Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-09-18
THE BOY WAS BETTER.

THE BOY WAS BETTER. ia
Asd He Gould Marry the 0iri Any Tilns
& he Desired. 5
Their meeting WINS an luminous one.
Smith entered Bock's Office with erect car
Fiage and uncompromising hair His
ssC'ood morning, SIR, had . crisp and
chilline sound. ss]s n.
Good morning, sir,'' echoed Book.
Neither offered to shake hands
81 understand that you have refused 70
sanction the marriage OF your daughter To-
my son." said Smith, going straight 20
business y. VIA n
ss;s Yes, sir" g.
"WhyP"
2 don toare to enter into explanations
sss oh, those are your tactics, heyf', snort
"a Smith. "Don't you. like my family,
Mr.. Bock?" h
" I'm prejudiced In favor Of my own
n That's something You admit preju-
dice Did you ever hear Of any OF my an
cestors being hung or committing arson,
robbery or treasons'' M,
I'd REALLY, Mr.. Smith, have never been
sufficiently interested to investigate, and
the presumed extent Of your family con-
nections would make the task an appalling
one" h jsS.S
q "You have known me for 20 yeara
Have not lived . reputable lite and
,amassed fortune By honorable meanss
M Admit II. I don't understand that you
are DESTROYS Of marrying into my family"
III "No, thank the Lord.
II amen" cut In Book. "But oandidly,
i don't like your son.
M "Your daughter doeA 4, r..
is "I'm the one you're trying TO convert,
Mr. Smith. The boy seems TO lead an AIM
less life He Ia utterly lacking In conver-
NATIONAL ability. When he's out In society.
his feet got tangled up, and he doesn't know
what to do with his banda It he has
brains, he keeps tho fact q profound %.
5cret F." ~
bob doesn't blow his own trumpet o.
issue any notices that he Intends setting
the harbor afro But he - hard student
and already has two electrical inventions
that will mako him q snug fortune. BE
does not shine in society, because afflicted
with hereditary bashfulnesa I was the
same way.
s Here Book interrupted with sneer, and
Smith turned on o stronger current, But
when YOU say that boy doesn't know what
to do with his hands you simply make an
ass Of yourself. ~. EG%&&f
4 explain yourself, sir.
/ Bob is just about as clever with his
hands as any Of the amateur boxers. ;"
I This was touching Book In his weakest
spot Hadn't he been one Of the cracks In
college, and hadn t he enjoyed an occasion.
sal round or two with some friend ever
ssincep s4t--,.@,. - sH~ Il f5s- XII.
Perhaps your sons ability In that di.
rection Is also inherited" he said insinu.
atingly and with glitter In his eye.
II have always managed to take care OF
myself. ....
"We're about the same ago and weight,
Mr.. Smith. I keep couple Of pairs OF
gloves here lust for the amusement Of the
clerks Suppose we take a little whirl tc
cool of and get better acquainted.
"Oh, that would be foolish in two old
dodgers like us, especially when we have
no love for each other. s.
Book felt disappointed and used the
prod. every we'll, Mr.. Smith, but If the
boy inherits your discretion I'm puzzled
to know how he got his reputation as
sparrer. IS hi ..4. 5
.tBring out tho mitsl'' roared Smith.
You've made your insinuation. Nov
we'll see how you take your medicine II
Just; throw these things on Q chair, /" as h
stripped down to his shirt and made Q
belt Of his suspendera .s, u IA :.
= Look the door, said Book to his pr.
yate secretary, and soon the two men, with
children old enough to marry, confronted
Zach other. They fddled and danced fol
9 few seconds, when Book let 60 with hi
right and soaked Smith in the ear.
.'Good eyep' yelled the secretary.
Sss eth be q bad eye before Iget through, .
growled Smith, who looked dangerous,
while Book wore an aggravating smile Of
confidence. He trusted to the same tao.
tics again, but this time Smith threw his
head aside and, as Book came with the
force of his blow, met him with straight
lab from the left that threw his heod back
between his shoulder blades, sent In a hor.
3rible smash with the right and knocked
Book under q table eight feet away: He
crawled out the other side, got to his feet
in very uncertain manner, leaned on the
table and looked daggera
"I'u send you to the hospital for that,
Smith I'm something better than raw
hand at hard hitting myself" and Book
stroked the good eye" that was now very
bad ,.J%t go, ,.
& Or, you couldn't knock down q man g
suit OF clothes II you were an auctioneer, "
retorted Smith, who wanted more OF the
game and knew how to get it d. -.
| s "I'll show you!" whooped Book. who
made rush and worked like windmill.
But this time he got 1t in the nose and
went down 80 hard that the secretary
groaned. Book was badly punished, and
Smith suggc ted calling it draw. ~
.'Never draw!'' shouted Book. II
knew there was yellow streak in you,
Smith. /" E&
"I'll make you think it's q streak of
lightning before we're through
b Oh, you blow too muchP t.e p
So does Corbett. Get to workp', ~
VI This time Book was wary, and Smith
took the aggressive He feinted at the
oxn,,, ocb NTH h{c left and an ROok GOu-