Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-02

REiduou1 was hs assistance. But the
visitor, accepting these attentions ~ II they
we're customary, and tho result OF high
breeding, went slowly round the shelves,
taking down book after book, but buying
none. Presently he smiled again, and said
that he must be moving on, and very po-
itely thanked Mr.. James for his kindness.
'Nowhere,n he was SO good as to say,
"does one get so much personal kindness and
attention as at Emblem'A Good morning,
Mr.. James; good morning, my friend"
Mr.. James grunted, and closed the door
after him.
"Ughg he said with disgust, ~ know you:
l know your likes Want to make your set
complete-ehl Want to sneak one Of our
books to do ii with, don't youl All" He
looked into the back shop before he returned
to his paste and his slips. THAT was Mr..
Potts, the great Queen Anne collector, sir.
Most notorious book-snatcher in all London.
and the 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 edzing along to the shelf. Got another
odd volume just like it in his wicked old
hand, ready to change when l wasn't look
ing"
"Ah," said Mr.. Emblem, waking up from
his dream Of Iris and her fathers letter;
'Ah, they will try 1t on Keep your eyes
open, James"
mo thanks, as usual" grumbled Mr..
James as he returned to his gum and his
scissors might as we'll have left him to
snatch the book"
Here, however, James was wrong, be-
cause it is the first duty of an assistant to
hinder and obstruct the ~book-snatcher, who
carries on his work by methods of crafty
and fraudulent exchange rather than bY
plain theft, which is a mere brutal way.
For, first, the b~ook-snatcher marks his prey;
he finds the shop which has a set containing
the volume which is missing in his W set;
next, he arms himself with q volume which
closely resembles the one he covets, and
then, on pretence 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 we'll
known, whether Of books, coins, pictures,
medals, fans, scarabs, book-plates, auto
graphs, stamps, or anything else, has any
conscience at all. Anybody can cut out
slips and make a catalogue, but it requires
u SudID R5SlSbdlb1 Win OyO5 III ONOL uN
head like a spider, to be always on guard
against this felonious and INSCRIPTIONS
collector.
Next there came two school boys together
who asked for and bought a crib to Virgil,
and then a girl who wanted some cheap
French reading book. Just as the clock be-
gan to 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 if he belonged to the house, an
elderly gentleman of 'some what singular APP
pearance. He wore q fez cap, but was
otherwise dressed as an Englishman-in
black frock coat that is, buttoned up-ex-
cept that his feet were encased in black cloth
shoes, SO that he went noiselesslY. His hair
was short and white, and he wore a small
white beard; his skin was a rather dark
brown; he was, in fact, a Hindoo, and his
name was Lala Roy.
He nodded gravely to Mr.. James and
walked into the back shop.
'It goes we'll" he asked, with the buy
ing and the selling9"
"Surely, Lala, surely"
IA quiet way of buying and selling; q way
ft for one who meditates," said the Hindoo,
looking round. "Tell me, my friend, what
sils the child! Is she sickW
''The child is well, Lala."
"Her mind wandered this morning. She
failed to perceive a simple method which l
tried to teach her. l feared she might be
ill.,
"She is not i'll, my friend, but l think her
mind is troubled"
''She is a 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
ifhe, too, was disciple. Nothing; is there
nowP'
The stoutness Of the assertion was sensibly
impaired by the question.
"Notpoverty, which is a shadow; nor pain,
which passes; nor the loss of woman's love,
which is a gain; nor fall from greatness-no-
thing. Nevertheless" his eyes did look
anxious in spite of his philosophy, 'this
trouble Of the child-will it be soon be overY'
II hope this evening"" said Mr.. Emblem.
"Indeed l am sure that it will be lnised this
evening"
IF the child had a mother. or a brother,
or any protectors but ourselves, my friend,
we might leave her to them. But she has
uopO1y OuO YOU duu Lue. 1 du Blau Ulab
she is not ill.n
He left Mr.. Emblem, and passing through
the door of communication between house
and shop, went noiselessly up the stairs.
One more visitor-unusual for SO many to
call on a September afternoon. This time
it was a youngish 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 the back shop, and shut
the door behind him.
81 thought So" murmured Mr.. James.
"After he's been counting up his invest
ments, his lawyer calls. More invest
ments."
Mr.. David Chalker was a solicitor and,
according to 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 q%uarrels, charging
commissions, and generally making them
selves a blessing and a boon to the district
where they reside. But chiefly Mr.. Chalker
occupied himself with lending money.
"Now, Mr.. Emblem" he said, not in a
menacing tone, but as one who warns; NOW,
Mr.. Emblem"
"Now, Mr.. Chalker," the bookseller re-
peated mildly.
"What are you going to do for mel"
81 got your usual notice" the old book
seller began, hesitating, "six months ago."
HOf cnursa Won did Tbraa Hftv 4, tLo