Fort Wrangel news., 1898-06-15
LATER.
Had Them Tn Stock.

A News man was going down East Front last Monday. He was out look ing up the news when he met-well, we needn't give his name What items have you for the readers of the News?" "Oh, nothing much. But by the way, do you know Tom Case?" "Ies," said the reporter Well, let me give you good one on him. said our informant. and put it in just as l give it to you After promising to have the story put into type in correct form, he gave us the following story on Tom:
 Some ten years ago. the exact date doesn't matter, the only store in Loring. Alaska, WAS kept by Tom Case. who Is now engaged in business in this city.
 Tom, as he was commonly called, was a character. dry as d Patent Office re- port, and sharp as newly-honed razor and what he didn't have in that anti quated, old fashioned store of his wasn't worth keeping-or selling, eith- CT.
 Whenever some smart young man, of whom there always plenty in frontier village, tried to catch him by asking for some improb bable thing, the shrewd storekeeper generally came out on top of the heap by triumphantly producing the article.
 One day young man of this kind was chafing Tom about his extensive stock of goods, and he finally offered to wager ten dollars that he could ask for something that couldn't be found ill his store.
 I'll take that bet, young man." said Tom as quick as a flash; that is, pro vided you ask for something that is used around these diggings."
 "Oh, that's all righf,' was the reply, Il know of a number of them in use within half dozen miles of here"
 That's all 1 want to know" said Tom. "There's sawbuck for you, now cover it an fire away"
 The storekeeper laid ten-dollar bill on the counter, and the young man promptly covered it with greenback of the same denominations; two-pound weight was laid on the bills to hold them down, and then, winking blandly at the crowd looking on, the young man turned to the merchant and said:
 Well, Tom, I see you are already to wait on me, so l guess you can do me up a second hand pulpit if you've got one in stock"
 Pulpit, eh? Sure it's pulpit you want?" said Tom, scratching his head as if greatly puzzled.
 .'Yes sir; that's what I called for, and that is precisely what 1 want"
 "Won't nothin' but second hand pulpit do you?" :,
 No sir; either trot out your pulpit or hand over those two ten dollar bills, I'm not particular which"
 All right, sonny; if you're dead sure it's pulpit your suffering for, reck- on can accommodate you," drawled Tom, with sly twinkle in his eyes Then turning to his clerk he said.
 Harry, just take the hand-truck and wheel in that second hand pulpit from the back room. 1 bought it when the old Mission church was torn down q few years ago, and I've kept it on hand ever since, thinking l might get q chance to sell it to some durn fool or other, an'-what's your hurry, sonny! Ain't you going to wait to see that pulpit?"
 But the smart young man had van ished through the doorway followed by shouts of laughter from the crowd and after Tom had raked in both ten-dollar bills he called out:
 q say, there, Harry, you needn't mind about bringing out that pulpit sent you for. The young man has changed his mind about taking it, reckon :"