Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-24
Sear1es' Rummage Sale
short story by Alice Louise Lee.

the first story Of the Rogers block, persusd-
ing her friend that they could make use Of
their neighbours cast of things.
Lemuel pulled his overcoat collar up
around his ears, and drew his hat down to
meet II. Then he seated himself In his
accustomed chair at the dining table and
surveyed the collation. Of cold scraps spread
out before him. In their MIDST, was a note
from his wife.
Darling. l have the most awful confess
sion to make. But 1t is not my fault and
l know you will forgive me. and get me
another. 1 am 20 sorry that you have not
a hot dinner. DO relent and come to the
sale. The men are all calling 1t searles's
sale. Isn't that absurd? The dinner is hot
and good. DO come for Is cents.
l am so sorry, but 1 could not help 1t, and
you will forgive me. will you not?"
IF any one can make head or tail out
Of that note he's welcome to It. searles's
sale. indeed. Wait until l get hold of a few
facts and I'll make 1t hot for EN-" was
Lemuel's comment.
He set his teeth resolutely into a piece
Of yesterdays roast.
Il see myself down there to dinner. I've
said I'd not set foot inside their blooming
show, and 1 won't"
The rummage sale was really a case of
Searles versus the rest Of the church, at
a time when rummage sales were yet ex-
periments in the and.
Mr.. searles ate his lunch deliberately.
fed the cat. poked at the furnace, and
started back to the bank. At the front
door he hesItated. There hung Lilian's
house key. forgotten. He must get 1t to
her, but how His dignity forbade his in
vasion OF the Rogers block.
IL ,yAILod nIonvI,s ao~vn Moir sfraof
turned to the tight and picked his way
through the alley. A negro, Sammy by
name, aged Il, according to the best
Of his own reckoning. crossed the alley.
Hi. there, SAINT" yelled searles.
Sam returned with a skip when he saw
his oft time patrons hand disappearing
into his pocket.
Here. sam, take this dime and this key,
and give one OF them to Mrs. Searles at
the rummage sale"
Sam grinned, dropped the dime into his
pocket, and disappeared.
Searles was now directly in the rear of
the Rogers block. A window was open.
He looked cautiously within. Coats, hats,
dresses, wrappers and what not, hung on
the walls and were heaped on counters.
The room was deserted by both sellers and
buyers, as the crowd was being fed at
that hour.
Just as Searles turned to go, a pair of
trousers. hanging near the window, caught
his eye. They were made OF the finest
broadcloth. not worn in the least. Searles
had a weakness for clothes and bargains
in the same. These trousers looked about
his length. A gust of wind blew the price
tag into view.
by the great guns" searles commented.
"only 81"
Sam came around the corner. Searles
collared the youth. led him into the recess
Of the alley, thrust IS into his hand. and
some pointed directions into his head. He
was to keep his mouth shut and bring the
bundle straight to the bank.
Twenty-Five minute later Searles learned
that his bargain was too short In the legs
and too tight in the band. He had like
wise seen himself standing on tip toe, cram
ing his neck into a back window Of the
Rogers block. And, even as he had seen
himself, some one else probably had seen
him. There was the rub.
StiI, those trousers were good and could
be made better. II the story of their pur-
chase got out he could invite the jokers to
view a pair OF elegant new trousers-at
least, they would be elegant when over
hauled by his tailor, Long, up In the city.
He should go tomorrow.
Having thus fortified himself against at
tack, he went home and met a solemn lit
tie wife. searle's heart sank the moment
he looked at her. The story of his method
of attending the sale was probably all over
town and this was the way II affected
Lillian. Lillian sat on his knee. and said:
'Lemmy. why don't you ask me to con-
fess?"
Contest" exclaimed searies in surprise.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
You didn't even read my note"
A light broke in on searles. lie began
to laugh.
TITS no laughing matter to lose your
mum. sobbed Lillian. Oh, Lemmy. it's awful.
I laid II down at the sale-it cost 336-and
some one made a mistake and sold 1t for
Is cents and we can't hnd II. Oh, dearl Oh,
dear!'
searles forgot the trousers. He threw his
head back and roared.
IT can't see anything to laugh at" OBJ
served his wife, her tones nufied by his
coat front. You would not laugh IL you
had to have your fingers freeze all the rest
OF the winter, unless she liberated one
eye and surveyed his face, unless you'll
give ne another, Lemmy. dear"
But Lemuel suddenly hardened his heart
now that the trousers scare was over.
can I AlAOIu "a AuAiiio6p oohVS
on SIS NUNS" he grumbled, and returned to
his paper.
The next day searies and his dress suit
case repaired TO the city. only TO hnd that
the way OF the transgressor Is hard. The
tailor shook his head over the trousers.
He feared that when the garment was en-
Iarged the old seams would show.
Searles went UP the following week.
according to instructions. and found a
pair OF intentionally tight trousers, with
long. faded streaks conspicuously showing
themselves a quarter OF an inch from every
seam.
Long advised his customer TO allow him
to send the garment around the corner to a
dyer who would make the entire garment
one shade darker, and so conceal the
streaks.
searles asked the price Of the suggested
treatment, shut his teeth and said. Take
EN-" The tailor followed him TO the door.
IT forgot to tell you that I was obliged Ia
refine them throughout. as the old lining
was so worn"
searles half way down the stairs made q
remark. The tailor did not hear distinctly,
but accepted It as a pleasant "Good-day,'
and returned II.
one week later searles was seated in
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