, 1891-04-17
A sAD,SAD STORY.
County Commissioner Howl POurs
Forth a Tale of Woe.

caraVansary. Ills marble brow was slcklleu
DER with the pale cast of thought while
be was making evident but not always
successful efforts to keep one eye fastened
on the movements of the clerk inside
while the other scanned the horizon for
county officials coming to buy goods.
There was about him an air of thorough
going economy. He inhaled the balmy
spring air slowly and cautiously as though
fearful of producing a in the
neighborhood. One economical hand was
thrust deeply into the right pocket of his
rowsers
Suddenly his face frightened up like a
cheap house under the influence Of a new
coat of paint. He quickly fished his
economical hand out of his pocket and, as
this is usually all he ever gives, he ex-
tended it to a LEADER reporter who hap
pened along at the moment. Hoyt's
large and useful countenance became over
spread with a smile of somewhat gaudy
but not quite huge proportions. The
smile was not exactly dazzling; it was
probably indeed less dazzling than it was
commodious, which latter fact OF itself is
rather remarkable in a man oil Mr.. Hoyt's
thrifty and economical disposition. 1t
was what might aptlY be termed a CORFU
gated iron smile, the muscles OF the face
disposing of themselves in rigid rows like
grenadiers in fours There was no doubt
about it though that 1t was intended for a
smile and as such il was frankly accepted
by the reporter.
Il was quite surprised that you let me
down so light this morning" SAID Mr..
Hoyt as he worked his economical hand
quite freely, His manner was intended
to be quite chipper although a disiuter-
ested spectator might have detected some
bovine qualities in 1t.
indeed SAID the reporter. Perhaps
1t was quite as soothing to you as one OF
your W emolllepts.
mo, not as the high priced ones. But
you've made a mistake in quoting prices
from my BILL"
In what respect2"
you said l charged thirty cents for
orange peel when | ouly charged fifteen. >
II will correct the error in the morn
ing"
Now that you're wrong in that respect
you must be wrong in every other"
Il cant sec it Point out any other
errors if you can"
Speaking Of the drug business" said
Mr.. Hoyt irrelevantlY but thouRhtfully.
"a man came in here the other day. He
wanted some gelstine. | asked how
much. He said ten cents worth. The
quantity filled the scoop on the scales.
He SAID, Great Caspr do you get that
much for ten cents? Half of it is enough
for me-. | took half of it out and the
man only gave me five cents" said Mr..
Hoyt ruefully. The only trouble was |
was too generous. There is everything in
knowing just how much a customer wants.
Now hat man only wanted half of the
quantity | measured out for him and was
willing to pay ten cent for that halt-if |
had only known" added Mr.. Aoyt sadly,
so sadly. I'VE constantly get the worst
of it in that way in this line of business. +"
But you made a big profit on the sale
didn't you2" inquired the reporter in the
hope OF liverting the economical mans
mind from his sad loss.
"Oh, yes, but it's Just as easy to make
a twenty-five as a ten cent sale and to take
ten cents worth of trouble for five cents is
too, too much"
Two pearly tears. like twin g~elatine
coated pills, fell leisurelY to the side walk
and rolled complacentlY toward the gutter.
80 it goes, said Mr.. Hoyt as he took
a pinch OF bromo %cafine, we are always
getting 1t IN the neck in this business. OF
course I'm not out here for my health and
l do the best | eau for myself but there
are times when even the best of us may
get left"
The reporter realized hat the thoughts
of the s%orrowing man had again reverted
to the g%elatIne story and did not presume
to break the holy calm which surrounded
the scene. AS he turned the corner Hoyt
was still in a reminiscent attitude and one
economical hand was slowly stroking his
forehead.