The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-22
Short Storiec
In Real Life.

ST&S@SSs&S&
| This is the stoty of a jealous Mont
gomery mer :hant whose zeal cost him 2o
and the service of q negro janitor.
Saturday the merchant displayed nu-
| merous suits of clothing to the admir-
| ing but fastidious eyes of negro Gus
toner. The negro said he had money
! and this enterprising merchant was de-
| termined to make sale. Desperation
had almost seized the merchant when the
negro with evident embarrassment sug-
gested that nothing in the stock suited
him.
II laks de suit youse got on, Cap'n."
said the negro, hesitatingly, but doan'
spose you'd wanter sell it,"
Dissemination to make a sale grew
stronger in the breast OF the merchant.
IF you want this suit I'll sell 1t to
YOU" he replied. ITS good as new.
too"
"whatcher take for it?''
you can have 1t for $780," said the
merchant scanning the suit on his own
person with some satisfaction.
"Capn, 1 amt got but so. but I'll
give yer dat fer it," said the negro, doubt
fully.
IAN right" came the answer readily.
cts a trade. Wait a minute"
Then the merchant went into a room,
doffed the suit of colthes. dressed himself
in another and soon appeared with big
bundle.
The strange negro produced ten-dol-
lar bill and disappeared in the street.
About an hour passed. Then the clerks
in the store were startled by loud i'm
precautions coming from the private office
of the head of the concern.
by the jumping Gehenna,' yelled tn :
merchant, that niggers got $50 or my
money. Fifty dollars. tell you. He's
got $50 of my money"
what negro" asked a meek-faced
clerk.
what negro?" scornfully repeated tt
merchant Gust as though It could be
any other negro than the one foolishly
sold my coithes to. Great Heavens, men.
had $50 In my pants pocket. and I don't
| know that negro-I say don't know that
| negro"
"1n coons look alike to me-" muttered
| the i..:.lc~-.'-- minded clerk, and his en-
plover scowled upon him.
"reierhtne I. the police" screamed
the merchant. I'm have that negro put
in Jail for Iobbing ne. Stop" This d.
mand to a clerk VIII, mad rushed to the
teleph one. EVA don't know his name"
The negro jani.sr suggested that he
would find the negro; he thought he knew
where to locate him.
Go find him." demanded the merchant
Find him. and don't come pack here
without him."
These things transpired Saturday. The
taritor has MT yet returned to, the store
He Is still searching for a strange negro
with $50 and a new suit Of clothes.
The police have beer notified. They.
too. are cycling all negroes with suspi-
cion who appear upon the streets in new
raiment.
They were two country mules. patient.
obedient mules-wee bits of things-but
very cautious withal. They were hitehed
to a farm wagon containing the two
rosy-cheeked daughters seated in chairs
and supdry bundles. while the bronzed
hired man handled the ropes that served
| for reins.
They came down Dexter Avenue at a
merry pace until they had reached the
| iron covering to the drainage culvert
| opposite The Advertiser Building.
When the mules stopped the wagon
| and Its occupants stopped also-stopped
abruptly. To the discriminating sight of
| the mules this culvert did not appear
safe; hence they stopped.
| "G'long, you pesky brutes" shouted the
driver.
But no. They might stand without COM
! plant the puf-puff-swish OF the auto
mobile, and the Notwithstanding of
the trolley car. but to ask them to pass
the culvert was too much.
The situation became strained. Traffic
| along the busy thoroughfare was being
blocked. The driver grew red in the
face. Not so. however. with the mules.
They planted their feet firmly on the
brick pavement and awaited develop
ments. A patrolman saunteTed upon the
scene swinging his baton. The girls in
the wagon retained their composure and
| their packages.
The mules eyed the policeman suspi-
| ciously. Jack looked into the eyes of
Jen and Jen looked at Jack, their ears
meanwhile carrying on an animated wig
wag exchange of signals. Suddenly they
started forward AS IL by mutual con-
| sent they lurched ahead in an effort to
| clear the culvert.
There was a momentary vision of lace,
| three-strap sandals, stripes, open-woFx