The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-23


cats meat yard wot wouIGn'e put r.,
'eels in yer face if q card yer fall
about gee-geeW
He looked me up and down contem,.
tuously for moment, and then viii
sudden accession of fury. and with the
acr in his voice changed to a snarl
tiid:
eyer come ere, do yer, a-spying and
a-prying, and takes rooms over the way
to keep watch upon me and nv ems.
toners. And yer want 10 get YER and
on them letters there, so as to find soma
hevidence to lay information az in me
do yer? Think L didn't know yer was
a-watching me through the korfey nails
winder? That's wot / went out for.
knew as yer'd be slipping over ere di,
reckiy my back was turned. But cop
ped yer, yer Sinking toad, and yer amt
got nothing to lay information on, and
I'll take care yer don'tl'
my good man." | replied quite
coolly, don't distress yourself unneces
sarily. l know very well that you are
carrying on illegal transactions, and /
could make things uncomfortable if I
chose to give the police hint. But I'm
not detective, and | don't concern
myself one way or the other with your
doings, legal or illegal. What / came
here to find out is purely private fami-
ly affair, and has nothing in the world
to do with you or your betting business.
A man l know has disappeared, and his
family are anxious to get news of him.
I've got an idea that he is in Stanby
and that he is having letters addressed
to your care under an assumed name
Now look here. You've got it in your
power to spoil my game, admit, and
I've got it in my power to give the po-
lice hint that might be inconvenient
to you. But why should you and quar-
rel? Why shouldn't we do little bust
ness together to our mutual benefit? l
can pay for any help you give, and if
you'll work with me I'll guarantee that
your name shan't be mentioned and to
keep my mouth shut about any little
business transactions of your own which
you re engaged in. Well, what is it to
be? Will you accept my offer or notP
You get nothing by refusing and gain
O good deal by accepting You run this
show to make money and not for pleas.
ure, 1 take it, and I'm ready to put
good deal more money in your pocket
than you'd make in the general way
and not to interfere with your usual
business either. / shouldn't have sup
posed it wants much thinking about"
"Wot dyer call a good deal more
money?'' he asked shortly, but not with
out signs Of coming to teriss.eA
rsA.15 or 90 pounds. anal oue
And fvbo is it yer after} 80
Of my pals as wouldn't s've IT, ,,o urt
tho tho hnl Gpso on and t aa5l, "o "' '
my man isn't one of your pals, I'm
pretty sure, though can't tell you his
name-anyh how not for the present,
answered. "But who arc the pals you
won't go back on?"
els it George Rayi"
emo"
"Apfy 'Arrys"
emo"
"Alf Mason?"
"No'
"Bob tho Skinner"
enc
erred Wright"
"No.
"Give Us yer 90 pun then. I'm on.
I don't care the price of 'arf PINT
about nore Of the Others"
"Not so fast, nay friend. You've got
to earn the money before you get 1t.
And it'll depend OH yourself whether
it's 91O, el5 or e20. Now listen to me-
| What | want you TO do is to make an
excuse fer me TO stay in your shop, so
as to get a look at the people who come
for letters. You must pretend to engage
me as your assistant and fix me up III %
white apron, and so on. If any one asks
questions, you can say I'm young
man who's come into little money
and wants to drop it in starting hair
dressing establishment and I've oeme
to you to help me do it. You can tel
them that you don't let me cut any Oh
your regular customers, but that make
myself useful by stropping the razors'
lathering the 'shaves, and practicing
hair cutting ON odd customers ana
schoolboys. / could do that much, l
think, without betraying myself. Inc
sooner we begin the better. Give me
white apron. if you've got one to spare,
and I'll put it OH straight off. Here
So down to start with. and I'll give
you another Go for every week I'm here
is it a bargain?"
"No, it amt. Ten pun down ana ~
pun weeks my figger, and no less
amt a-going to injure my business ny
taking hamitoors to learn the business
on my customers out Of charity. Them
my terms. Yer can take 'em or leave
'em. as yer like" /.
In the end we compounded the mat
ter for $40 down and SO weekly, an'
having arrayed myself in white apro,,
and a canvas coat, braided red, vhici
the professor tossed me from drawer
assumed those badges of office IN
shears, shaving brush and comb an'
took my place behind the second oper
| atiuo chair tn await customers and ue