The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-12


L 4 mock, Pa.
He came to town by the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad and the Cortlandt street
ferry, and it was about o'clock in the
afternoon when he made his metropoli-
tan debut.
In appearance he was somewhat like
the countryman Of the comic weekly,
but not nearly so much as he thought
he was. The fact is that Reuben was
.touchy upon this subject. He didn't
like his name, and he didn't like his
looks. He knew that his garments
were rustic in design and his headgear
quite questionable
II paid enough for these clothes"
said he to himself, "but, darn EN-, they
don't look right. They look just like
me RUDE Walker from Wayback"
In particular he regretted having
brought a satchel Of enormous size and
antiquated design; not quite the old
fashioned carpetbag, but certainly sug-
gestive of it. He could see that the
cabmen around the ferryhouse observ-
ed it; the gamins of West street offered
with one voice to carry it, and they
grinned as they did so. On being re-
fused one of them actually cried out,
''Hey, RubeV
Inside the big satchel was a modern
handbag of conventional pattern which
Reuben had bought in Tunkhannock
but at the last moment this had proved
too SMALL so he had taken the capa-
cious veteran that had done duty in the
family for years. But he had saved
the little one for use while going about
New York His business there was i'm
portant. He was to buy machinery and
tools for a factory in Tunkhannock of
which he owned q part, and he had a
big roll of bills snugly slowed away in
his trousers pocket.
Reuben had been to town before, but
not often. The knowledge that nothing
could disguise his counhifed appear
ance had kept him at home and helped
to fasten upon him the very aspect he
would have been so glad to lose. But
he was not a greenhorn; far, far from
it. He had read Of all the wiles of the
bunko man. They are as familiar to
him as to New York reporter. And,
moreover he was gifted with a natural
shrewdness that might well keep him
from even those pitfalls which his ex-
tensive reading Of the papers had fail
ed,to reveal to him.
A press Of vehicles halted Reuben in
the middle Of West street, and at that
moment he felt a hand upon his shout
der. Turning he beheld a tall young
man in q checked suit Of clothes, visi-
bic beneath an overcoat with a small
collar Of sealskin and narrow bands Of
the same fur upon the wrists His
derby hat was a trihe too small, and, to
make up for that defect it was tilted
over a little too far upon his forehead.
Upon my word Mr.. Atkinson" said
the young man cordially, you nearly
got by me-"
1t was simply an insult to Reuben's
intelligence, and he recognized it as
such. He was conscious of wondering
how it was possible for even the green
est rustic that he had ever seen to be
lured into a trap by one of these steer
ers." He had an impulse to hit the fell
low over the head with the big satchel,
and then another course suggested it.
self, more sable, more gratifying to his
soul
He shifted the bag into his left hand
and extended his right.
How de do, how de do?" said he
"Glad to meet you, I'm sure. But, say,
you've rather got the advantage of me.
Who be you, anyhow
my names Stanton" replied the
young man gIibly. I'm Lawyer Lee
lands clerk. You probably don't re-
member me. We've only met once be-
fore"
Moo" said Reuben slowly; 81 don't
seem to place you. How's Mr.. Leland?
Hope he's well as usual"
'WellY exclaimed the young man.
Il should think not He's fiat on his
back in bed with the grip. That's
a man Of his age doesn't get
over In a hurry"
Il suppose not" said Reuben.
''However," continued Stanton, eve
can attend to your business at the Of
flee. There's really nothing remaining
but to pay over the money"
I'm agreeable" responded Reuben,
and he allowed Stanton to lead him to
n small, old fashioned building tucked
away between two modern skyscrapers
on William street.
On the second floor of this building
was an antiquated Office suit, on the
outer door Of which, in time worn let
tering, was this sign: Warren Leland
Attorney and Counselor at Law"
looks long established and respect
able" was Reuben's mental comment |
These bunko men know few things,
anyhow"
Some girls were busy with typewrit-
ers in an outer office, through which
they passed to a small private room
"Now, Mr.. Atkinson" said Stanton,