The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-18

in London for day, during which
| time none of us would be held answer
| able for any deed then done, how many
of us would be alive next morning?
Most of us would go out to pot some
favorite enemy, and would doubtless
be potted ourselves before we got
safely home again.
The law, however, is great re-
strainer, and helps to keep the death
rate from reaching excessive proper
lions. One department of the law
crushed out the remnant of the bust
ness of Messrs. DANNY 81 Strong,
leaving the firm bankrupt, while
another department of the law pre-
vented either of the partners taking
the life of the other.
When Srong found himself penniless,
he cursed, as was his habit, and wrote
to friend in Texas asking if he could
get anything to do over there. He was
tired of country of law and order, he
said, which was not as complimentary
to Texas as it might have been. But
his remarks only go to show what ex-
traordinary ideas Englishmen have of
| foreign parts. The friends answer
was not very encouraging, but, never
theless, Strong got himself out there
somehow, and in course of time be-
came a cowboy. He grew reasonably
expert with his revolver and rode
| mustang as well as could be expected,
considering that he had never seen
such an animal in London, even at the
| Zoo. The life of cowboy on Texas
ranch leads to the forgetting Of such
things as linen shirts and paper collars.
Strong's hatred of Dandy never
ceased, but he began to think of him
less often.
One day, when he least expected it,
the subject was brought to his mind in
a manner that startled him. He was in
| Galveston ordering supplies for the
ranch, when in passing shop which
he would have called a diapers, but
which was there designated as dealing
in dry goods, he was amazed to see the
name DANNY 81 Strong" in big letters
at the bottom of huge pile of small
card board boxes that filled the whole
window. At first the name merely
struck him as familiar and he came
near asking himself: Where have l
seen that before?" 1t was some mo-
ments before he realized that the
Strong stood for the man gazing stu
pidiy in at the plate glass window.
Then he noticed that the boxes all
were guaranteed to contain the famous
Piccadilly collar. He read in a dazed
manner large printed bill which stood
| beside the pile of boxes These collars,
it seemed, were warranted to be the
genuine Dandy & Strong collar and
| the public was warned against imita-
| tions. They were asserted to be Lon
don made and linen faced and the
gratifying information was added that
once a person wore the ID. & S. collar
he never afterwards relapsed into
wearing any inferior brand. The price
of each box was fifteen cents, or two
boxes for quarter. Strong found him
self making mental calculation which
resulted in turning this notation into
English money.
AS he stood there a new interest be-
gan to fill his mind. Was the firm be-
ing carried on under the old name by
SOllt OllC tlSc, VI Nlltl GlllS lOU III COlldFS
represent part of the old stock? He
had had no news from home since he
left, and the bitter thought occurred
to him that, perhaps, Dandy had got
| somebody with capital to aid him in
resuscitating the business. He re-
solved to go inside and get some infor-
nation.
You seem to have vsfy large stock
of those collars on hand" he said to
the man who was evidently The pro-
prietor.
Yes" was the answer you see
we are the state agents for this make.
We supply the country dealers"
''Oh, do you? Is the firm Of Dandy
q Strong still in existence? l under
stood it had suspended"
81 guess not" said the man. "They
supply US all right enough Still,
really know nothing about the firm,
except that they turn out first-class
article. We're not in any way respon-
sible for Dandy & Strong; we're mere
ly agents for the state of Texas, YOU
know" the man added, with sudden
caution.
Il have nothing against the firm"
said Strong. Il asked because l once
knew some members of it and was won
dering how it was getting along"
We'll, in that case you ought to see
the American representative. He was
here this week-that's why we make
such display in the window, it always
pleases the agent-hes now working
up the state and will be back in Gal
weston before the month is out"
Whats his name? Do you remem-
ber?''
Dandy. George Dandy, 1 think.
Here's his card. No, John Dandy is
the name. / thought it was George
Most Englishmen are George, you
know"
Strong looked at the card, but the
lettering seemed to waver before his
eyes He made out, however, that Mr..
John Dandy had an address in New
York, and that he was the American
representative of the firm of Dandy e.
Strong, London. Strong placed the
card on the counter before him.
II used to know Mr.. Dandy, and |
would like to meet him. Where doyou
think | could find him?"
We'll, as | said before, you could see