The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-17
PART III.

Mr.. Crockett was awakened early in
the morning by rasping of ropes and
Jangling of bells. He thought at first
1t was fire, and leaped from the bed
In alarm, striking his head against
a projecting corner of the wall. But he
soon decided that it was no fire. He
could hear voices as If some one were
shouting up a long chimney. The
voices were distinct enough for him
TO understand many of the words that
were said. There was a threat
about never sending up any more
meat unless the last months bill was
settled, and then a different voice was
heard in expostulation and entreaty.
Mr.. Crockett did not catch the end Of
the discussion.
Mr.. Crockett did not sleep any more
and was called to breakfast an hour
later. The boys were there. small and
sharp-faced like their parents. Mr..
Crockett greeted them with affection
for he was a warm-hearted man, but
he could not say that he took to them
very much. They seemed too old for
their years. Jim ought to have let them
stay at school longer There was such
thing as crowding a boy too much.
The breakfast consisted of coffee,
bread and butter, and some thin slices
of bacon.
We've grown out of that old Ken
lucky way of eating a big meal at
breakfast" said Cousin Jim. ITS
very bad habit. Awful on the diges-
ton. The Europeans, who know much
more about the art of eating than we
do, have only bread and butter and cof-
fee or, tea at breakfast. You country
people suffer terribly from dyspepsia,
\ and its all caused by over-eating."
Mr.. Crockett admitted that Cousin
Jim might be right Nevertheless, he
was very hungry, when the breakfast
was over. The boys slid away so quiet
ly that he did not notice their absence
until they had been gone several min
utes.
IT s'pose you have 'em in the busi-
ness with you, so they can take charge
of it. when you feel like retirin'," haz-
arded Mr.. Crockett
Cousin Jim did not deny the correct
ness of this supposition. The break
fast being finished, it was suggested that
Mr.. Crockett go down to Central park
and spend the morning there. His
host and hostess were sorry they could
not go with him, but one was compel
led to look after his business, and the
latter, owing to the temporary lack of
servants, could not neglect her house
hold duties. But Mr.. Crockett demur-
red. Central park could wait. He be-
lieved he would go down with Cousin
Jim and see how a big dry goods store
was run.
Cousin Jim, with rather more vigor
than he had shown at any time be-
fore, sought to get this notion out of
~.
such a commonplace thing, he said,
that a mere looker-on was bound to be
bored. But Mr.. Crockett did not think
so. He could see grass and trees every
day in Kentucky as good as they had
In Central park, and the dry goods
store would interest him much more.
He was not to be dissuaded.
They went down together on the ele-
waited road and entered the big dry
goods store in the heart of the shop
ping district, just as the clerks were
gathering for their work. Back in the
could see the high brass railing that
could Sc the high brass railing that
surrounded the offices. But Cousin Jim
did not go back there. He hung his hat
in niche and stationed himself like a
soldier beside a table that stood in
front of shelves loaded with rolls of
cloth.
Don't you go back every mornin'
to see the other partners?" asked Mr..
Crockett.
NO" said Cousin Jim, a flush COM
ing into his sallow cheeks. We've
had some trouble with statesmen at this
counter and I'm looking after it my
self today. think you had better walk
around the store and saa thippSO
Mr. Crockett took his advice and
strolled up and down the aisles, Won
dering II New York had enough people
to buy all the goods in that big build
ing. There We're many girls behind the
counters, and Mr.. Crockett spoke gal
lantly to one of them, saying that he
hoped that Cousin Jim treated her well
In the store.