The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-08

the week and got a new chalk mark on the
barn door every time-I never grew into
one of McCluskey's suits. Whenever I got
near enough to one of them to endanger
McCluskey's reputation as a reliable mis-
filter. the garments always came to his res
cue and fell to pieces.
Well, thess are but boyish trials. Nc
Cluskey died many years ago, and is now,
no doubt, cutting asbestos cloth in a place
which would not be complete without him .
1 return to Mr.. Cutter. When | visited his
shop to try on his sad and shoddy and Ii
belous production, he greeted me with a
smile and remarked that he would receipt
the bill now if
/ gently said him nay, politely calling his
attention to the fact that a fit was guaraI-
teed. At this the Yankee salesman dragged
out the clothes. l put them on behind a
curtain which was 80 arranged that the PEG.
pie in the shop could look at me around
| either side of it. This trying ordeal put
me in 50 good a temper that l was prepared
to saw Mr.. Cutters head off with his own
shears, on the slightest provocation. In
fact, when l looked at my reflection in the
mirror, the provocation seemed quite sutfi-
cient to justify any atrocity. There were
the same old humpy shoulders; the same
despairing droop of the whole coat as if it
were hung on a pole; the same cross-cut,
bewildering swirl of pantaloons, pursuing
| their course from my waist to the floor in q
| %sinuous, sad, uncertain fashion, as if they
had plenty of time and were willing to take
the longest way.
turned to MIR. Cutter, and found him
lost in admiration. The Yankee salesman
was also nearly speechless, but when he at
last found a tongue he swore that his W
skin was a mistit compared to that pant.
He always spoke of a mans neither gar
merts III the singular.
1 ventured to call attention TO the shout
ders OF the coat. | pointed out the fact
that they exempliied all the errors and
follies which l had adiurod Mr.. Cutter to
avoid.
Wat you egspecdt?" he inquired. ''Dose
shoulter of yours vas peculiar. Der right
ono vas not made for der left. It vas made
for SOMEBODY else. Der goat fits you 80
veil as anybody could make. We can't"
Look here,'' said /, didn't you tell me
like a Greek statue. and that anybody who
couldn't fit me ought to be electroouted?'
well / didn't notice that off leg at the
time,' said the salesman. II saw TINT the
| other was crooked but l didn't want to Of
fend you by mentioning it. Now when we
howe to cut one leg"
Mind der chicken-breasted men is der
Hardest to ft," interrupted Cutter, now
!&ot goat"
when a man is knock-kneed on one
sids," the salesman broke in. land slowed
justa triile, don't say very much"
IL HNiG AAS ~ vi II i lboh
n pair of scissors III one hand md a fiat
iron in the other and drove MIR. Cutter
through the back window before he had
time to open it. He escaped by the back
door of a saloon in the next street, and ]
was forced to return to the shop. The
salesman was not there. A boy said that
he had zone out on business and would be
back in n week. l took off the clothes: put
on my own, and departed.
Yesterday | received notice of m action
for assault und battery; Il civil suit for the
amount of the bill, to which Cutter had
added $l5 and the costs of tho court, and
n circular saying that Cutter a Co. have
filled their store with the latest summer
fabrics and solicit my patronage. This last
may have been mailed to me by mistake.
but it hurt my feelings deeply. l shall visit
Cutters shop, but ID will not be for the pur-
pose of ordering n summer suit. 1t will be
because l am afraid his assault and battery
case is weak and | want to strengthen it.
gsa.. HOWARD FIELDING.
Copyright.