The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-10
BROWN, SMITH & JONES.


{ Twas young lawyer, and had the repu-
tation Of being shrewd, and l do honestly
believe that had | remained at the bar |
might have been fairly successful l had
noGdea of leaving it until Brown, of Brown,
Smith & Jones, came TO me and said:
f'As you know, old Foss, our confidential
man, is dead. We think it better TO fl his
place with young man, and have come
to offer it to you"
+ The firm had a private bank, and dealt
in stocks. Il also did considerable cargo
insurance, placed loans, bought mortgages,
shaved notes, and made money in other
dignified and respectable ways. 1t had
been doing business for twenty years, and
was rated conservative and sound.
The only curious thing about the firm
was the trio composing it. Brown was an
old bachelor of 80 He was tall, angular
and homely, and the only woman whom
he could endure was his landlady Smith
was five years older and married, but had
no children. He was short, fat and tact
turn, never speaking to anybody when he
could help it. His wife never went into
society, and Smith never entered church.
Jones was a little man, almost small
enough to be called a dwarf, but with an
awful dignity about him. He was over 40,
a single man, but was popularity supposed
TO be looking around" There were rumors
that some one had once called him the
Napoleon OF the West" and if he had any
particular weakness il was that of attend
ing Thursday evening prayer meeting. No
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 TO contribute
dollar TO the church.
Having accepted the post 1 found my
duties TO be almost numberless. opened
the mail, sorted the letters and attended TO
the correspondence. l checked" on the
cashier, verified all balances, Investigated
ali risks, hunted up the standing of all
would be borrowers, and to great extent
had charge of the entire business. In less
than week found that each one of the
firm had his official popularity, as follows:
Brown would never open the mail.
Smith would never answer letter.
Jones would never sign check.
The street called them CONSERVATIVES"
but the street never met them IN the pri-
vate Office, and consequently did not know
of their oddities. The morning programme
was a very funny one. l reached the Office
at $50 sharp. At exactly $40 Jones came
in. At s:44 Smith entered. At $50 Brown
appeared. The last man of the firm name
was the first TO appear. As each entered
ne hung up his hat on his own particular
hook. sat down in his own particular chair,
picked up his own daily paper, and none Of
them ever recognized each other by Is
much as a bow. At $50 l had the mail
opened, they laid aside their papers, and the
business the day came up to be discussed.
1t took me couple of years to fall into
the ways of these strange men, but in spite
Of their eccentricities they were very kind
to me and trusted me almost without lin
il. Everything had run along very smooth
IL, and nothing whatever had happened to
break the routine, when something dropped
from a clear sky. Our private offices were
arranged so that occupied the first, which
was also consulting room. Then each Of
the firm had private office back OF that,
and each retired 20 it when not otherwise
engaged.
One forenoon, at IL O'Clock, while was
alone in the front Office, lady entered. 1t
was rarely that woman had any business
with US beyond the telIers window, and
was considerably surprised at the presence
,
handsome as picture, and soon had rea-
son to declare TO myself that her manners
were fascinating. She took my breath
away by inquiring if Brown was in. So
far as the legends of the office went be had
Fever yet been interviewed by woman,
and hesitated to reply to her direct ques-
ton
Il have business of importance with
him she continued, and desire TO see him
in his private Office II is the first one on
the left, believe. Pray don't trouble your
self to announce me.
She went TO the door and raped Brown
opened it, and when he saw her standing
there he turned pale and staggered back
She entered. and closed the door behind
her, and was cIoseted with him full hour.
HIwas dumfounded at this action, was
almost paralyzed at his conduct Is they
came out lie was actually bowling and
snirking, and trying 20 be gaua1t-he the
man who insisted that his landlajy should
never employ female servant unless she
was a hunchback or cross eyed He fol-
lowed her through the room, and out 70
the door Of the bank, and when ne returned
he was smiling blandly, and his lips were
moving As If talking TO himself, he tldn
saw word to me. If he had / could not
have replied 10 him, as was completely
knocked out.
After that day l noticed marked change
In Brown. He seemed 70 tl2w QUITO
take more interest II life; and caught on
10 the fact that he was writing private let
t.rs 20 some one. One day he added 70 my
establishment By calling ne into 1ls private
room ard inquirin II it wouldn't oe Sood
thing for Us &c pick up 3 silver mine out IN
Nevada, providing we get low usUre and
a sure thing.
The next astonishing circumstance nap
pened a week later. ! was oft on the
street at I1:S0, an hour when every man o.
the firm was invariably closeted with NM
self. and | suddenly caught sight OF Jones
;,., q ha...I P--ji.AEiE7s- ss>u----< 80 -
the vic=n OF an optical delusiou, soon
followed. and as / looked about the office
the clerk beckoned 70 NE and sad, Room
Airs. Temple-silver nine.
She had been to the office 10 call on
Brown, and now she had probably sent
word 70 Jones to call on her. Iwould nave
bet q hundred TO one that Jones wouidn
have gone. even to close deal IN whlcn
there was sure profit OF $4,000, but there
he was. sure enough, and l began 70 Ieei
aunoyad sad uneasy. was a. the ONCE