The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-18
THE PAWKY PEDDLER.

and unqualified triumph to be had by on
man over another Let as see. We thin
that the case of simple Walter WyEe, VIII
was fer long time so well known in tn
town of InTeTkeithing for his peculia
manner of bringing out his sage philos
ophy of life after the pawky form of som
packmen, who, when they are satisfied
they have real good article to show, al
feet simplicity and scarcity of words o
laudation, the very opposite of the verbos
and stately defamation by which they On
deavor to dispose of their general stock
The quality of Walters moral and polit
ical commodities was clearly indicated b!
the quantum Of simple naivete infused int
his speech and oountenance while in tn,
act of nRrration-his effort at the NOR
pure degrees of simplicity being in exac
proportion TO the estimate (never a wrong
one) which he himself made Of the excel
lence Of she communication his peculiar in
SEPARATION enabled him to produce Eis
shop in the high street of Inverkeithing, II
which he sold a variety of those commod
tiles which are necessary for the sustenanct
Of the human corporation, brought hin
more clearly into public notice. Directly
opposite to Honest Walter las he was
styled by the people, both IN manners and
| locality was William Harrison, who car
ried on the same style of business in shor
| on the other side of the street
The ordinary rivalship existed between
them, and they took their different modes
of recommending themselves to their GUS
tomers-the one, Harrison by most YER
bose and figurative signboard and a most
loquacious speech, and the other by his pc
culiar simplicity of enunciation and publ
cation Of the qualities of his wares. The
former was both a philosophical and a
practical rogue; the latter, again, was as
honest as steel, and his honesty and simple
humor combined made him beloved by all
who knew him, while his rival, who bore
to his simple friend a most inveterate
spite, was MORALLY hated for his roguery
throughout the whole burgh.
Now, it happened that Harrison, with q
view to two objeets-frst, the qualification
of his never sleeping spirit of roguery; and,
secondly, the ruin, or at least the inconven-
fence, of simple Walter-bought up from a
neighboring rogue debt alleged to be due
by Walter, but which the latter had truly
paid, though be bad neglected to get it can
celed or discharged by probative receipt.
1t amounted to about e100, and Harrison
paid for it only about five pounds, with a
condition of paying the cedent five pounds
more in the event of the entire sum being
wrung OHt of the simple Walter by the
wrenching wheel of horning.
As soon as Walter heard that his rival
and enemy Harrison had bought up the
false debt, he knew, by an instinct which
had nothing wonderful about it, that he
was committed for tough fight, but he
retained his equanimity, and even his sim
pie naivete hung about his mouth and
small twinkling eyes in the same manner
as If no horning or any such thunderbolt
of Jove had been in the act of being forged
against him. One day his enemy came
into his shop.
''Mr. Wyhe," said he, with most pert
loquacity, and holding up the horning in
his hand, II have piece of paper here on
which there is the name of Walter Wylie
as debtor to me in the sum of e1o0. think
you had better pay me at present, for do
not wish to let the debt lie and ruin you by
allowing larger sum of interest to run I'D
against you"
Il thank We" replied simple Walter with
an obsequious bow, and then proceeded
with the business in which he was en-
gagged. Harrison waited, expecting his
debt; but Walter continued his operations,
Il Wilma TAX the present o. your interest"
again said Walter; Eye medina wait. And
as for your horning it wadna row up three
punds O. my sugar. You are as welcome
to it as to the interest"
This answer produced laugh among the
customers against Harrison, who, swear
ing he would have a caption and appre- |
bend Walter the next day, walked out to
instruct his agent TO put his threat into |
execution. He had scarcely gone when |
several of his (Harrison's) creditors-for he |
himself was great as debtor-arrested in |
Walters hand the false debt due to Harri- |
son, so as to secure it to themselves The |
simple Walter was astonished at all this /
parade about debt that he had already |
paid; but he never lost his simple naivete |
Or his temper, and was determined to go to
jail as meekly as lamb. Meanwhile, the |
heard of the expected incar-
ceration of their favorite, and insisted
upon his defeating the schemes of his enc
my by resisting according to law his I'M
Just demands; but Walter, with a good
natured smile, said that he trusted all to
he ways of Providence.
Next morning Walter, altogether uncon-
'erned about his apprehension, went forth
% take his walk in the green fields accord
ng to his custom, although il might be to
AXE his breakfast in the old Tolbooth, |
which frowned upon him as be passed. He
lad wandered little way IN the country
when he thought he observed two men
Tipping along behind thorn hedge, as il
hey wished TO escape detection; and, i'm
'elled By curiosity. he slipped along the
ther side of the same hedge upon his
lands and his feet, and, having seen the
nen deposit something in the side of g
dyke, squatted down as il be
ad been shot dead, and lay there as still
; death until the men went away. Up
hen rose Walter and going cautiously,
boxing around him again and again as be
rept along, ne came TO the hole in the
yke and having examined il found lying
here large bundle OF bank notes amount
* 20 no less than $500
Putting the money into his pocket he, by
ne le2p got 70 the middle OF the road,
hen, having folded his hands behind dis
aek and struck up very merry tune, he
0p6Rued his walk, with slow and com
'rtable conposure which YVES pleasant to
" Several people passed him, and as he
as never heard to whistle before they
ordered nightly that simple Waiter
hould whistle so merry tune, and more
D, on the morning OF that day when he .
'Gs 70 be put into prison When he went
little farther. still whistling and ssunter-
IL. with very easy and careless pleasant
IS, whom does he meet' Why. no other
han William Harrison. fyinE along the
-. 1s---
ed seen two blackguard looking men on