Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-10
BROWN, SMITH & JONES

was young lawyer, and had the repu
tation Of being shrewd, and / do honesti
believe that had | remained at the bar
might have been fairly successful. | ha,
noidea Of leaving it until Brown, Of Brown
Smith & Jones, came 10 me and said;
As you know, old Foss, our confidential
man, is dead. We think it better to I'll hi
place with a young man, and / have com,
to offer it to YOU
The firm had private bank, and deal
in stocks 1t also did considerable cargo
insurance, placed loans, bought mortgages
shaved notes, and made money in other
dignified and respectable ways. It hac
been doing business for twenty years ano
was rated conservative and sound
The only curious thing about the firm
was the trio composing it. Brown was al
old bachelor OF So He was tall, angular
and honiely, and the only woman whom
he could endure was his landlady Smitl
was five years older and married, but hac
no children. He was short. fat and tact
turn, never speaking to anybody when h,
could help it, His wife never went into
society, and Smith never entered a church
Jones was a little man, almost small
enough TO be called a dwarf, bnt with az
awful dignity about him. He was over 40
q single man, but was popularity SUPPOSED
to be looking around There were rumor
that some one had once called him 9TH,
Napoleon Of the West" and If he had any
particular weakness it was that Of attend
ing Thursday evening prayer meeting. M
business matter, no matter how important
could prevent his regular attendance, al
though he took no active part in the exer
cises, and was never known 70 contribute ,
dollar to the church.
Having accepted the post ] found IN,
duties to be almost numberless opened
the mail, sorted the letters and attended t,
the correspondence. | checked" on tn,
cashier, verified all balances, investigate,
all risks, hunted up the standing OF al
would be borrowers, and TO great exten
had charge Of the entire business. In les
than week found that each one of tn
firm had his official popularity, as follows
Brown would never open the mail.
Smith would never answer a letter.
Jones would never sign a check
The street called them conservatives,
but the street never met them in the pri
waite Office, and consequently did not know
of their oddities. The morning programme
was a very funny one. reached the oflic
at $50 sharp. AT exactly $40 Jones cam
in. At SA4 Smith entered. At $3.50 Brow
appeared. The last man of the firm nam
was the first to appear. As each entered
he hung up his hat on his own particula
hook. sat down in his own particular chair
picked up his own daily paper, aud none o
them ever recognized each other by a
much as a bow. At $3.50 | had the mai
opened, they laid aside their papers, and TIL
business Of the day came up to be discussed
il took me a couple Of years to fall int
the ways Of these strange men, but in spit
Of their eccentricities they were very kim
20 me and trusted me almost without lin
it. Everything had run along very smooth
~, and nothing whatever had happened {
break the routine, when something droppe
from a clear sky, Our private Offices wer
arranged so that occupied the first, whic
was also a consulting room. Then each @
the firm had private Office back Of thai
and each retired 70 it when not otherwis
engaged.
One forenoon, at II o'clock, while wa
alone in the front Office, a lady entered.
was rarely that a woman had any bushes
with us beyond the teller's window, and
was considerably surprised az the presenc
Of this one. She was about % years ole
AtthAaAAAtN 90 lAAAAAANs fAAA HNAAA htNNA aNt
son to declare to.myself that her manner
We're fascinating. She took my breat
away by inquiring if Brown was in.
far as the legends Of the Office went he ha
never yet been interviewed by a woman
and hesitated 70 reply to her direct que
ton.
~ have business Of Importance wit
him, she continued, and desire 70 see hii
in his private Office. 1t is the FIRST one 0
the left, believe. Pray don't trouble you
self TO announce me-"
She went TO the door aud raped. Brow
opened it, and when he saw her standiu
there be turned pale and staggered bacl
She entered, aud closed the door behir
her and was closoted with him full h0u
II l was dumlounded at this action, / WI
almost paralyxed at his conduct as tht
came out He was actually bowling an
Sinking, and trying 70 be gallant-he q
man who insisted that his landlady shou
never employ female servant unless 81
was hunchback or cross eyedi He e
lowed her through the room, and out
the door OF the bank, and when he return,
he was smiling blandly and his lips we
moving as if talking 10 himself He didr
say word 70 me. II he had | could n
have replied 90 him, as | was complete
knocked ont.
After that day noticed a marked cham
in Brown. He seemed 20 thaw out
take more interest in life; and caught ,
to the fact that he was writing private L
tiers to some one. One day he added to n
establishment 10y calling me into his priva
room and inquiFng ii it wouldn't be a go
/ thing for US to pick up silver mine out
Nevada, providing we got low figure Al
! a sure thing.
The next astonishing circumstance ha
| pened a week later. WAS out on d
, street at 1880, an hour when every man
E the firm was invariably closetel with hil
p self, and l suddenly caught sight Of Jon
{ going into hotel Believing nlyself to