calls blush to the cheek
Of a good woman by look or tone must have
forgotten his mother" said Old Dumps
@When that lady asked you civil question,
she relied on her belief that you were gen
tleman, Mr.. Merrivale. When you answerei
her as you did aud spoke of her as you did
any one could read your insulting thoughts,
Mr.. Merrivale. and you did not even rise
from your seat, sir. You proved that shs
was very much mistaken"
Mean to say 1 am no gentlemanP said
Merrivale.
an this instance, sir" said Old Dumps,
you certainly have not conducted yourself
as one should
Merrivals pulled his coat half off and
pulled it on again.
"Pshaw,' said he, Hhe knows he's safe.
Thered be no fun in knocking down an old
bag Of bones like that. 1 could do it with
my little finger. But you attend to your
own business, will you, Old Dumps, | can
behave myself without your dvice, and
that amt the first woman that's coms in
just for q sort Of Irritation Pm usel to that
sort of thing. | am"
"Mr. Dumps is right this tima,- said l.
"BahT said Merrivaie you're from the
country
THANK God for it, then, my young
FRIEND" said Dumps, and sat down.
After that Merrivale was never even half
way civil to Dumps, and this boys followed
Merrivale's lead. But liked the other fell
low When we met in the street I'd take
off my hat and shake hahis, and say some
OF those polite things that mother use to
teach me to say
Who were the boysl Why, there was
Merrivale, with his darling airs and his way
of letting you know that he was favorite
with the women. And Carberry, who didn't
care about style, but knew the city. And
Grab, who was hard and shrewd and smart,
and had stocks of his own already. And
Slower, who used to come with red eyes and
headaches, and boast that he had been
making night Of it.
| was lonely enough in the great city, and
should have liked to have joined company
with Dumps and walk home with him from
church sometimes, but l was afraid of meet.
ing one of the boys, AMI l never did But |
would bow to him, and we took our ats of
to each other always.
l had written TO my mother that was do
ing well and liked my business, AMI would
be down to see her on Sunday, when I was
sent for to go into the inner Office; and there
Il can't go through with i'll can't even
remember certain details; but ! was charged
with being a thief
You'd have to understand cur particular
business, as well as bookkeeping, to know
how l was supposed to have done it; but
they believed had robbed them of $500.
They urged me to confess. | was limo
cent, and said 50. Then they told me that
they did not wish to be hard on me. |
was young. The city was bad place for
boys. They would be merciful and only
dismiss me. Only dis miss me without
All could say had 10 effect They had
proved me guilty before they accused me,
they said; and at last staggered out into
the of1ise The boys were getting ready to
go home. saw they knew what had hap
pened.
None of you believed this of me- said /.
@None OF you who know mei'
And Merrivale said: Look here, For
roster, you're very lucky to get off so' And
Carberry said: @Now, come. we know too
much to be fooled. It's always your sly
boots of good young man that does these
'ort of things" And Grab said: Il say,
don't talk too much; you'll give
Tourself away" And Slower said: ooh, go
AXE glass Of brandy and water. and don't
70 on like girl about it.
And what with shame and rage and
.rief, could have died. when out Of his
husky corner cane little old Dumps, in his
title snuff colored overcoat, and held out
lis hand.
"Mr. Forester" he said. awe watched
Iou ever since you've been here. | know
what you are. You are incapable of a dis
lonest act, and, what is more, I will prove
t before l rest. The man who respects
theirs always respects himself The man |
Who reverences God and honors his mother
will do no dishonorable thing
He took my hani in his arm, and, bowling |
o the others, walked cut into the street |
With NE heard Grab and Slower and |
,arberry laugh, but Merrivale gave Us a
urious lcok and stood, white to the lips,
ooking after US.
MIR. Dumps" said |, y than, you for
our confidence in me. l deserve it-in
his, at least; but it saves my heart from
reaking under this disgrace How shall
tell my mother.'
"Don't tell her vet,' said he. AWAIT.
'thers shall think of You as do soon'
Then he went on in silence Hs took me
, his own room, where he kept bachelos's
all. He made tee for me and served me
18th sliced potted beef aad thin bread and
utter.
The room was q strange, old fashioned
lace, enough like o room in story, and
here was the miniature Of young lady in
10 costume OF forty years before on the
all over the manter; and on book-shelves,
ID, calf-bound volumes, and on a stand
sar the fire prayer-book with the book
lark hanging from it.
And it was not until we had zone tea that
, said to me very alphabetically, after
nd called him Mr. Dumps:
Mr.. Forester. excuse me, but am not
amed Dumps. That Is the name by which |
10 young men at tb, store considered it
itty to call me. l cInfsSs / couli not sea
he wit; but it rather hort tbs n than inz,
saw by your manner that you had made e
istaks. Ny name is Adams
was SO much ashamed of having used
10 nickname, innocently as did it, that
,uld have cried.
But my old friend comfortsi me. Think
1t for his sympathy that night shouli
I've taken my own life. Ibid not believe
} could help me even then.
But he dill. | said I could not tell YOU
st what they accused me of doing unless ,
III knew the ins and outs Of our business,
I'd can't tel, you how he dill it for the
me reason Bnt one day he came to me,
lshed with triumph. and took both my
nds and shook them hard, and said
my dear boy, it's all right. I'd watched
fore and hal clew. Your character i
Jared. The firm welcoms you back with ,
yrets that they should have suspected you, ,
d the real culprit is found The real cul-
it is Merrivale, aud Slower is his accom- :
cen |
And so it really wa. They had doctored u
7 books AMI meddlei with my proofs. ~
eyd made me cut a thief as plainly =, !.
ough hal been one, and they neYei :,
essed that -Old Dumps,' with his sus- =
ions ali aroused, had played detective,
1 was able to come to my rescue at the :,
lr of need. IL
went back to my situation, AMI I've got -
well ever since; but there's more of my
ry. Think of my dear Old Dumps turn =
out to be my uncle-my mothers own T,