Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-12-13

dies, as we all called him-was pi-
quaint and interesting old bachelor.
He was very popular in a wide circle
of acquaintances, for added to his
amiable personal qualities, he had
plenty of money and was gloriously
hospitable. At the same time he pos
sessed parsimomous peculiarities that
made him the subject of innumerable
good stories, adding considerably to
the amusement of all who knew him.
Still he was, indeed, the last man in
the world we would have expected to
be bowled out in an act not quite
consistent with severest rectitude. So
when Dickson came hurriedly into our
hotel at Boulogne and told us that
Tommy was proposing to do a little
smuggling, we were all disposed to
be incredulous.
We had picked up Traddles on our
way home from an autumn holiday in
Normandy. 1t was the morning Of
the day on which we had arrived to
take the boat across from Boulogne
that Dickson told us how he had
tchanced to spy the solemn, immacu-
late Tommy in the very act of making
up a brown-paper parcel of dried bot
anical specimens, in the middle of
which he was cunningly concealing
some bundles of Petits Bouquets, evil
IDENTIFY in the hope of smuggling them
We felt we had got Tommy on
toast this time, and we owed him a
long score for practical witticisms
played upon us. Now we could pay
him in his own coin, although we
couldn't agree as to the best method
of doing it. What we. wanted was to
expose Tommy's little enterprise with
out doing him any real harm, and
that was just what we couldn't quite
see our way to do.
Kingstons took no part in the dis
oussion until we seemed to have
reached the end of our inventive re-
sources; then ne quietly announced
that he had a capital plan, and if we
would follow his directions, Tommy
should have startling show-up. With
the promptitude of a master mind in
command of dolts Kingstone first
held whispering aside with the sim
lple-hearted Dickson, and then sent
him away on some errand, and with
many an irrepressible chuckle, he
proceeded to initiate the others into
the parts each would play in his
plot.
According to instructions, we began
by displaying an inquisitive interest
in Traddles' parcel as soon as we got
on board the boat We offered to lend
him a small portmanteau to which he
might transfer his botanical speci-
mems. 1t would be more convenient
and would look better.
AS our voyage progressed, we
agreed that Traddles was not happy.
Apparently, the parcel weighed on
his mind, and quite unscrupulously we
took every means of increasing his
Iuneasiness. We enlarged on the
folly of smuggling, and told tales of
ignominious exposure and heavy
fines.
Fines" echoed one of our party.
"They don't fine nowadays. Since
the last act the penalty for Snug
Cling is Imprisonment, without the
option of a fine"
Poor Tommys face was a study.
His jaw dropped dismally, and he
looked altogether moody and miser-
able.
AS we drew near the end of the
voyage Traddles looked as if he
would give worlds for the opportunity
to drop the wretched parcel over
board, if only he could get out of
.;ry hi fn,.
good care, however, that there should
be no backing out Of the enterprise,
and as Tommy marched down the
.gangway, he looked, or we fancied he
did, little white about the mouth,
but ne held his virtuous head so up
right, and handled the parcel with
such an air of innocent concern, that
he might have passed through but for
the astounding action of Dickson,
who hurried forward and tipped a
wink to the man in buttons as he
passed
Anything to declare?" was the
phlegmatic official inquiry, as Tommy
passed.
Nothing dutiable." declared the
audacious Tommy, with an air of
dignity that should have carried con-
vfction. only botanical specimens
and-and-one or two other things.
Not dutiable, l assure you"
Tommy tried very hard to maintain
an aspect of outraged dignity as the
officer resolutely began to unite the
parcel, but he couldn't help betray-
ing the greatest agitation. He stood
the very picture of a detected Grim
inal. He protested, then he clustered
and coaXed.
1t was, of course, useless, and the
official was deaf to entreaty. With
heartless elaboration he first opened
an outside paper, then an inner pa.
per, and then began to rummage
among the botanical specimens, in
the center of which he found-a small
crusty loaf of bread
IL was of course. the worry fap,iI