The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-06-01

Hello, Bent" said a rough voice
as d coarse looking fellow OF Is joined
Howard on his way to the store.
you must be feelin' pretty big OF
late, you hardly speak to a teller
when you meet him. What's the mat
ter with ye?"
Nothing the matter that I know
| Of" SAID Aioward.
"Well, why the dickens didn't you
come round to Bill Sharp's last night
and have a cigar with US? We'd q
gay old time an lots O. fun, l tell ye.
You half promised to go, an there's
II time yer missed 1t in not keep.
IN yer word sure"
Hush Dick" Said Howard in an
undertone. Il wish you wouldn't
speak Of my smoking right here on
the street. l should lose my position
if Jones should find it out. You
promised to keep quiet when you fool.
ed me into it. | wished | had never
touched a cigar. And l never would
il | had known about getting this
| place at the store"
"What business O. their'n, I'd like
ter know" said Dick, contemporary,
"Pd be nObodv's slave, l can tell yer
| that. I'd be Independent bout my
own affairs if l had to paddle in that
gutter for a Twin. So long as you
don't smoke under their nose its just
none OF their business"
well, l don't know about that"
said Howard slowly. They have
their rules, and 80 long as l am in
their employ | shall have to respect
them-or seem to do so at least"
Don't they keep cigars to sell?"
asked Dick.
eyes"
"Well, what's the difference, I'd like
ter know; Anti it as bad to sell a thing
as ter use it yerself2"
What | wish is that l had your
chance an the han'lin' O. them
cigars" he continued. with a furtive
glance at Howard. But you've sech
squeamish notions as jest spiles you
fer q Chum. You'll be q splendid fel.
Ter when you git over them"
Here they parted, and Howard en-.
tered the store where he was employ.
ed.
Through the influence OF Dick and
n or two ofhis companions Howard
had learned to smoke about two
months previous. He had now got so
as to enjoy his cigar, but he would
gladly have quit it if it had not been
for the continued influence OF these
associates.
The country village in which the
store OF Jones & Co. stood did not
have those safeguards against fire and
burglary which are found in larger
towns. This store had barely es-
capped p terrible fire, and burglars had
attempted several times to enter it.
To guard against these small room
at the rear of the store had been fit
ted up for a sleeping ROOM to be occu-
pied by one of their most trustworthy
clerks. This room had a system of
alarm bells so connected with the
front of the store that no one could
enter at night without %arousing its
occupant. 1t was also connected by
telephone with the rooms of each pro-
prietor, so that immediate notice
could be given of any disturbances.
About six months after the opening
OF our story the clerk who had occu.
pied this room for several years was
taken sick, and some one must take
his place.
After some hesitation on account of
his youth, it was decided to let How
ard Bent fill his place. In doing this
the proprietors spoke with him of its
responsibility, and OF the confidence
they placed in him. They took this
occasion to raise his wages to well re-
pay him for extra efforts in faithfully
carrying out their wishes.
Howard was highly elated as he
took this news to his mother, and she
was iairly overioyed at the success
her boy was achieving. She felt that
indeed, her hopes were to be realized,
and that she would have but a short
time to wait for their fulfllment.
About this time Howard was begin
ming To feel more than ever the an.
noying influences of Dick Bray and
his companions. His success made
them all the more eager to hold him
among their numbers.
"That young Bent 10 feelin' too big
Of late to 'sociate with us fellers."
Dick said one evening to his chums.
But Pu bring him ter time; see 4
don't. I'll blow on him I e don't
look out. know enough bout him
to send him arkitin' from that store
any day o. the week."
"But Them be continued, II don't
know as / care for him ter leave the
store; I've got use for him there, il
he'll only be a little more social.
But I'll scare him q little all the
same"
II was not long before he limited
such threats to Howard, and saw
chat he had a strong power over him.
He now began to visit the store often,
and annoyed the young clerk q great
deal BY the familiarity shown there
under the eyes Of his employers. On
several occasions Howard limited
quite plainly that these Visits were
unweicome, but to no purpose. He
then resorted to plans, and even to
c~oneromises which he would not for
the world have had known to his
mother on employers.
In spite OF himself he could not help
enjoying Dicks society when they
werelby themselves. He was facina-
ted by arecklessness ofspeeah and act
ion.of which he could by noneans APP
prove. When away from this inhuence