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


from Use Chicago Trbunc)
The barber's second brother-that was
what he gave himself out to be- not that
the barber knew anything about him. He
/ appeared at the little shop one day at noon
when the BARRIERS 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
sir2"
Every hair down to the roots. And
you also may cut my hair. and do it rath-
er close The hair was rather luSuriant
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, and
/ like the way you shave. I 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 musfache trembling peTceptibly, but
what is the nature of the trouble you are
in? II viii depend upon that whether l
give my consent or not
zone thousand easy dollars, unused the
man. spreading out his bride atrractiyely.
Are they likely TO come your way again,
and for thing SO agreeable as the ac-
quirement Of new relative
But [ have a wife" cried the barber;
what am { 10 tell herr"
Tell her I am your second brother,
friend. No, stay; | will tell her myself.
Where is She"
In the room behind"
The man went to the door and called. 4
back-eyed woman with sharp nose en-
tered. She was tidy, and her elbows jerk
ed as she walked.
is this she?'
The barber nodded
Madam" saide the stranger. gravcly.
lit has come to my ears ho1 poorly pro
vided your husband and yourself are with
desirable relations. Also / have learned
that there is desrth OF BARRIERS APP
preuticcs Therefore. | have come to offer
my services in double capacity. l de
sire TO learn this ancient trade OF your
husband. and also 20 call myself his second
brother. In cou- leration thereof / tender
him those ten bills, each, as you see, o
a noble mInation.
We may get ourselves in a peck of
trouble said the woman. shrewdly. Il
think 1t is worth more
An almost imperceptible sigh OF relief
escaped the strangers lips.
How much mOre2' he asked.
Il should like as much more as lies
there for pin money for myself
"A reasonable request. II l give it 10
YOU l shall trust you to refrain from let
Ting the world know Of my generosity
The tone was testing but the man was
really terrible thing to lcok at at that
moment.
There was a menace in his eye that
made the pale haired barber faint.
4 shall never mention It 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 sou our second brother" she
inquired. She was smiling The bills had
been a spiritual emOl!ent
why uot2' said he. Aud he smiled
100.
All that afternoon he took lessons from
the barber
This is my second brother" said the
barber 10 everyone who entered. he has
grown tired Of professional lte-he was on
the stage, you understand 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 EiieOus CASH
in his cheek. almost letting his eye slip
from its socket.
You will carry the reminder Of that
piece of aWkwardness 10 the day of your
death. said the physician, who took five
good stitches in his face.
Congratulate me said the baTber's
second brother to the barber after the ply
sIclan 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 seru-
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 sOciabe or whose children Tried too
much. o. whose wives did not evidently
enjoy their conversation. got in the way Of
frequenting the place. 1t was odd, for the
barber's second brother said little. But
he had a way Of making everyone feel at
home and he put padded cushions in the