The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
THE BARRIERS SECOND BROTHER

trom the Chicago Tribunc.)
The barbers second brother-that was
what ne gave himself out 10 be, not that
the barber knew anything about him He
appeared at the little shop one day at noon
when the barber's assistants were all
away.
shave me" he said, and settled him
self in the chair. His beard was a full
black one and handsome.
You wish to sacrifice your whole beard,
sir?" .
Every hair down to the roots. And
You also may cut my hair. and do it rath
er close" The hair was rather luxuriant
and degree longer than that worn by
most gentlemen of fashion.
When the barber had completed his APP
pointed tasks, his patron arose. shook him
self, and laid ten 100-dollar bills on the
counter which contained the pomades and
the bay rum.
Il like your conversation, - said he land
| like the way you shave. l am going TO
remain and learn the trade from you. 1
am your second brother
Excuse me-" replied the barber polite
ly, the hand with which he stroked his
pale mus ache trembling perceptibly, but
what is the nature of the trouble you are
-? 1t will depend upon that whether l
give my consent or not.
Zone thousand easy dollars" unused the
man. spreading out his bride attractiyely.
Are they likely TO come your way again
and for thing so agreeable as the ac-
quirement of a new relative
But l have a wife cried the barber;
what am | to tell herr"
Tell her l am your second brother
friend No. stay; l will tell her myself
Where is she?'
In the room behind"
The man went to the door and called.
black-eyed woman with a sharp nose en-
tered. She was tidy. and her elbows jerk
ed she walked
is this she?''
The barber nodded.
Madam" sade TIE stranger grayely
lit has come to my ears how poorly pro-
vided your husband and yourself are with
desirable relations. Also | have learned
that there is a desrth OF BARRIERS ap-
prentices Therefore. | have come TO offer
my services in double capacity. l de-
sire TO learn this ancient trade OF your
husband, and also to call myself his second
brother. In cons Iteration thereof l tender
him those ten bills, each, as you see, O.
a noble discrimination
We may get ourselves in a peck of
trouble" said the woman. shrewdly. Il
think il is worth more"
An almost imperceptible sigh OF relief
escaped the strangers lips.
How much more? % he asked.
Il should like as much more as lies
there for pin money for myself
"A reasonable request. Ii | give it 10
you | shall trust you TO refrain from let
ting the world know of my generosity"
The tone was testing. but the man was
really a terrible thing to lcok at at that
moment.
There was menace in his eye that
made the pale barred barber faint.
Il shall never mention II myself, and
will undertake to see that my husband
keeps still, too"
Thanks. sister-in-law. II is an oath
No familiarity, II you please
Pardon me. none was intended. II was
a jest. Almost everything is a jest Do
not let me detain you any longer.
The woman may have wondered how it
came about that she was tacitly dismissed
from her own shop. But she left without
protest. having gathered up the bills the
man had laid out for her. At the door she
turned.
Why. are you our second brother" she
inquired she was smiling. The bills had
been a spiritual emolient.
Why mott" said he. And he smiled,
TOO
All that afternoon he took lessons from
the barber.
This is my second brother" said the
barber to everyone who entered. He has
grown tired of professional life-he was ca
the stage, you Understandable he has
come to me to learn the trade
But he vas not an able apprentice. That
evening. while scraping his own cheek.
the razor slipped aud made a Eideous cash
in his cheek, almost letting his eye slip
from its socket.
You will carry the reminder of thar
piece of awkwardness to the day of yoI.
DEATH said the physician, who took five
good stitches in his face.
Congratulate me-" said the baTber's
second brother to the ba Der after the ply
stefan had left. You heard what he said
i shall be SCARED forever
You pay a high price, said the bar
Der.
The next day the man appeared in the
full outfit OF a barber. and he devoted him
self TO his work He kept the shop scru-
pulously clean, he polished the Windows
and oiled the floor. He brushed the Gus
toners and BACKED their boots-this last
was an enterprise OF his own. At the end
OF a month the shop began to feel his in
fiuence. 1t had become popular. Men who
felt sociable. or whose children 2ried too
much o. whose wives did not evidently
enjoy their conversation. got in the way of
frequenting the place. II was odd, for the
barbers second brother said little. But
he had a way OF making everyone feel at
home. and he put padded cushions in the