The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-12
THE GROWING MERCHANT.
How He Satisfied . Desire to Get Even
with People Not Trading with Him.

How He Satisfied . Desire to Get Even
with People Not Trading with Him.
1t was small and saturnihe merchant
in the shopping region who unused as fol.
lows: "The big stores swallow the small
ones, and my business has been just about
gulped down by the cormorant on the cor
ner. These great concerns offer advantages
All right. But get even with some OF
the ladies who go by nay door to buy else
where. l have plenty of time 90 stand be-
hind the glass door and watch the trap
that I've set for the shoppers that neglect
me. The disk that covers my coal shute
has dozen little round holes that l take
good care shall be kept open to pinch the
ferrules of unwary pedestrians umbrellas.
This morning business was dull, so went
to my door and watched.
A fat woman was coming along. She
wore fur bordered cloak with dignity.
On she came, and with her silk umbrella
swung like a pendulum with each alter
nate step, and Immediately came to the
ground in sturdy fashion that delighted
me to see. Why is it that every body swings
an umbrella in the same way? Forward it
goes in graceful movement when the left
leg advances, and, bang it hits the ground
when the right foot is planted On came
the fur cloak. Would she be caught, l
held my breath in excitement and bet my
self my after dinner cigar she would She
was right over it now.
1.-The umbrella came down straight, and
its point slipped with the ease of uncon-
seriousness into the waiting hole But
there was nothing unconscious about the
way the woman stopped. She held firm
hold of the umbrella head. and was whirled
violently round like mustang caught in
a lasso. The most surprised look came
into her face, and all her dignity seemed to
dribble through the stick into the coal hole
below. A man or two carromed against
her, just as though she was an ordinary ;
being, and the very fur on her cloak lay
close, in sympathy with her feelings. This |
is the sort of love to catch, and | chuckled !
as she worked her umbrella backward |
and forward until it came up, a trif1e |
scratched
1.-The next victim was a lady who carried |
high her naughty head. Her umbrella had |
a bamboo handle. l knew this by the way
1t flew through the air. There is no sense
OF fun ir our stolid woods, but you just
give piece of bamboo half chance and
it can make picnic for a whole streetful.
The lady was paralyzed. She felt her UNI
brella give her violent blow On the hand,
and when she looked down to demonstrate
it wasn't there. When she turned in a
1azed manner and watched it flying down
The sidewalk she gave cry Of despair and
started after it. The bamboo completed its
flight by catching policeman on
The ear. and then lay as silent on the
ground as though it wasn't laughing its
-ibs through the silk. Its owner picked it
Up and looked timidly at the policeman.
Il once caught heel in my trap-a
ong, slender, pointed heel. so foolish of
construction that only devotee of fashion
vould wear it, and so charming in look
hat any foot would have been improved
~ it. The owners ankle was sprained
md she sat for an hour in my store while
mamma and the carriage were coming. IL
tut on my very best manner and thought
lad quite conquered her, and indeed she
up very much-so much that
he thought she wouldn't need to wait for
mamma, and she left on foot / didn't
Miss the napkin rings and the silver salt
ellar and the ring until the next day, and
was quite bitter for some time against
ne sex, but this is the only thing my trap
as cost me, and it is cheap ss the price. {
New York Sun. I