Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09
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Che u Eagle

ately SnOulQ make up MS NlnQ was rlSNI'
He took up the bill-'Clssp knives, ia.
zors, Groman's traps, axes, spokeshaves,
levels, Dunderbone's fellers" (Bren
laughed derisively; that was Brewers
saw. Everlasting scrubbers, shovels.
picks, drawing room washers" In the
lower left hand corner was written in
Travellers hand, Gray" It was habit
Charley had, Ben knew, of putting the
salesman's name on his bills. 1t was Fri
day. There was cash enough in the
drawer. He counted out the full amount
and folded it into the bill and locked it in
the safe. He would show himself he
meant to act squarely. But he knew Half
felfnger had the name of hard man.
If half he had heard was true, such a
man his place. 1t was no more than
right that he should have warning. Bren
wrote off a note and sent the boy down
with it.
The boy brought back an answer signed
"R. L. Gray" He lived at Parade
place, corner Carroll, third floor. He
would be at Mr.. Brennan's service at 8
o'clock.
Bren walked down Carroll street little
after s. Eight Parade place was a
grocer's shop. It was rather quiet
neighborhood. The houses were mostly
alike, of brick, with general shabby
genteel appearance. Bren entered tho
hallway and went up two flights of rather
steep and narrow stairs. He knocked at
door, and it was opened by al elderly
man with gray hair, STOPPING shoulders,
and thin nervous looking face.
us there Mr.. Gray living in this
housed" Bren asked.
''My name is Gray" the old man an
swered yours, suppose, is Brennan?"
Bren was surprised. He had expected TO
find younger man.
Come in," Gray said, and drew up a
chair by the stove Gt was a raw night.
Bren sat down. The room was poorly
furnished, but neat and quite home like.
A lady like person got up as Bren came
in, and went out. Old Gray sat opposite
Bren and waited
You will pardon me, sir, hope" Bren
began, eff | seem to be intruding upon
your privacy. Let me assure you that |
mean you 10 incivility, and have sufficient
reasons for what do"
The old man bowed, and said nothing;
but he watched Bren's face with wonder
ing, half appealing regard. Bren went
on:
You are in the employ of Messrs.
Haffelfnger & Coz"
Il have been with the Hafelfngers,
father and son, for more than thirty
years"
1.-The father is dead, l believer"
George Haffelfnger died nine years
ago this month"
al have heard he was good man"
Il do not believe there was ever bet
ter"
"Is his son like him?"
Bren looked up keenly at old Gray's
face. The old man started, and then an
swered coldly:
Il do not understand you, sir. You
must really excuse me from discussing
with stranger the character of my en-
ployers.
Bren said: Il will explain. 1 happen
to know of an occurrence which nearly
concerns one of your firms men. have
repeatedly heard that this Haffelfnger is
hard master. l have been out of place
this winter; l know what it means. |
wish to wrong no man. If possible, |
want to save this man trouble. l thought
you could tell me how it would stand. |
shall ask you only one question mora.
Shall 60 on?" And the old man said,
Go on"
Suppose, then, that it should cone out
that one Of your men. through careless
ness or accidental oversight, had com
mitted an error which should involve
loss to your firm say of hundred dollars
i ask you what would most likely come
Of it? do not say this has happened.
say, if it should?"
Gray looked straight into Bren's face
and asked: docs the man know"
He does not"
The old face turned quite pale, and
looked at Bren with q pitiful, Questioning
expression.
''Mr. Brennan" he began, I'm an old
man. | served this mans father faith
fully the best part of my lie. He said
the business owed SIS much to mo as to
him, l have never been able to save. |
have always seemed to have some sick
friend, some loss or misfortune, to keep
me down. don't complain. / suppose
it was my own fault. l never had q
knack of getting on. l have my wife,
my daughter lying sick, and her two
little children, dependent on me
now. If should lose my place, do not
know what would become of us. l know
nothing else; am too old to begin anew,
and nobody wants gray head if l could.
am not what was. Icannot help grow
ing old. call no hard names. I have
been degraded and cut down. ! have now
barely enough to keep along. If this
thing should happen to me, should go
into tho street"
The old man leaned upon his hand and
looked at Bren, waiting for him to speak.
Bren got up to go, and stood moment,
doubling what to say.
Mr. Gray" he said, what you have
said to me l shall sacrodly respect. You
shall never suffer by it, or by me. Re-
member, | have made no accusations and
named no names"
The old man bowed gravely. aid gave
Bren his hand. Bren shook it warmly,
and came away
Now he must decide. He had all the
facts. They were more serious than he
could have imagined He walked the
streets, up and down, block after block.
be would go over the ground and set the
thing in order in his mind Then he
would act as Heaven should give him
hight Here was the case: A thousand
people, ten thousand, want knives. bits.
saws, chisels, axes. They are scattered
over thousand miles of ground. If each
man must so to the makers for his AK or
pick, the expense is ruinous. Simply. lie
cannot go. He cannot combine with many
of the rest. They are too far away. Here
Is man with money in his hand who
Knows all this. He cannot go to all these
folks; but it is all one as if he had gone
and said: Ii you people Will let NE, l can
bring you your hammers and wrenches
and pitchforks at low price. and