Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-02-10
= :: :: :: :: = g = :: :: 8 :: = !:

HN the intervals Of trade-and the
intervals came often and fingered
when the thermometer registered
| 90 degrees-the clerks at Bruces S
drifted together in sparse groups to
| talk. The notion counter elbowed the
| stocking counter. and Old Adam-ev,
| erybody at Bruce's called him Old
Adam-conversed sociably with Greg
ory Knox. They were the oldest clerks
in the store and were getting gray in
the service.
"My, Hot, amt it? Stockins amt
runnin' real spry today" Adam said
with a cheerful laugh He leaned over
| the counter and tanned his round. red
face with motion" palm leaf.
| well, l guess not, All the swrlls
are out of town. and poor folks can 90
barefoot this weather. WHAT'S the
matter with you, old man? You don't
look peart.'
81 guess | look as peart's | feel,
| Gregory Knox answered.
You're played out. sonny. What
you needs week or two off. You
| tackle the boss tonight an see what
| you can do"
A smile curved the other mans lips.
1t would have been bitter smile If
| there mad been time enough before the
naticnt lines settled back into place
The whole pallid weary face was pa
tient
"I've been gettin' my courage
screwed Oh. I'll tackle him. But
what's the use?"
He shrugged his spare shoulders IN.
der the rusty seersuckcr coat.
You goin' to try it. ADAM"
"Me? oh. I'm all right. get
aboard my wheel Mt close mp an sEite
out into the country Il WAYS. No'hin
like it-not in this world. That's all
the country need Get n wheel. man:
get wheel"
Again the bitter smile that lost It.
self in patience. Gregory Knox was
thinking of the wheel he was trying To
get for Peggy. Both the other girls
had them. He had one of his whin
steal fancies that perhaps his chance
might come when be got to the streets
of gold.
The slow afternoon craWlrd toward
closeup. Instantly. at the stroke OF Il.
the clerks hurried toward the great
doors that swung between them and
freedom, but Gregory Knox took an
other way
wish you luck. old man." called Old
Adam after him. Put good luck looked
doubtful The boss. in Bruce's dialect.
was out of temper The heat and con
fnement rasped him.
"Eh? A week off? Man alive. are
YOU daft?" he cried sharply. Don't
YOU know we're short handed now!
The young cubs hav" to go--chnt hole
'em in-but You old chaps are our
standbys. You've had your fling"
Yes yes" murmurrd Gregory Knox
absently. When had he had his fling?
He was watching the boss fold MP
trout pole. joint on joint. Then his
psle blue eyes roamed tn the litter OF
flies and lines and sinkers on tn" desk
He had been thinking of trout pole
Ill day long. Queer! Bnt his had been
slender sapling. fresh cut. Would
this complicated bamboo affair catch
fuller string of fish than he used to
catch with his sapling? What beauties
they had been, How the sun had sill
vered their wet backs! Queer how all
day long he had been thinking of trout
and little thread of shadowy water
rippling under willow trees. lie :aZ"h
AWAY out of the window. and instcnd
of listless. moving crowds a barefoot
boy with string Of trout crossed his
retinas.
There, sir: that's the swallest trout
ing outfit there'll be in the AdirondackS
this summer You can't beat it, the
boss said in better spirits.
mo. sir; oh. no." Gregory Knox said.
But. then, it's pretty surprisin' what
string of fish you can haul in with Il
sapin' fresh cut. You get on" jest sap
py enough an Jest the right bigncSs--
tell you!"
When he turned away n moment lat
er, the boss called him back.
"Oh. l say. Knox" he called. Il take
it we can let you off for II dny--say to-
morrow. Well manage somehow. Not
mt all. not at all; no thanks, man. Wish
you good luck"
But Gregory Knox had not thanked
him. There seemed no occasion. The
thread of dark water ran under will
lows hundred and fifty miles away.
The boss had relented suddenly. The
blood Of Izaak Walton. running In both
their veins. had forged link Of good
fellowship between him and the little
old clerk. Such slender link! What
would day off. one day, avail over
hundred and fifty mil, s? But in the
morning Gregory Knox followed sud-
den impulse and slipped down to the
sea to catch a glimpse OF ma and the
girls. He had not meant to go until
the last minute, and he went in his
shabby store suit and f'rgot to change
his shirt. On the tram remorse as
sailed him sharply. What would ma
say? No; certainly not. Ma must not
see him in that dubious guise-ma.
who was making her one month long
struggle for gentility in q great hotel
by the sea. 1t was her one chance for
the year-hers and the girls. They
dreamed Of It. and pa worked for 1t
the year round.
"I'd ought to have fixed up for mas
sake and the girls" thought Gregory
Knox guiltiy. and In minute the holi-
days zest had vanished. he settled
back DULY on the hot velvet cushions
and made his plans wearily. He
would keep out Of sight-that would be
easy enough in such crowds-and ma
and the girls need never know he had
been there 1T all. 1t would h? nice