The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-12-24

come IN, SAID Henry rogers, the
senior member Of the firm, a man OF
sixty, with round, jolly face and q
pair of keen, humorous eyes.
The door opened, and the janitor OF
the building stepped inside and With
an obsequious bow said:
"Mr. Rogers, the scrubwomen Of this
building-there's fifteen of them-are
out In the hall, and they won't go
away until they see YOU"
BLESS mer' said Rogers, arising and
throwing his half consumed cigar into
the glowing CRATE.
A few seconds later Rogers stood be-
fore q group Of women, huddled to-
gether In earnest and rapid converse
ton. When the banker appeared Mary
Ellen Ryan, widow of forty, with
three children, stepped forward and
made a courtesy nearly to the floor.
Said she:
akin yer par.rdoa, Mr.. Rogers. but
today, and they picked me out to say
q few words--a few words-a few
thankful words to you for sendin' the
five dollar bills to each Of us. God
bless you, and
Here Mrs. Ryan's utterance became
.hoked, and Rogers said hastily:
MY good woman, you surely must
be mistaken. r.
"'Tis no u.e Of you denyin' 1t, sir"
interrupted Mrs. Ryan passionately.
There's not another man In the Han
ever buildin' would do the likes OF 1t.
and may you live TO eat the chicken
that scratches over your grave, sir, end
II 1t would not hurt your feelin's we'd
all like to shake hands wild you, sir.
bekase you're a man" And Rogers
soft hand was squeezed TO a pulp by
fifteen hands reddened by water and
calloused by the scrubblng brush.
More Of your sentimentality." said
Francis Powers, his partner, as Rog-
ers re-entered his Office. I'll bet that
you have given away q thousand dol
lars In just such a foolish fashion dur
ing the last three days"
Il haven't figured up yet" replied
Rogers. his eyes twinkling. by the
way, Powers, what does 1t cost you to
support your yachtg'
Powers flushed angrily.
Excuse me. Francis" said Rogers
II did not mean to be rude. As to the
scrnbwomen. prefer TO have my fun
with living men and women instead OF
Satsuma vases, bric-a-brac, yachts and
automobiles. 1t Is only the point oil
view. You give tIiberally TO the church
and organized charity, and / prefer to
give individually. get my recon-
pense In the exhibition Of genuine feel
Ing"
YES, 1 know" replied Powers testi
~. but you are the laughingstock Of
the whole street. The Railways are
filed every day with all kinds of rim
ran vine cane here TO pull your leg.
stumble over the lame. the halt and
the blind waiting for you TO come out
Why. / heard Brown say TO a book
agent the other day: Go and see RoS'
efS. He's easy"
SO Brown said was easy. ehT'
chuckled Rugers. Now. | suppose,
Francis, that yoa consider that slang
expression n term Of reproach. Still
think II sounds a little better than
that misery old thief Rogers or old
I.a<ers would squeeze cent till the
eagle screamed In fact. Francis,
nm Of the opinion that Brown paid me
a compliment Under the guise OF Gym
icisin he paid me one Of the highest
compliments that one man can pay to
another"
You certainly are incorrigible." re-
piled Powers. There are regular
channels for the distribution Of char
ity. soriciirs organized for the pur'
pose"
Yes. I know" replied Rogers. but
I'll dispense tiny dollars In that way
shall miss the fun Of watching Mary
Ellen Ryan fumhIng with her apron
and trying TO make speech. by the
way. | have heard many an after din
urr speech that wasn't half 50 clio.
1ucnt as Mrs. Ryan's Eloquent
speeches are made not entirely with
the tongue. Did you ever hear a wo-
man say TO yOu that she hoped you
would live TO eat the chicken that
scratched over your grave? Francis. |
like TO see the light come into a faded
eve. the blush into sunken cheek at
the touch Of a piece OF paper which
represents TO me only the price Of a
dinner"
Rogers talk was interrupted by n
clerk. who put his head in al the door
aud said:
"Nr. Rogers. there Is a queer looking
fellow out here who calls himself Otto
Kreis. VIII you see him?"
"By all means" replied Rogers
"Hc's the German violoncello player.
Send him IN. You should have heard
him play the Schumann '1Icimwch.
Powers. lie appeared at the Atlanta
club the other night before 800 men Of
our type. lie carried his big fiddle
three miles because he had no car fare,
aud the club rewarded him with a
glass uf champagne and q dish Of ice
cream. TN going TO play joke OH
him"
grcig entered. ttl. cnaciatc
ymt.h ~ trcr; five. with poorly Oh.
tiHs 10th"