Connecticut western news., 1894-06-07


 highlands of Scotland, for instance, or in central Africa-the office boy-he wore a fresh pair of trousers-ushered Demare into my presence with the most profound deference without even an nouncing him.
 At the first glance I saw that he wore hitherto unpublished pair of trou- sers. Of course I expected that, but what considered as sudden aggrava- ton of my malady was that he wore new coat. If coats were going to mix themselves with trousers ill my poor sick brain, there was nothing left Tor me but to arrange the details of my funeral
 With haggard face, pointed to chair.
 "Old man., said he, knowing that you take an interest in me, have come to tell you good news I am engaged permanently as financial editor of The Gazette. So we are coworkers. Congrat- ulate me. :"
 I murmurstl some feeble words of fe- licitation.
 T owe you some explanation of my prosperity in the last few months, '" he added "You remember the day bor rowed the louis from you and returned 1t the same evening? 1 told you at the time it was for a daisy financial stroke. Now that my self interest does not com pei me to keep the professional secret, l will tell you all. It is pretty byplay in metropolitan life. No, my boy, l have not assassinated any old woman who was incumbered with a rent roll l have not been adopted by an elderly heir ess have sold no political secret nor pillaged an embassy. have simply been a dealer in trousers. '"
 At the last word I bounded to my feet. There was my nightmare again.
 "Calm yourself" sad he, land lis ten: r#a
 ''The day before I made the demand upon your purse happened to be pres ent at the first days sale at auction of an immense stock of new goods from a bankrupt custom made clothing concern. The programme for the succeeding days was the sale of 10, 900 pairs of trousers There were few at the sale, the necessity of taking the goods by lots on account of the great quantity, shutting out workmen and the class of persons who wear such garments. I remarked that the trousers hl lots of 10 cost about 3 francs each.
 By dire experience know that the pawnbroller lends upward of 5 francs on pair of trousers in good condition. The thing to do was plain enough to be seen. With your louis bid off lot of 10. Soon after I hastened to the pawn shop, where offered three pairs. en- countered an obstacle the first thing. They do not lend on unworn garments. I argued my case with such eloquence, representing that I had worn the trou- sers, but that I was very careful of my clothes, that I gained my point. Of course l could prove that I was not tailor seeking to dispose of my stock. I took two other lots of 10 at intervals during the day, keeping the tenth pair for myself I received over dollar apiece for them. So you see it was pretty good days transaction.
 ''The next day I bid off two lots, and profting by my experience passed the day and part of the night in wearing the trousers, putting on one pair after another. I can assure you 1t was back l lItu CODCtlNSd tL6 lbSt LII having others wear them for me, and timidly at first, but soon boldly enough, lent the garments day by day to your boys, to your clerks and to many others, asking nothing in return but discretion. I told them that I needed to have actual proof of their quality, as they were made i'll great numbers i'll my shop for shipment to South America As my l business increased perfected my meth ods. I employed agents to dispose of the trousers. I bought as many as 60 some l days.
 ''All went we'll so long as the source of my prosperity remained undiscovered. One day scented danger. One of my agents found out by the mark on the i buttons where the goods came from, and he bought lot of 10. did not hesitate a moment.
 II hunted up the receivers of the stock. I told them that there were 5, 000 pairs of trousers unsold; that the 2, 1000 pairs already sold q had bought 5, ,000) i had overstocked the buyer, and hence the | present price could not hold. It would i be wiser to sell them all at once. In ! conclusion, offered them 5000 francs ], for the lot of 3, 900. The deal was closed, 1 and so all attempts at competition were l effectually prevented. At the same time i I laid myself liable to the law which i punishes monopolies.
 i ''Now it is all over with. The pawn shops, glutted with trousers, rebelled and threatened my agents with arrest. Eight thousand of my garments rest on i their shelves, so 1 did not complain. In ; the end was obliged to carry my busi ! ness into the provinces. Each pair of trousers has brought me on an average i net of sl; total, $S, 0eo. I will lend ! it to you if you want to borrow. | ''Now that 1t Is not necessary for me to affect poverty, I have bought me a ! coat and some other furnishings. I still have left about 100 pairs of trousers. 1 shall give some in charity, and 1 have 1 already fitted out your entire establish ment. You must notice how am re- spected around here.
 ''Now, old man, shall be most happy to send you pair made to fit you per fectly Of the richest fabric. You have only to say the word. ''
 It is needless to add that my cure was instantaneous and complete. Trans lated For San Francisco Argonaut From the French of M. Champimont.