The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-09-04
ARCULARIOUS
Nv BY oviiIiam II. ~
OSborne
Copyright, 1903. by T. c. Mcclure.
sosos


stood in line with all the other push
cart men in the little back street where
the fruit cellars We're, and Dadcd III,
with yellow bananas. And Arcularou,
took good care TO be among the few
that got the best for the least money.
Had not his mother and his father
kept little shop in Athens where one
went in and bought in the dark and
came out and found out he had been
swlndled IN the light? ArculariouS
knew how just TO manipulate bit OF
fruit TO make it look large and sound
In order 10 make peddling a success
In great city there are two classes
you must consider-first, the public:
next, but not least, the police The
public is always ready to buy, but the
police are not always willing 10 let you
sell. Arcularious, Of course, had a IL
cense. This permitted him under the
law to remain stationary at the curb
for the space Of three minutes. Under
the police il was different. Arcularious
noted ont of the corner of his eye that
a patrolmans idea Of three minutes
was highly elastic.
"G'wan. now" exclaimed Officer Mul-
ligan to Arcularious just as the latter
was pulling into. not away from, the
curb. "G'wan; you been here long
enough, you Hungarian" Arcularious,
the first time this happened, started to
explain-first. that he was not a Hun
garian; second that he had not been at
a standstill for even three seconds.
"G'wan. now" exclaimed Mulligan,
giving him sudden push that knocked
his special three cent fruit into the
street. None o. yer lip
Arcuarious cleared out. At first he
couldn't understand it. but by dint Of
frequent inquiry he found that three
minutes. from the police point OF view,
was chronologically cipher unless
Unless you creased the officers palm
with a substantial portion of your prof
its. Under such circumstances three
minutes might extend itself into three
hours, and the law, which takes no note
of trifes, would never know the differ
ence.
But ArcuariOus, whose remote an
cestor doubtless held the pass at Their
mopyle, rebelled That which the law
vouchSafed unto him-that. he reasoned
with himself he must have.
These man" he reasoned with him
self, referring to Policeman Mulligan-
"these man, l shall get even - very
even, with these man.
II has ever been n mooted question
whether the policeman was made for
the side door or the side door for the
policeman. There were several side
doors on Policeman Mullgan's beat,
like as not all made for him. At any
rate, he made for them with a persist
ency worthy of better cause. But the
powers that be had tabooed the side
door practice So ii was only when the
coast was clear that Mulligan deigned
to enter.
And to think" he complained bit
terly that year ago | cd stand out
in the street and drink pailful. All,
g'wan. you dirty Eyetalian. Git out o
there" Arcularious picked up his mud
died fruit and once more went his way.
Next day he reappeared, but not
alone. He brought with him three
bright eyed. curly headed boys from his
tenement house. Each Of them had
banana in his hand Mulligan doomed
up around the corner and made for an
interesting side door. AS he entered ii
four pairs of eyes were fixed upon him.
These man." explained Arcularious
to his crew-''you watch these man.
See, it is Henncssey, No. A." he con
tinued. indicating the name and mum.
Der of the saloon. Mulligan was inside
for fifteen minutes. He came out wip-
ing his mouth upon the back of his
hand ArculariOus drew away and kept
on the move continually following Mul-
ligan at respectful distance. The boys
continued To eat bananas -Four times
they saw the officer enter a saloon, and
the smallest lad. who could tell time,
calculated that Mulligan had spent
over an hour in half IA day at the pleas
ant occupation At about = o'clock Ar
cularious placed his cart SQUARES in
front OF one of Mulligan's favorite
cafes. Muligan was inside and soon
came out He was red in the face.
"Get out o. here" he exclaimed
swinging Arcularious with a vicious
Jolt against the cart. The boys looked
on.
what for you do this. No. 337," in
quired Arcularious, squirting in a
knowing way at the officers helmet
Jaw, say now" demanded Mullgan.
you fellows is stowin' away the stuff.
Say, gimme a quarter a week, an I'll
let you alone"
Arcuarious shook his head. "From
me-" he replied, nothing. I demand
my rights"
Mulligan grew redder In the face and
charged on the Greek. "Y'ain't got no
rights, you Chinamanw
Arcularious smiled. You have no
rights to be so much in these places"
Behind him. their faces on broad grin,
stood the three urchins.
eve saw yez four times" they said
to Mulllgan. Were goin' up TO head
quarters with the Greek. He's goin' to
give yez dead away"