Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-09-07
THE LOCKED STORE.
BY CLARA J. DENTON.

Will Barnham sat in the silent
store and yawned. How dull it was
He had not had customer for nearly
an hour, and the loneliness and mac
ton were becoming unbearable. He
looked at his watch and counted the
hours since his father had gone away
leaving him in charge of his business.
Immediately on his return, which he
hoped would be soon, he meant to
board one of the electric cars that
whirled inyitingly by the door, for, of
course it was too hot to think to walk
ing home. Then he fell to wondering
how his father could endure hour after
hour. and day after day, this beggarly
lack of business. Yet be was always
hopeful, always saying to inquirers !:
"Oh, things will brisk up after a
while.
"Will rose, and walking to the door
looked up the street at store in the
next block, where the people were
busl:y coming and going.
"Just as l thought" he muttered,
'Zilinski and his clerks are so busy as
beavers, whore here sit Idle. I told
Father store in this part of the town
among the Poles would have no chance
while Zilinski was so near. He ought
to have known what people they are
for hanging together, and, of course
they'll all patronize their own country
man. Bat Father only laughed and
said, boys didn't know it all. He
thought they'd buy of him because he
keeps better goods than z linski and
sells some things few cents cheaper
But not a rap do they care for that.
So here we are losing money every
day, while Zilinski is getting rich. I'll
talk to Father this very night and see
if can't persuade him to move to
some better stand as soon as this
month is up. If he doesn't, I may as
well give up going to college this fall.
III have to go to work instead, to get
my board and clothes.
With frown on his face he turned
away from the door and walked to the
other end of the store. Here his eye
fell upon a book that he had not read,
and, taking it up, he was soon above
and beyond all his annoyancas.
He had been reading thus uninter-
rupted for more than an hour when
he heard quick footsteps on the board
sidewalk in front of the store. He
looked up.
GLOW can any one run like that on
this hot day?" he thought
In moment a bareheaded Polish
woman dashed into the store. Her
face was white, her eyes wild with
fright.
"oh, guide boy" she began in
broken English, ''ring der telephone
on and up der docter get, mine leetle
schild vot to mine neighbor pelongs
ish drownded dade in der sisatern
Already"
viii sprang to his feet, his face as
white as the woman's
"What doctor?' he asked.
"Dat make no Difference Already"
Will gave the telephone a frantic
ring as the woman darted aw y.
"Here," he called, "come back and
tell me the name and number where
the child is. -
The woman stopped, gave the re-
luired information and then dashed
away again.
But another quarter of al hour fled
before Will could catch doctor in
his office, and even he was just about
to set out to visit iome very critical
cases, and could only prepise "to get
there as soon as possible
Will rang off the telephone. and
thrusting his hands deep in his pock-
et', stood lost in thought
There may not be any customers
Tor some time, what if | should lock
up the store? That doctor will not
zee the child for an hour, at least, and
BY that time A cold chill ran over