Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-06-17
MR.. DICK ROGERS,
CITY BILL POSTER.

your SERVICES, you SSep NIL 1eOSSAS'
said the caller, in quiet dignitied
voice.
Just So" responded the bill poster,
with a nod. $50 another year is up,
eh? Mercy mel how time flies. I'm
gettin' TO gauge time by your visits,
MIR. Lawrence; you're as regular as
cloekwork. Let me see-this is the
sixth, year, amt it?"
Eyes, this is the sixth year. How
many times more / shall be obliged to
come to you God only knows. think
] should have already abandoned the
attempt were it not for my poor wife's
sake"
His voice trembled little and he
turned a rather appealing and depreca-
tory glance upon the unmoved face OF
Mr.. Rogers.
Never say die, sir" remarked the
bill poster, dheerfully. ~ 'spose you'd
like 'em out right away?"
IF you please"
Got boy at liberty right now" BE
walked to rear door, opened it partly
and shouted:
"Scroggs!"
"Yep!" answered a clear voice.
bag, bucket and brushl" roared Mr..
Rogers.
fright We are!" came the reply, SEEM
ingly from a distant apartment.
Mr.. Rogers closed the door and re-
turned to his chair.
"scroggs'll do the job beautiful" he
remarked.
Are you sure he's reliable?" asked
Mr.. Lawrence, anxiously. 81 am almost
afraid to trust this to mere boy"
That's Scroggs' strong point-he's
reliable. Hain't been with me quite
wear, but I'd trust him anywheres'
Never neglects likely place, an never
GENES back till the last sheet is posted.
That kid'll make a great man one o
these days. I shall always give him
your job after this, for I know you'll
like his work"
Mr.. Lawrence sighed at this intima-
ton of the fruitlessness of his efforts,
and the two men sat silently until the
door was burst open and boy OF
about ten years entered. He wore
bill posters white jacket and trousers,
very much spotted and soiled, small
cap was set far back upon his curly
head, and In his hand he bore canvas
bag and a fat paste-bucket with
brush sticking out of the side.
Here y are, Dick" he announced.
Prompt as biscuit, amt he 2" asked
Mr.. Rogers, casting an admiring look
ut his small assistant. "Now, Scroggs,
this gentleman is very partic'lar about
his work. They're quarter-sheets an
easy handled, an. they're to go in every
likely spot you can find"
Specials, eh?" said Scroggs, as he
stopped over the package, cut the cord
and began filing his canvas bag with
the sheets.
"very special, my boy" said Mr..
Lawrence, earnestly. you'll not neg
lect the work. will your"
Scroggs Strengthened up and regard
ed him with look of panied surprise.
Dye know what they calls me, sir?
Why, it's 'Scroggs, the Reliable! I'm
proud O that. When I turns up my
toes, sir, I'm a-goin' to have this cut on
my tombstone: Here lies Scroggs, who
never missed a stick!' An won't
neglec' your work, cause why? Cause
it would Spite the motter on the tomb
stone. Them air billsll go up full count
en- all right"
He slung the bag over his shoulder
and the paste-pot upon his back. Then
he bobbed his head at the two gentle
men and passed out the door.
"a strange boy" said Mr.. Lawrence,
musingly. land very young for such
work. Are not those bills and the paste
too heavy for him?"
BLESS We, mol" replied MIR. Rogers.
"Scroggs likes pastin'. He stops SO
often, you see, he don't mind the weight.
Ii were a lucky day for me when old
scroggs, the blind man, died, an got
that boy. I'd noticed him leadin' that
old man around as keerful as kitten,
an' says to myself, kid ash take
that pains with his old dad has good
stuff in him-an' were right. He's
sharper'n chain lightnin' too"
Mr.. Lawrence settled his bill and re-
entered his carriage. The bill poster
reEghted his cigar and watched the
S1uipage as it rolled away.
That ducks on reg'lar wild goose
chase" he reflected, "but that's no bust
ness O mine. expect he'll be regular
customer for years to come"
Meanwhile Scroggs pursued his way
up one street and down another, leav-
Ing a trail of bills wherever ne went.
They were odd-looking bills, he no.
ticed. with great black letters at the
top and considerable descriptive mat
ter at the bottom. scroggs could not
read: he merely knew when the letters
were right side up. but that was quite
enough for his purpose. He was quick
70 see conspicuous position where G
bill could be noticed by the general
public, and he never let a good space
escape him. Here was one in especial,
the broad front of a deserted shop,
where the remains of various old bills
still futtered. scroggs posted three
bills in row upon the front, and then
sat down to rest q minute and admire
his work.
They're all 'zactly straight" he muir
INJURED, complacently, IAN jest the right
distance apart"
Two men, passing by, stopped and
read the bills curiously. Then wom-
an paused to read, and another man,
and still another. Several bows Joined