The Norfolk weekly news., 1900-08-09

He came to town by the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad and the Cortlandt street
ferry. and it was about 2 o'clock In the
afternoon when he made his metropoii-
tan debut.
In appearance he was somewhat ike
the countryman of the comic weekly,
,,ut not nearly so much as he thought
no was. The fact Is that Reuben was
touchy upon this subject. lie uiuh
like his name. and he didn't ike MS
looks. He knew that his garments
were rustic in design and his headgear
quite questionable.
"I paid enough for these Clothes
said he to himself, but darn 'em, they
don't look right. They look just like
me-Rube Walker from Wayback
In particular he regretted having
brought q satchel of enormous size anu
antiouated design; not quite the oiu
fashioned carpetbag, but certainly sug-
pestiye of it. He could see that the
cabmen around the ferryhouse observ-
ed it; the gamins of West street onereu
with one voice to carry 1t, ana the!
crinned as they did So On being re-
fused one of them actually cried OUT
"Hey Rube.'
Inside the big satchel was modern
handbag of conventional pattern when
Reuben had bought in Tunkhannock,
but at the last moment this had proved
TOO small, so he had taken the capa'
c,ous veteran that had done duty IN the
family for years. But he had saved
tho little one for use while going ABOUT
Now York, His business there was I'M
portant. He was to buy machinery anu
FOOLS for a factory in Tunkhannock or
which he owned part. ana ne hau
big roll Of bills snugly slowed ava! Ill
his trousers pocket.
Reuben had been to town pe1ore' pu'
not often. The knowledge that nothing
could disguise his countritied appear
ance had kept him at home and heiped
IN fasten upon him the very aspect ne
would have been so glad to lose. But
no was not a greenhorn; far, far from
f. He had read of all the wiles or the
bunko man. They are as familiar tc
him as to q New York reporter. AND
moreover, he was gifted with natura
sbrewdness that might well keep hin
from even those pitfalls which his eX
tensive reading of the papers had rail-
ed to reveal to him.
A nress of vehicles halted Reuben II
the middle of West street, and at tina
moment he felt hand upon MS shou'
der. Turning, he beheld tall youn
man in q checked suit of clothes, WIS.,
BILE beneath an overcoat with smal
collar Of sealskin and narrow bands Q
the same fur upon the wrists. Ill
darby hat was q trifie too small, and. I
make up for that defect, 1t was ute
over a little too far upon his foreheau.
JTpon nv word, Mr.. Atkinson" sal
the young man cordially, you neari
got by me-"
It was simply an insult to Reuben
Intelligence, and he recognized II
such. He was conscious Of wonderir
how It was possible for even the gree
est rustic that he had ever seen to
lured into trap by one OF these stee
ers." He had an impulse to hit the It
low over the head with the big satch'
and then another course suggested
self more sable, more gratifying to u
soul.
He shifted the bag into his left hal
and extended his right
"How de do, how de do?' said |
"Glad to meet you, I'm sure. But, sa
you've rather got the advantage or
Who be you, anyhow
"My names Stanton" replied I
Young man glibly. "Pm Lawyer
lands clerk. You probably don't
member me. We've only met once
fore"
"No-o." said Reuben slowly; u 90
seem to place you. How's Mr. LEAN
Hope he's we'll as usual
"Well?" exclaimed the young mi
"I should think not. He's fiat on
hack in bed with the grip Ina
something a man of his age doesn't
over in hurry
81 suppose not" said Reuben
"Howeyer," continued Stanton, >
can attend to your business at the
fee. There's really nothing remain
but to pay over the money"
"Pm agreeable" responded heul
and he allowed Stanton to lead hin
small. old fashioned building tue
away between two modern skyscraI
on William street. -,
On the second floor of this pulio
was an antiquated otflce SUIT on
outer door of which, in time worn
tering, was this sign: warren Lei'
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Looks long established ana RESP
able" was Reuben's mental comm
-"These bunko men know a few thi
anyhow"
Some girls We're busy with type'
ers In an outer office, through W
they passed to small private room
"Now, Mr.. Atkinson" said Star
nicklng I'D a small handbag of yer.