The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
The Sleek Mans Revenge
By n. QUAD.

Copyright, 1902, by c. B. Lewis.)
"When was ready to go cut into the
world and set up as a druggist" said
the sleek little man with the big dia-
mond pin, II made the mistake of set
ting up shop in a small town. It's al
ways a mistake, because yOn have at
least one old drugstore to buck against,
and there are eiiques you know moth
ing of until too late. This town was
in the west, and it seemed to me to be
a good opening for hustler. There
was only one druggist, and he kept dry
goods and boots and shoes as well and
hadn't the ambition to hang sign in
the window. I got a corner store, ut
ted it up in modern style, and when I
opened up my place was q novelty to
all and something for a country town
to feel proud of. The old druggist had
| it in for me, of course, and, as had no
whiskers on my chin, he found plenty
of people to believe with him that 1t
| would be a risky thing to trust me
with a prescription. There were four
doctors in the place. and Of course it
| was my business to work them. I got
| OAS 1OQA0 IA AA6Ahv Ook JIG OtACA .
wanted to wait and see how things
went. The one 1 got happened to be
the one who had the least practice,
and he wanted an even divide on prof
| it's. Not only that. but he helped him.
self to my port wine and brandy 20 Of
ten that was behind the game.
las a stranger" continued the sleek
little. man, 81 didn't know that If /
went to board with Mrs. Brown on
Wilson street Mrs. Green on Ash
street, together with her friends, would
be down on me. / went to Mrs.
Browns, and there were twenty fam
lilies in the town who wouldn't enter
my store in consequence. 1t was social
rivalry, you know, and they carried it
! into business. 1 was getting a good
room and board for 81 per week, and
Mrs. Green sent me word that she
would do better by me for 81. used
to be called 4 fair singer, and / used
to attend church every Sunday. i
started out haphazard and brought up
in the Presbyterian edifice. From the
moment was seen to enter its doors
was q marked man. Not a Methodist
or Baptist ia town would even glance
into my show windows. If I had al
ternated at the different churches, it
might have relieved the strain, but be-
ing invited to join the choir 1 stuck
to the Presbyterians and sealed my
fate. Several parties were given at
which showed up. and this intensified
the bitterness. They wouldn't let me
stand neutral, but must stand or fall
with the clique. II it was SO in re-
iigion, it was far worse in politics. ]
had never voted and didn't care q tink-
er's funk which side won, but from the
way both sides got after me you'd have
argued that my single vote was to de-
eide some momentous question. didn't
want to make any more enemies and
therefore refused to register, and, 10,
both parties were down on me!
ought to have done trade of $50 per
day, but owing to the combination
often had less than s. to count up Al
the close of business.
81 told you about the doctors hang
ing OF. 1t was well enough for them
to be sure Of capabilities. but that was
not what kept them from throwing
business my way. Each had q mar
riageabIe daughter, as I finally came
to know, and each was waiting to see
whose daughter I was going to shine
up to. I made = selection without
knowing anything about the little
scheme, and in that way wen over q
doctor, who sent In . prescription new
and then. The other two were dewn
ON me. however, AID I could figure
out that every time I put my arm
around that girl was SIC cut Of peck.