The Forrest City times., 1891-08-07
HIS CREDITORS.


 John Ferrars. holding the position of clerk, and doing his work very much like the fountains in Trafalgar Square. i. e.. playing from ten to four.
 No one approved of Jack Ferrars, still no one disliked him.
 It was an accepted fact that he was '.cool bird and he was often repro bated by his seniors as lazy and slip pery in his work and ways of going on.
 MT. Ferrars' estimate of himself was very high one, and outside of the official circle he was more often than not accepted at his own price.
 He was n remarkably fine looking man, with face which was called handsome by those who did not look too closely into the oppression, and he dressed well, His linen was ire proachable. and he was very particu- lar as to fit.
 His manner with tradespeople was overpowering! To see him in shop, it would be impossible to believe Mir Ferrars anything but millionaire, and yet he was really poor man. with debts which. to his means. were a heavy encumbrance. but by his trades people he was respected more for those very debts. to which they thought him indifferent
 Jack Ferrars had another peculiar ity.
 He told amusing stories, most of which were not founded upon facts at all. or upon the barest foundations at any rate. Indeed. men said that For rars was good at the ''long bow"
 He accepted hospitality with afrabil- ity, but was not himself given to en- ter;aining. His gift of story telling made him an agreeable guest and he was generally out somewhere.
 When on leave according to his own accounts hc did wonderful things in the way of foreign travel. yachting shooting and fishing, but no one ever met him on these expeditions, and they were generally believed to have taken place in ',Airshire.
 There was n new scheme brought out for the gentlemen of the Civil Service whereby certain number were offered retirements. or q sum down upon leav- ing. and Mir. John Ferrars was one of those men who accepted the latter. the reason he gave for so doing being that he had been offered swell appoint ment abroad. It was generally under stood. in India but after all. his friends and acquaintanees were not certain that he ever really mentioned the sun ny East as his destination. This appointment Of Jack Ferrars soon got to the ears of his tradespeo- pie, who had just sent in their bills. upon hearing of his expected retire ment When they learnt this great news they regretted what they had done. and. hats in hands, crowded to his office.
 He saw them one by one. to the amusement of his brother clerks.
 Morning. Mir. Puddles" he said carelessly to his largest creditor, a fashionable tailor. You want your bill paid; of course. can't attend to il now, these arc office hours. but IT! send you a check"
 Mir. Puddles manager apologized for the account having been forward cd. and expressed his pleasure at hear ing of Mir. Ferrars appointment in India
 The listener toyed with his pen, and dipped it ready for his work. accepted tho tailor's congratulations and began to write.
 Have you no further orders for us. Mir. Fcrrars?" inquired the tailor re- spectfully.
 Thanks, mo-" answered the other without once looking up.
 But sir you will require some new garments. n dress suit morning suit and u couple of sets of diitos and other light materials suitable for the climate of India"
 "Ah' Very likely" returned the preoccupied clerk.
 Well sir. hope you will let us have the pleasure of supplying you. |" Il have the honor to be. sir, your obedient servant" read Mir Ferrars aloud from the letter which he was writing, and put down his pen with every sign of irritation.
 Now. my good fellow" he said al- most roughly, what is it you do want with moi" And Mir Puddes' man. ager expressed his desire 10 supply him with every sort of garment made at their establishment
 Il have not thought of the matter. !" answered Jack Ferrars. but please yourself-if you like to send the things you can. No doubt you arc right l shall require them That was quite enough for Mir Pud- dles' representative. He bowed him. self out with many smiles; and Mir Ferrars went on with his work until he had another caller. During that day and the next he had many visits from outfitters. and to all there was very little variety in his answers. He declined to give any of them orders, but accorded them royal permission to send him what they liked.
 Eccentricity in rich and prosper. ous man k always admired. and tho outfltters were charmed with the carte blanche which they would fill so sat- isfactorily.
 They did SO to the mutual advant- age of themselves and their customer as they thought and day after day there arrived at Mir. Ferrars' rooms travelling trunks most thoughtfully madc sc fit under the hunks filled with