The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-06-30
Mr.. BLACKETT
BLOWS HIMSELF.
ny ]. A. TIFFANY.

II hours. lie Was the proprietor
Of wholesale store handling
high-grade surgical instruments,
and was doing a fiourishing busi-
ness. But he had been compelled
to borrow money during the last
year, by reason Of his branching
out; AID by some mysterious
means rumors had got abroad
that he Was not solvent.
The bank had declined TO renew
a note for $1,000, and he had had
just one day in which 10 raise the
amount.
1t had been difficult matter, as
several men TO whom be might
have looked for help were away ca
their summer vacations. But, by
running hither and thither, tele'
phoning here and telegraphing
there. ne had succeeded in raising
e2.975. He had still an hour left
in which TO get the remaining SO.
But he seemed TO have exhaust
ed his resources; and though he
knew the bank would make no diff
aculty about so small a discrep-
ancy, he did not want TO ask any
more favors of them.
AS he sat in his private office,
his hands thrust away down 10
the bottoms OF his trousers pock
ets and his head sunk into his
shoulders thinking harder even
than he had thought al any time
during the last - hours-a gen
tleman tapped at the glass door
and walked in.
Maybe you don't remember
me, Mfr. Blackett,' he said. MY
name ia septimus Harcourt. J
have owed you $50 for the last ten
years, and have never seen the
time until to-day when could
have paid YOU. Here is the
amount. sir" and he handed Mr..
Blackett five new. clean, crisp ten
dollar bills.
Mr.. Blackett leaped 10 his feet
seized his astonished visitors
hand with a vise.like grip, wrung
II cordially, then thrusting two Of
the bills back into Mr.. Harcourts
hand, he said:
Thank you, thank you, sirl But
e5O is altogether too much. It's
more than ! need. I'll take $50.
You keep the rest. sir--have a
cigar on me. Good-by. pm aw.
fully busy. Stop in any time and
have a chat. III give you credit
Tor the full amount. Good.by."
Mr.. Blackett having got rid OF
his visitor, put the three ten-dOl-
lar bills into tie brown leather
bag on his desk and took out a
nve-dollar bill. The bag now con
tanned the full amount Of $1,000,
and be was just on the point OF
calling the head salesman to run
over 20 the bank with the money,
when Mrs. Blackett came painting
into the Office, carrying her baby
and a bag, and perspiring from
the exertion Of walking from the
street ear in the broiling sun with
the heir Of the house and his bag.
gage.
She threw herself into Arcbi-
bald's revolving chair and laid her
bag down on his desk.
There's something wrong with
the telephone up az the house,
Archibald" she said. = tried 20
call you up a dozen times. but !
couldn't get Central. 80 I had
TO come right down 70 see how you
were getting on. lsimply couldn't
rest al home"
-I'm all right. my dear. said Mr.
Blackeft. hugging first his wife
and then the baby. I've got every
cent Of the money in that bag. Be.
sides five dollars in my pocket.
III send Watson over 10 the bank
right away. and when be comes
back with the note III take you
and the baby home and we'll eele-
brate the occasion.
Mr.. Blackett stepped 10 the
glass door, called bis bead sales
man, Mr. Watson. and seat bim
over to the back with the bag, tell
Ing him 70 bring back a note for
5000.
Then, with . sigh Of relief. The
tired merchant took the bzby
from his wife and marched and
pranced Up and down The oeioe
wrffh Il ~ hfa arrmn rnowrfno go