Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-11-14

TT used to be the firm of Baker &.
 White. but Baker purchased White $ interest in the firm, and then the sign rt ad: John II. Baker" It was just aft CT this change and taken place that was made head clerk. and that a stranger named Charles William Thompson appeared in the town of Greenda1e. Our business was that of a general store, and Mir. Baker was the owner of big woolen mill in the town. The rear end of the store, with an eu- trance on the side street, was divided off and rented to the government as a post office, and there was a door commu- nicating from the store Nr. Baker had a large safe in the store, and in this the postmaster kept his spare funds and stamps. We had three clerks and a boolkeeper, and it was rare that any of us had an idle hour
 Mr. Baker was jolly, good-natured man of middle age, who dearly loved a joke People used to say that his hearty laugh was as good as tonic. Mir. Thompson arrived at Greendale one aft ernoon to search out some long lost rel atives. He was also jolly and good na- tured and mfddle-aged. By the laws of magnetism it was perfectly natural for the two to come together and joke and laugh. This was just what happened. They liked each other so we'll at first sight that Mir. Thompson forgot all about his lost relatives, and Mir. Baker lost an hour out of the busiest part of the day. However, as he got ready to leave the store that evening he called me into his private office and said:
 Charles, you saw a Mr. Thompson in the store this afternoon ?''
 "Yes. sir"
 Hes q stranger in town, looking up some relatives. Very nice man-ha! ha! ha! Tells a very funny story, and it does me good to hear him laugh. You heard us laughing, didn't you, Charles ?''
 ''Yes, sir"
 ''Yes-um! We'll, you may like Mr. Thompson, and you may laugh and also make him laugh, but keep your eye on him just the same. He's very jolly man, but I've got an idea that he can be very serious on occasions. There are times when our safe holds large sums of money, and Mr. Thompson may coyet those greenbacks. Laugh with him, my boy, but watch him at the same time"
 MT. Thompson soon began dropping into the store in an off-hand way and making small purchases as an excuse to get a general look about and engage the different clerks in conversation. He ap- peared to take to" me as much as he ddi to Afr. Baker, and to make a dead set to win my favorable opinion. As a matter of fact, he could beat any drum mer on the road telling a story, and all his conundrums were new and full of surprises. But for MT. Bakers words of caution I should have taken the man as he evidently wanted me to, and after a week should not have hesitated to seat him alone in the office. As it was, l laughed with him, but kept my eyes open, and after a few days I thought bis object in dropping into the store was to get a close look at our big safe. The safe had a combination lock set on four letters and changed every few weeks and only two of us had the word. At that time the word was Jose" Aft CT a. few days, and one day soon after Mir. Thompson had spent half an hour in the office with Mir. Baker. the latter called me in to ask:
 Well Charles, do you find our Mr. Thompson a very agreeable man?"
 ''Yes, sir" replied.
 "Tells a very funny story in a very funny way-ha! ha! hal Never repeats himself, and never gets off anything old. Makes you laugh, doesn't he?"
 ''Yes, sir,
 ''Yes, of eourse-ha! hal However, keep your eyes on him just the same. l think he comes in here to look at the safe, rather than to joke and I'm giv- ing him every chance to inspect it. l think he will invite you to pass an even ing with him pretty soon, and if so you had better accept. Laugh with him, Charles-laHgh as hard as you can but at the same time be on your guard. The funny Mr. ThompsoH-ha! ha! hal"
 MT. Thompson had the best room at the best hotel. It came to pass that he invited me to spend an evening with him, and he had cake and wine and song and story, and I never enjoyed myself better. By and by, as we laughed