The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-07
A Double Deal.

When the old peddler came to the door
with those extremely pretty vases, Mrs.
ChrEsty felt that they were the very
things that she wanted in her spare bed
room, and 50, instead of saying no"
when he politely requested her to see
If she had any odd clothes TO change
for some splendid vases She allowed HIM
20 come in and sit down while she went
upstairs TO rummage, and came down
with some old garments OF her husband
and shawl Of her own, which certainly
she never should wear again.
II came TO her mind that she was fool
| ish to leave stranger alone so long,
but the old man was sitting quietly where
she had left him. However, he was quite
| worldly enough 20 drive hard bargain
| and to the coat, vest and shawl she had
TO add gown that might very well have
| been worn often again
However, it was not ready money, and
| she felt that the vases-good limitations
| Of very costly ones-were lovely. She
carried them into the spare room, and
they made the mantelpiece quite a dif-
| ferent thing. Returning 10 the dining
room, however, a shock awaited her. Her
| husbands overcoat which he had I'M
wisely left at home that day, because
il was unusually warm, was gone from
it's peg. on the hall rack. and, opening the
| pantry door, she saw that the spoons
| but no one likes TO lose anything in that
way. Besides, she felt greatly to blame
for st
The old man had been gone a long
while, and, though she sent messenger
for a police officer. he gave no hope Of
catching the thief. or of getting the
things back.
WAS there nothing else gone?" the
| man asked.
/ MrS lreNI hOrr her mr.
covered one thing more-a forged one
pound note She had it given to her by
some one year before and had found
that it was worthless. and had written
across the back: This is counterfeit"
and added her name; and somehow she
kept it in her work-basket-
The old man had spied it with his glis
tening black eyes, and had helped HIM
self to it.
AT all events he can't pass it, laugh
ed Mrs. ChTtsty; Il feel a little consoled
when 1 remember how provoked he will
| be-"
He'll pass it somehow" said the po-
! licenan, as he walked away, promising
to report the case.
The day did not pass very pleasantly.
| Callers came, and she could not help tell
! ing her story, but it was a joke to the
| best-intentioned among them; and, as the
dinner hour approached, she felt very
much indeed like running away.
| However, of course. she was obliged
| TO stay. Her daughters were paying d
visit to some cousins, and there was no
| one else to preside at table. Besides,
she could only have put off the evil mo-
ment. She went upstairs and got out
some spoons she kept in reserve and
waited for the impending moment. She
hoped that her husband would. at least.
| be in good humor, and not-as when
| things went a little wrong with him
| a little cross
Mr.. Christy, however, returned that eve
| ming in high good l1umor. Moreover he
had an overcoat upon his arm. Could
| it be that he had come back for it, after
all. and the theft had been limited to the
| spoons and the counterfeit bank note?"
Il thought you went without your
coat" she said, with a little retoiceful
| leap of the heart, as she seemed to recog-
nize the garment by its form and color.
Mr.. Ohristy laughed.
so I did" he said; so I did No. this
is new coat. l bought it for William.
My son William is as tail as / am. and
nearly as stout, and this fits me snugly
-snugly. 1 came across ii in a queer
way. 1t is quite a bargain. You see, it
looks entirely new"
Yes, it certainly does said Mrs
Christy and exactly like yours, too, dear.
Aren't you jesting?"
NO no. no." said her spouse. you
know I only bought mine a week ago.
l presume it IS the newest style, and
William has none yet. He means to get a
cheaper one. oS today, while l was IN
the office, in walked an old mana ven
cradle old gentleman.
I" Sir says he, / am a man who does
not find himself getting on well, and am
forced to try going about among the gen.
tlemen. | am q tailor. l have made an
expensive overcoat for q gentleman. Ten
pounds was the price. and he did not pay
me. So. when he had it on his back one
day 1 said, Sir, pay me-" And he said,
You may wait until l am ready" This
IS your honest Christian against a poor
Jew
Yes, yes said 7, but understand
ne had not true Christian principles, my
good friend
Very well. believe not said my old
man. But when this happened 1 exer-
cised my cunning. I said TO him:
Very well, sir, / will wait But I
see there is a button loose. l will fasten
it for you l have silk and needle here"
"'"Ah," said he, Just like you TO leave
1t that way" and off comes the coat.
" on shall get * again the next day
after never" said l. So away 1 walked.
would sell it for 96, which is very
cheap
Il looked at the coat which he IN
folded from a paper.
g Guess it will hit my son. said /; IN
try It on, and We'll see
so it did.
Then said I. now. you see do this
to make uD TO you, as far as l can,
for that other fellows rascahty.'
You are an honest gentleman said
he. and l win repay ou by a great bar
gain 1 must sell my solid silver spoons
l meant 10 melt them. not to expose my
poverty. but you shall have the whole
dozen for the trihe of e.
Wen. Of course, I jumped at that
Mr.. Christy here laid the spoons on the
table-'and ! took out G10."
But ne had something else which he
took from over his arm.
Ny wife IS trying TO sell her shawl
he said
We'll. looked at the shawl he shook
out of its folds.
" You shall have L as a sample of my
generosity, he said, with a tear IN his
eye.
We'll, knew you'd ike it. my dear.
II looks like ore I used 70 admire you in
when I courted y7ou-ren center, cash
mere border" and Mr.. Christy shook OUT
the folds-the old shawl Mrs Chr7sty had
exchanged for the vases that morning.
She knew that at once. She could not
mistake IL But a. she looked a. her hus-
band. oeaming and twinkling with good
hunor. she could not bear 20 utter the
truth outright and tell how he had been
completely taken in.
SIX pounds for the coat and two
pounds for the spoons. he said, nerrily.
and one pound for the shawl, and