The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-08-18
CHAPTER xIx-fContinued,


Boots. BE so good as to walk your
self off, will you? You are hindering
my trade-no respectable gentleman
will come to my shop while there's
such a seedy swell as you on the
premises"
Have you a mind to earn half
sovereign" the peddler now, at last,
abruptly demanded.
'What, by helping you in some little
bit of priggery?" said the boy, sus-
piciously.
mo, honestly replied Abraham
''And who am l to look to for the
money!"
ITO me-"
The lad looked Abraham over from
head to foot, and laughed jeeringly
''Ah, yes" said that gentleman, you
think | don't look to be a man Of such
great property
You see," said the peddler, "the lin
your Boots; and seemed perfectly
amazed as Abraham showed him Il
half-Sovereign and some silver, which
he had drawn from an inner and con-
cealed pocket.
you see," said the pedler, 'the lin
ing is sometimes better than the out
side cloth"
You are sure you come by all that
money honestly?"
Abraham looked shocked and said
that he had never been guilty of dis
honest action all his life.
Clean your Boots didn't know about
that; but he thought he might be safe
in dealing now with his queer GUS
toner; for, certainly, there hadn't been
any great robbery of late-leastWise,
not as he knowned on.
1tT iSfan " said A bra ham
II does" replied the lad. "What is
it you want me to do!'
Nothing"
81 can do it easy"
THAT scarcely anything"
"a arrand, l S'pOSe?' said the boy.
''Where do you want me to run top
Nowhere"
''Well, 1 can soon go that distance,
if you give me proper direction"
81 want merely the use of your box"
said the peddler.
You don't want to take the bread
out of my mouth, do your?
'Oh, no; | wish to place something
within it, that is all"
''Well, I'm agreeable" cried the lad.
"Only don't put wagon load O. Goals
in it, else there won't be no room for
my backing and brushes"
Tony Overreaches the PeddIer.
'Open you box" said Abraham.
The lad did so, and the pocketb6ok
was placed within it, and the box re-
closed.
''Is that ALP asked the Boots, won
deringly, arc somewhat suspiciously,
also.
Eyes, all-Yet, nor cried Abraham.
"What is your number?"
The lad held forward his medal.
The peddler looked at it and repeat
ed the number aloud, to fix it in his
mind
"rhat will do he said, and was
turning av3 y.
"Hilloa-stopr' cried Boots; where's
the half-a-cooter?"
.'Ah, true-to be sure" said the ped
der. We'll, there's five shillings- you
shall have the other five when / come
back to you and take away my pocket
book"
Boots, having bit hard at each piece
of silver and so satisfied himself that
he was rot dealing with a coiner, then
said: "Spose, my swell, you shouldn't
come back at all for this here pocket
book?"
I'm that case" replied Abraham,
you must carry it to Sir Loghlen
O'Meara.
Il don't know him-is he respecta-
ble?' asked the lad.
The peddler explained, and gave the
baronet's address.
You are sure 1 shant get in no
scrap if | takes the book to him?''
questioned Boots.
You will get from him almost any
reward which you might choose to so
licit," was the reply.
I'D leave it to him, if he wasn't stin-
gy," said the lad.
do we exactly understand each 9th
err" demanded the peddle1.
I'VE does" replied Boots.
And the young gentleman Sc w Abra-
ham Mailer trip up the steps and glide
into the hotel, and thought to himself
that it was rather q strange piece of
business, which, so far as Boots was
concerned did not at all matter, so
long as it paid