The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-02

hope of reward. takes my part to the
point of physical assertion. AS chance
has given me knowledge. of his loyal
nature, l shall rejoice at the opportu-
nifty to make proper acknowledgment
shall tell Martin that il Mr. Oscar
Smith calls in my absence he is to be
detained until my return.
Later when I returned to dress for
dinner / heard voices In the dining
room, which aroused suspicion that
Martin was entertaining callers there
was about to make investigation when
my progress was arrested by hearing
my name used freely by Martin and
another speaker. Martin said in his
usual placid tone No. Mr. Oscar
Smith, you can't pluck Mr.. Larkmead
while I'm with him. I guess if you
knew that l was here you wouldn't try
that old trick of pretending to be q
poor sick devil who had struck a bully
IN defense of Mr.. Larkmead. That's
an old time begging letter writer's
trick
The caller made answer quite mer-
rily: We'll, Martin, it was a long shot
to try on anybody, but I'd heard that
Mr.. Larkmead was an easy mark. 50 I
didn't waste any new tricks on him at
the start. OF course, if I'd known you
were here I'd tried the best trick in
my bunch, for there's little In the way
of my graft that you didn't learn to
block when you were with Mr.. Lac
querre"
Well" rejoined Martin. in a tone he
might have used In discussing pictures,
potatoes or parties, ssMr. Larkmead has
1t In him TO be a sharp one. but while
he's learning his way around you and
your crew OF buncO men will save lot
OF postage in cutting him off your list
for I'm on guard here. Now you may
get out, for I'm expecting Mr.. Lark
mead home presently"
4 SO long, Martin" replied the other,
Seemingly undistressed by Martins
plain language. Tn glad to see you
In such a good place. If think OF
new kind of begging letter dodge, I'll
try 1t on you, for If It passes you 1t
will be good for fair. So long, Martin"
/ was dazed at the condition revealed
by this fortunately overheard conXer-
sation. and expected a long expIana-
ton Of the begging letter business
when I asked Martin If any one had
called that afternoon.
only Mr.. Oscar Smith, SIR an
swered Martin.
Il told you to keep him If he should
CALL"
There was no use, sir. gave him
what he needed
Money!"
NJ, S4I dQf4CS. We kI1ONH 1ll1u q
long time-not as Mr.. Oscar Smith
and know that all he needs is good
advice"
Martin said no more about turning
the professional begging letter writer
away, and seems to include the whole
strange matter in the way of his reg
ular duties
1t may be, Uncle Silas, that I've
been over credulous in my dealing
with those who have sought me here,
but it seems that I'm now to be pro-
tected IN one respect. But there's an
other in which I fear even astute Mar
tin will not avail to save me trouble,
I refer to the matter of the pursuit Of
me by mothers of eligible daughters.
Not of the Aunt Sarah or Mrs. Lac
querre class, nor yet of the class of
the mother of Miss Babe Franklin, but
a different class still, who are SWIM
ming within my ken in such numbers
and with such grimness OF purpose
that l am almost as much alarmed as
embarrassed. have devoted too much
space to telling you of the change in
the manner of my living. l must defer
giving some account of what it is like
to be the object of actively contest in
the marriage market. Until then. as
ever, affeetionateiy, Reuben.