Arizona republican., 1900-09-17
ABSORBED IN A DULL BOOK
Interest Which a Bookseller Observed
 in a Work in His Shop.

Singular a. it may seem" sail the second hand book store man in the Old Quarter. this prosaic establishment | has recently been the scene of very pretty little r-nance. in which. by the way I fear I played 2 highly dizcredit- able role. About a month ago. to tell
 you the story briefly, a good looking young man began tO frequent the shop, examining great many books espe- cially the ones on that itoD shelf over there, but never making any purchases. He generally came in the morning, and II couldn't help observing that a pretty girl, who lives on the next block. in variably dropped in during the after noon and also displayed great interest in tke volumes on the upper shelf. Eventually the coincidence excited my curiosity. ana. quietly keeping an eye on the young p5@ple, I noticed. among other things that both us them before | leaving always made q point of taking down a copy of Briggs History of the SeminOies.' Briggs was ar early Indian missionary. and his history of the Sem inoles is the dullest book in the world. I never saw another copy in my life. and don't believe any human being eyer read it, except possibly Briggs himself. and hes been dead these fifty years. Anyhow, it was very singular that such
 work should prove 90 attractive to q couple of bright. lively young folks of l',he present day. and I began tD smell q large sized rodent. Directly after the next visit If the good looking young man I hauled down the masterpiece Of the late lamented Briggs and wasn't particularly surprised to find neat
 billet douX tucked away in slit in the cover. l put it back, of course, and af- ter the pretty girl made her usual call that afternoon I found a second billet dOuX in the same place. Now, I didn't want to interfere in an affair that was none Of my business. but it struck me as rather cheeky that these interesting corresp spondents should be turning m: shop into a free delivery pnstohice, without So much as buying a two bit novel to help pay rent. so I determined to give them q little lesson. and pro ceeded to retire Briggs temporarily In the bottom drawer of my desk.
 Next day the good looking young
 man saunteIei in as usual" continued
 ithe story teller, "and when lie Taw the aching void on the top shelf he s.-ve violent start. Where is the-er-tLe Indian book that used to be here?' he asked, nervously. oh, you mean
 Briggs I replied. An old collector picked it up yesterday'-which please to note. was perfectly true. The young
 man turned pale. But I wanted that book mysalfT he exclaimed. excitedly;
 T simply must have it, Where does the collector live? Well. if you're really anxious to get it, I replied, you'd
 Q tier let me see the old chap myself. If he thought you were a fellow coIlac-
 tor he'd never give it up. All right
 said the young man, eagerly; go and ! try, right away. What do you think he'd take for it?' T can get it for $10, | if at all. l replied, and he promptly { handed over the amount. told him u call an hour later. and he was here, prompt to the minute. Well. l got your
 book I said. pointing to d bundle, but
 really. I'm surprised that you should
 care for anything so dry. oh, I'm
 very much interested in the-the In-
 dian question: said he, grabbing the
 package and smiling all over; its
 very fascinating work, 1 assure you. 1 Glad to hear it,' I replied, and. by the
 way, that's a new copy you have. I couldn't get the old one from the col Hector, but, fortunately, I picked up an
 other at a book store up town His l jaw dropped. 'CCnfGund it alln he r1ared, T wanteI the same bOoll-the
 one that was on the shelf" Why, | they're exactly alike, said I. I know. know he interrupted. 'but-but-well,
 you see. I had become sort of attached
 to the copy here at the store, and any
 other wouTd-er-seem strange! l must have that identical volUme' He was
 such picture of misery that l took pity on him--besides, you know, all the world loves q lover. I was only jok- ling I said; you have the right book in ] your hand. But let me give you bit { of advice. I know a very charming young woman who is also interested in ! I-er-Indians and who is very fond of | coming in and reading MT. B1ggz's val
 uaOle work. If you take it away. you i will deprive her of much pleasure. You wouldn't wish to do that, would you?' l By no means, he replied. warmly. 1 Then | will make a suggS Sstion-l5aVe i your book here, in the old place, and Iwhen either of yCu feel a thirst for in- formation about the SeminOles you can l come in and perus= it.. You are
 brfckr he shouted. anu nearly wrung
 my hand off: and ;he pretty girl beams every time she sees me. So l won their eternal gratitude by playing them mean trick No there's nothing very serious about the case. Slight personal opposition, l believe-fol 5i1len to see one another and all that. I gulss .hey'll get it strengthened out in time. meanwhile they are assiduously read ing Briggs. New Orleans Times Democrat.