The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-05

economy, took a long pull at the finger
bowl and announced that beef steak
seemed just as tough in New York as
it was in Vermont. 1t was inevitable
that some of the younger cousins
should Singer and that tine servants,
well-trained though they were, should
lose their gravity that it was their pride
and duty to retain. Ross knew that he
was like a fish out of water, but did
his best to appear in the swim. He
gained ground with the old gentleman
and the younger cousins, but the aunt
groaned in spirit, and she who ranked
as Miss Blaigh in the household did
her best to ignore the boy.
"Why, you're a man." said the aunt,
as they were discussing dessert.
Not IS yet" replied Ross. II reckon
I'm leetle big fur my age, but guess
I'll fill out all right. The folks at home
tell me I'm the Twin image of uncle as
he was at my age, and he's bout as
handsome now as you see EN-" This
was rather bitter sweet dose for the
lady and gave all the rest an excuse for
the laugh which they had been Loyalty
trying to suppress.
That night the uncle and aunt had
an executive session at which it was
finally agreed that Ross had too much
raw material to break into city ways
all at once, and the next morning he
received direct proposition from the
uncle. Il am largely interested in the
express company" he said. They
need boy to help the agent at a little
town up the road. You will practically
be an Office boy there as l will want
you to be for me in time. l know that
you have the right kind of stuff in you
and I'll keep the way open so long as
you show a disposition to make the
most of your opportunities and ad-
vance,"
This was not precisely what Ross
had counted on, but he simply declared
himself ready for anything that would
give him an honest start. and accepted
the job. Inside Of a month the direc-
tors had the boy under discussion at
one of their meetings. "All he needs
is tanning" laughed the president of
the company, who had himself made
tSlis own way in the world. You
should have seen that special agent
when he came in and reported his ex-
perience. He had puff ball under
one eye and walked with a very per-
ceptible limp. He was in a towering
rage and insisted that young Blaigh be
dismissed by telegraph. l let him tell
his own story and then convinced him
that the express company had no right
to lose boy of that stamp. He would
in time be fit for any place we had to
offer"
Just what did occur?" asked the
uncle, who could not help showing that
he was little proud over the affair.
The home agent was called away
for an hour on important business. He
told your nephew not to admit anyone
inside the railing under any circum-
stances. You know how it is with a
special agent. He drops in at any
time without warning, just like bank
examiner. He is getting so he can
grin a little now when he tells what
happened.
"'Open that gate, boy were his first
words.
No admittance,' answered the boy.
as he pushed the snap down on the
spring lock
Here, ~ impudent young rascal,
unlock that gate and do it quick, or
you'll lose your job
go, I reckon not Boys don't lose
their jobs fur dom what theys ordered
to do
"'See here, you impudent little fool,
I'm here to audit those books and l
have no time to lose. I'm the special
agent
"'And I'm here to see that no one
teches them books; and you kin quit
losing time by gettin' away from here
I'll show you as he made a spring
to vault the gate.
"But as he was in the midst of the
flying leap the boy caught him with a
| swing on the eye, used his head as
batering ram and our special landed
in heap outside of the breastworks,
as it We're. Now he was mad enough
W tedT the uepOl Gown, out as ne started
to repeat the assault he faced a revol-
yer that the boy had grabbed from the
agents drawer. The little cuss would
have shot, sure the special fumed in
telling it to me. 4 could see it in his
eyes. and he had the impudence to tell
me that if l didn't stop swearing he'd
put me out of the depot
81 don't believe in Furnishing the boy
for obeying orders" continued the
president. even if he does make mis-
take on the safe side"
Chip off the old block" said the
uncle, as he rubbed his hands and set
up chucllle that broke out at inter-
walls through the rest of the meeting
1t was only little later that Ross
was brought to the attention of the
directory again. Once more he had
been in temporary charge during the
absence of the agent, and an Italian
scissors grinder who had his machine
shipped from the city attempted to
carry it off without paying charges.
He was a savage specimen of his class,
but the Green Mountain boy had all
the courage of his ancestors and
tDpElpH tba fal1ou Tbn