The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-25

Would be filling a suicides grave or
drawing checks for $4,000 each?"
The tailor didn't seem satisfied, but
he sat down on the edge of a chair,
and the Promoter turned to the wo-
man and continued:
"Ah. Mrs. Rabiddog, but it is good
to see you once more-good TO see
you"
.'CertainIy-excuse me. Shall we sit
down and so over those old times to-
gether. Mrs. Rabideau?'
II think wen sit down and go over this
Dill OF yours. When you skipped out you
were owing me almost 50, and I've been
up the work and the prices
Skipped outt'' repeated the major, as
walked about. .Ah, I have it. When I
LETT the house of my dear landlady at a
moments notice one night, because the
yellow. fever had invaded the place, it
gave the tongue OF envy a chance to say
that had skipped. It's hard. very hard
had Just time to cali a messenger boy
and tell him to take s.. 80 in cash and my
fondest regrets when-''
He never brought the money, SIR" in
terrupted the woman
''Und 1 like my 81 purity queek.'' added
He never brought the money. Poor
boyi He must have been stricken down
in wealth and felt stricken in my con-
science over your death, and yet you
looked upon me as a dead beat and Were
as much alive as myself can make it
out. Mrs, Rabid-Rabid-'
Mrs. Rabideau. but the first thing is
to pay you your money. In writing out
check for the amount. 1 wish to say
to you
The door opened for the third time and
woman who bore the hallmarks of a
canvassing agent, stepped in and said to
the major:
Excuse me if I intrude. but I'm look
ing FOR Major Crofoot-
There's but one ON earth, ma am, and
he's here before YOU Is II So,VO sub
scription for young and tender orphan
asylum you would ask for?"
No, sir. 1 was canvassing three years
ago for subscribers to the Life of Gaze
sar, bound in calf, half-calf or morocco,
and you took one.
Half-calf? 1 have bought so many half
calf Lives of Caesar that do not RECALL
do invited you out to lunch, didn' t
time tc pay for it you said you had left
your purse in the office, and had to pay
bill of IS cents"
The laundress and the tailor both smiled
and after bestowing look of reproof up
on them. the major asked of the can
But what of the Life of Caesar?'
You wheedled me into leaving that be-
fore you paid cent on 1t, and after,
bookstore for 40 cents. You owe me S3S5.
Major
tIind = TO me. aQQeQ the ldl1OI-
And 2.SO to me- said the laundress-
Let me first say that 1 am re1olced
that the three of you have called, re-
piled the major, a warm glow seemed
to pass over him. and secondly, L WISH
to inquire if any of you would take a sec
lretaryship at $4,000 year? The $1,000 is
only Il starter, understand After the
first three months the salary will be
raised from one-third to one half 1 have
been holding the place open to give 1t to
some one who trusted and believed in me
in those old days when 1 had to walk four
miles to save street car fare Only one
of you can have it, but
Il takes my 81 said the tailor
And I want my $780, said the laun-
dress
And I shall sit right here until have
that s5.s5 in my hand added the can
vasser -
The major saw that the old game would
not work and for minute he was
stumped. Then his smile broadened and
spread and he Observed
Just moment till l run to the bank
for new check book and bring a bottle
of champagne back with me. Gold, green
backs or checks, just as you wish, out
can never-no never-forget-
Nor can his three creditors. They sat
there until two o clock in the afternoon
before giving up, and then only one of
them said anything as they softly rose
M and giided down stairs That was the
tailor. and all he said was:
Ply golly, but if 1 hat dot man py der
heels I wiring his head off shust like some
chickens 1 dunno.i-(Copyright, 1904, by
c. 3. Lewis-)