The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-07-28

along. BY the time he had reached
the turning. his mental processes
brought him to a full stop. 1T may
take as much as two or three dollars"
he reflected, but Ill do IL, declare
will"
lie turned back. The gilded youth
of Centreville, roosting on the railing
in front of Hull's, were a good deal
surprised when Williams gaunt figure
appeared again in their midst.
Look here, boys" he said, slowly.
His face was luminous with the light of
heroic resolve. "rve made up my mind
to treat you"
THE deuce you havel"
"Great Scott"
Good Lord, William, don't be rashl"
They gathered around him again with
whoops of good-natured banter. But
William was too supplemented to no.
tice the sarcasm. To him the delighted
grins meant pure Joy and simple in the
prospect of the coming treat. He led
the way into Hull's forthwith.
YES" he repeated, with solemn en-
phasis, I'm going to treat you. I'm
going to treat you ALL"
The boys followed with much hilar-
ity.
Good boy, William"
Go 1t, old mani"
They slapped him on the back with a
familiarity that delighted his soul and
warmed the cookies of his heart. His
eyes were bright, his cheeks showed a
dull red under the sunburn. He was as
excited as a girl over her first party.
The proprietor looked up with a
startled air when the noisy crowd pre-
cipitated itself into the middle of his
little shop. But his face reflected the
general mirth when Fiske announced
with family perceptible imitation OF
Williams drawl:
"Mr. Plumber, sir, has made up his
mind to treat us. He's goin' to treat us
ALL"
"Ycs, Ebenezer," William affirmed,
genially. He stepped to the front and
indicated with an awkward wave If his
hand how large was the contingent up.
on his liberality.
NOW, boys, choose what you'll have
said he.
To his excited vision the number
seemed to double and treble. ut may
take a five-dollar note" he reflected
recklessly, "or even more. But it's
worth it,
The choosing began.
a few people who had been leisure
ly drinking soda water set down THEN
glasses and stepped back to watch the
fun. Ebenezer looked on with O
broad grin. To William it seemed only
natural that the matter of selection
should be serious thing.
Charley Ludlow changed his mind al
least five times. Fiske was torn be-
tween the rival seductions of strawbcr
ry cream and orange phosphate. Al
last he appealed to William.
Lord bless you," said William, beam
ing. Il don't know anything about those
things. But take your time, take YOU
time. l want you should be suited"
He rubbed his hands with almost jovia
satisfaction. 1t seemed very luxurious
and extravagant, all this talk of fruit
sirups, ice cream, and so on. He haC
tasted ice cream only once or twice il
his life, and of fruit sirups he hearc
now for the first time. But I'll do it,
he still maintained within himself, 81
have to mortgage the farm"
| Fiske and his crowd were among
| Ebenezer's most constant and lucrative
customers. They were, therefore, priv
iliged characters, and very much a
home in the little place. While Bob
having vaulted over the counter wal
ladling ice cream into the glasses, ant
two of the others, with much rejoicing
were manipulating the silver-plate'