The Washington times., 1903-07-05

y
verware. cutglass and bric-a-brac were
sold to people willing TO pay high
prices for the right articles. 1t was an
understood fact that they catered only
to the rich. Mr. Crabtree strolled
around and looked at things.
How much Is that silver platter?"
he asked of a naughty young man be-
hind the counter.
The salver is $175." with a none
of your business you-haven't money
enough-to- buy-it air.
Hum" he commented and walked
on.
Got any bronze images around here?"
he asked again. OF a styiishly dressed
young woman with a huge pompadour
over her left eye.
"on the third floor" turning with an
engaging smile to a fast-looking man
who had asked a question
Mr.. Crabtree was dressed in his black
Sunday suit. paper collar, ready made
cheap black tie and a straw hat. His
shirt bosom bumped and was slightly
soiled where IL had come In contact
with his chin. Well down the front.
below the eyelethole. guiltless of stud,
was large huckleberry stain.
He wore fringe of hair beneath his
jaw, and his face and hands showed
the wear and tear Of years OF honest
toll, while his intense blue eyes had a
merry twinkle and he did not appear 30
notice that he had not received the at
tention accorded the we'll dressed man.
Hating deliberately. he scratched his
chin, looked them both over, and saun-
tered on. with a rythmical bending of the
knees he had acquired as he sowed his
broad acres.
He went to the third floor; several
OF the clerks exchanged glances, but
did not offer to wait on him.
I'm looking for bronze images" he
announced, to no one in particular.
A young girl came forward.
"Bronzes? Right this way. sir. Was
there any special subject you were
looking for?' She couldn't have spoken
With more Difference TO Croesus himself
Wall. no. Phyllis Chloe Chats my
niece). we always called her Chloe Ann
Till she went TO college. Now she's
disowned the Ann and stuck Phyllis
onto the other end" Che chuckled). but
told Cinthy (Cinthy's my wife). 1t
didn't do no harm to put on a few airs
when you was young so long as you
didn't hurt nobody's feelln's"
mo. indeed" chimed In the clerk
with the violet eyes: so you are look
ing for bronze for this niece Phyllis?"
she asked. bringing him tactfully back
to the subject.
Yes, Phyllis Chloe's goin' to git
married, and cinthy says. Chloe AIMS
(Cinthy always calls her Chloe Ann.
Cinthy's a good woman. but awful sot
in her ways), been ravin' bout a bronze
inage with 'lectric lights on it. for her
setting room with the staircase Chloe
calls it her reception hail. but Cinthy
sticks to it it's nothing more nor less
tLan a setting room with staircase in
II. She lowed that when gals git mar
ried they ought to have their own way
as far as their kindred can give It to
en-, cause afterward there is always a
dun fool TO express his opinion and
stick in an oar on every occasion.
C:nthy does like to give the men a dig"
Fc shook his head and laughed again.
Il know some very nice men," she
arched her eyebrows and looked at him
Here is beautiful thing. Psyche, by
-" pulling the heavy plush draperies
across the alcove where Johnson, How
ard & Johnson's stock Of bronze deities
sat in state. She turned on the electric
lights artistically arranged about the
figure and told him the story OF Cupid's
sweetheart. He was intensely inter
ested.
Wall. I'll be durned," he exclaimed
as she touched a button and lighted the
mystical box.
Then this obliging young woman tried
TO show him some of the other cleo
trical statuary. but he cared only for
Psyche.
II was q magnificent piece OF work
manship. and it's price was $lO0. Farmer
Crabtree looked at the bronze medits-
tivelv.
"She amt got many clothes on" he
said. but I'll take her If l conclude to
have an image with 'lectric lights. Hoaw
much is it,
-Four hundred dollars with the ped
estal"
Hum, / had thought OF sumthin' in
dimons. myself; Phyllis Chloe's going to
marry a feiler with lots OF money"
The little clerks eyes spnrkled.
'Do you know. II was your niece and
you were going 10 put so much money
into a present, l should much prefer
diamonds. There IS a most beautiful
dragon-fy downstairs. Ornaments of
that sort are quite the thing now. II
you will go down with me. I will have
the clerk show 81 to you. oh, It is so
lovely"