The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-10-07

ARCULARIOUS
, JN BY H1fIfiam II. Nv
, Osborne
g Copyright, 1903, by T.. @. Mcclure.


right. Every evening he went ant
stood in line with all the other pusl
cart men in the little back street where
the fruit cellars We're, and loaded NJ
with yellow bananas. And Arcularious
took good care to be among the few
that got the best for the least money
Had not his mother and his father
kept a little shop in Athens where one
went in and bought in the dark and
came out and found out he had been
swindled in the light? Arcularious
knew how just to manipulate Il bit of
fruit to make it look large and sound.
In order TO make peddling a success
in a 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 to 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 ii was different. Arcularious
noted out of the corne of his eye that
a patrolman's idea of three minutes
was highly elastic.
"G'wan, now!' exclaimed Officer Null
ligan to Arcularious Just as the latter
was pulling into, not away from, the
curb. "Gwan; you been here long
enough, you Hungarian" Arcularious
the first time this happened, started to
e~Xplain-iirst, that he was not n Hun.
garian; second, that he had not been at
a standstill for even three seconds.
"G'wan, now!' exclaimed Mulligan
giving him a sudden push that knocked
his special three cent fruit into the
street. 'Nonc o. yer lip!"
Arcularious 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 a 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 trifles, would never know the differ
ence.
But A~rcularious, whose remote an
cestor doubtless held the pass at Their
mopylp, rehelled. That which the law
vouchsafed unto him-that, he reasoned
with himself. he must have.
''These man. he reasoned with him.
these man! l shall get ever very
oven, with these mani"
1t has ever been Il mooted question
whether the policeman was made fol
the side door or the side door for the
policeman. There were several side
doors on Policeman Mulligan's beat
like rs not all made for him. At any
rate, he made for them with a persist
ency worthy of a better cause. But the
powers that be had tabooed the side
door practice. SO ii was only when thu
coast was clear that Mulligan deigneG
to enter.
and to think" he complained bit
terly. that a year ago | cd stand Out
in the street and drink a pailful. All
g'wan, you dirty Eyetalian! Git out o
therel' Arcularious picked up his mud
died fruit and once more went his way
Next day he reappeared, but moi
alone. He brought with him three
bright eyed, curly headed boys from his
tenement house. Each of them had q
banana in his hand. Mulligan loomeG
up around the corner and made for ar
interesting side door. AS he entered il
four pairs of eyes were fixed upon him
'These man. explained ArculariOus
TO his crew-"you watch these man
See, it is Hennessey, 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
ligan Mt a respectful distance. The boys
continued to eat bananas. -Four times
they saw the officer enter n saloon, anC
the smallest lad, who could tell time
calculated that Mulligan had spent
over an hour in half a day at the pleas
ant occupation. At about . o'clock Ar
cularious placed his cart %squarely il
front of one of M~ulligan's favorite
cafes. Mulligan was inside and soor
came out. He was red in the face.
Get out O. here!' he exclaimed
swinging A%rcularious with a vicious
jolt against the cart. The boys looked
on.
What for you do this, No. 337," in
quired A~rcularious, squirting in o
knowing way at the officers helmet.
Jaw, say now" demanded Mulligan
you fellows is stowin' away the stuff
Say, gimme a quarter a week, an II
let You alone"
Arcularious shook his head. "From
me-" he replied, nothing. l demand
my rights"
Mulligan grew redder in the face anC
charged on the Greek. "Y'ain't got nc
rights, you Chinaman!"
Arcularious smiled. "You have nc
rights to be so much in these places
Behind him, their faces on a broad grin
stood the three urchins.
eve saw yez four times" they sale
to Mulligan. "We're goin' up to head
quarters with the Greek. He's goin' tc
give yez dead away"
Mulligan turned pale. "What~ he
demanded of Arcularious. The latter
nodded and started off. He had but
ten feet to go to reach the end Of Null
ligan's beat. A quarter of a mile away
loomed up headquarters, stern and for
bid1inp