The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-26

Crook felt that some compensation
was due to Symons for this sudden
rescission of his orders, and for the
trouble to which he had been put. So
he decided to run down to Southampton
and settle, while he had few unoccu-
pied hours.
1t was because of Symons' receipt OF
this telegram from Crook that further
tribulation fell on the head Of McNab.
When that Napoleon of commerce at
last abandoned his forlorn perambula-
tions before the door of the hotel which
Hahn had abandoned, he made his best
pace for Nottidge's. Smith was there,
smoking a cigar half foot long for a
man of his size, and writing a letter in
the commercial room.
Mr.. Smith," cried McNab, 1--WE
changed my mind, I'll TAX thirteen
pun"
Mr.. Smith turned around in his chair
and looked up at McNab, with the cigar
cccked up as though IL were a pea
shooter directed at the stewards head.
So he surveyed McNab for a moment,
and then shook his head, solemnly.
Its no go-in my own words, as you
said. No go, my cute friend!"
mo goi But surely we stand by
your offer, MANI"
81 made my offer once, and you
wouldn't have it. He that will not
when he may'-you know that pretty
little verse don't you?"
The twal pun then-surely ven
gle twl pump"
Smiths round, sleek head began
shaking steadily again. I'm quite
sure won't give you twelve pennies .
he answered, deliberately. when 1
made you that offer. it wasn't for the
sake of the wine. you may be sure,
else l shouldn't ha' sold 1t you for
what / did. / made that offer be-
cause 1 had a better one. and / could
ha' made quid or two out of it-and
so could you. But that better offers
withdrawn now-it's off. Consequence,
i don't want the wine, and I'm perfectly
satisfied with the transaction as it
stands. I've done all right out of it,"
McNab was plumbing the very deeps
of despair.
But yell no leave 'em on my hands
like this, Mr.. Smith," he pleaded. Yell
relieve me of some part of the loss,
conseederin' the circumstances"
"Considerin' the circumstances I'll
see you blowed first. Why should 1
take any of your loss? You'd ha' made
q gain If you'd taken my offer-and
you grinned in my face when l made
it, No, my boy. I'll tell you who ii
was made me the higher offer, if you
like-the offer that's withdrawn. You
can try him; go and give him turn
before begin to get tired of you'll"
Whats his address, Mr.. Smith,
"Symons, the clerk at Lawson's, auc-
tioneer's-up by the Memorial hall.
Where the stuff came from first
McNab waited no more, but tore
away to Symons with the fateful par
eel in his arms. Synons was as tough
as Smith. He had had an order for
the wine, and now the order was coun-
fernandez; that was all. He wouldn't
buy the three magnums, nor two, nor
he was most exasperatingly cheerful
over the whole transaction; so that
now at last, driven to utter madness,
the unhappy McNab ranted and swore
and danced on the Office door step and
proclaimed his wrongs aloud to all the
world.
It's a conspeeracy!" he cried. "a
rank, creemfnal conspeeFacy among the
hail gang o. ye, sendin' me frae one
to t'itherl A wicked conspeeracy to
rob me o. my money! I'm robbit-
robbit o. ten pun by a hail gang o.
thieving conspeeratorS,"
So that in the end, for the credit OF
the office, it grew necessary to call a
policeman TO propel the vociferous vic
tim on his way.
But McNab's talk of conspirators
sending him from one to another. and
the other glimpses of the days doings
which had been vouchsafed Symons
sufficiently aroused his curiosity to in
duce him to spend an hour in tracing