The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-04-30

brightly, handing paper TO MS 1rleno.
g Ave look at that
'Brewster'-wh that's my name!"
cried Joe, with start.
"'Course it is-'course it is, ole sport"
assented Mr.. Coleman, rubbing his hands.
"'James Brewster, returned from Aus
tralia, would like to see brother Joseph
or sister Selma" continued the reader,
his voice trembling with excitement.
''Why, it's ole jim! Fancy, after all these
wears! | must see inter this Always
DARN Teller was Joe. Why, e wasn't no
igher than my eldest nipper afore e got
the police arter i'm for sneakin' apples off
barrer in the Walworth road"
"Jest the sort to make is way, I'll
guarantee exclaimed Mr.. Coleman,
warmly.
"'E can't see poor ole Selma" contin-
ued Joe, in a sad voice. THE poor ole
Gel went to 'er last 'ome three years
Since. | always said as she'd be alive
now if she 'adn't been so aggravatin'."
'Well, she's better off, Joe," comment
ed the comforter. "And ANYHOW, what
say to drop of beer?"
.'There's music in yer voice, Bill, ole
sport!" exclaimed Mr.. Brewster, bright
ening up; and together the two friends
entered the brightly lighted establish
ment outside which they had been con-
versing
II well remember ole Jim sayin' to me
Just afore e started, L sha'n't come back
without fortune,' e says" remarked
Joe Brewster dreamily. IF e was ERE
now | could ave anything 1 wanted. e
simply wouldn't ear O. me sittin' with a
empty glass in front O. me-same as l
am now ED fill it up in a minute.
Don't smoke that ole clay ED say
cave a nice cigar ED say"
With start of extreme surprise, Mr..
Brewster presently realized that his glass
had been replenished, and that a fat cigar
was being proffered him by his hospitable
friend.
'Sorter man who'd keep is word,
should think-your BROTHER said Mr.
Coleman presently.
Il should think so, too," cried Mr.
Brewster "You can stand On i'm any
day What e says e sticks to, and al
ways did"
It was late when the two friends part
ed at the busy corner where the great
public house stands. The open-air mer'
chants were extinguishing their fiarine
naphtha lamps and covering over theil
unsold stock with sacking The pave
ments were crowded with people-house-
wives laden with parcels; fighting
screaming children; girls and lads in
groups of three or four. With a clang-
ing of It's gong, an electric car swept past
glittering with light, and the crowd
which covered the roadway closed up be-
hind it as before.
Joe" said Mr. Coleman earnestly, i
know you amt been doing very grand
lately. If two or three bob, or even &
dollar is any good"
"Bill,' responded Mr.. Brewster affec-
tionately, grasping his friends hand
"you were always a pal-one of the very
best"
Joe Brewster found his wife in sim
gularly amiable mood when he returned
to his house. She even kissed him ere
opening the oven and producing dish
of rcd-hot sausages Her husbands eyes
nearly started out of his head.
"Alice," he gasped, "'ot supper of a
Monday night! 1ou-you amt gone
barmy; ave you?"
Don't you worry" responded Mrs.
Brewster, smiling good humoredly.
''Them sausages emanated from Mrs.
Coleman's married sisters husbands farm
in Devonshire. Mrs. Coleman and one or
two more as been spendin' Il 'our or two
with me-
Thought you an FER didn't get on. .
remarked Joe.
"Oh she was as nice as pie tonight"
Didn't make no marginal references
to an advertisement in the paper, ola
she?'
''Never mentioned it," returned Mrs.
Brewster placidly, watching her husband
eat. Presently she resumed: 81 suppose
you amt goin' to see Jim, are your
Mel" The affectionate brother paused
with his fork half way to his mouth.
'Me 90 near that cadgin' 'ound? Not in
a hundred years ! / amt forgotten that
best suit o. mine as e stole to go away
in, nor yet the five bob e borrered OFT
me an never paid back. If ever [ get
near Mr.. Beautiful James Brewster, Els
quire, I'll alter is face for i'm, if e is me
own brother. If e thinks 'e's come back
TO sponge on me again, e makes the mis-
take of lis life, and so I tell i'm"
'You don't suppose ell find us, out. do
you, Joe?" asked his wife timidly.
81 'ope not, for lis sake,' responded the
brother darl1ly.
Mr. Brewster's friends were surprised
to see him at work again the next morn
ing, as usual.
"What! Amt you goill' to see your
brother, Joe?" inquired one of them.
called Jumbo" Dix in playful allusion
to his size and weight.
Joe sucked thoughtfully at his after
dinner pipe ere replying.
'Ow can l go an see anybody what's
well off," he asked bitterly. Gin these
clothes? Why, the slavey wouldn't let
me in.''
Bill Coleman, who was enjoying sizes
ia with his head on folded coat, and his
legs dangling over the trench which his
companions were excavating, spoke sleep
lily:
Il can lend you suit. Joe-same what
| 'ad for me Aunt Nellie's funeral"
Il shall want at" pursued Mr.. Brew
ster, shaking his head.
Don't you fret yourself, ole sport"
said Jumbo kindly. "Well see to that
Indeed, a deputation of Mr.. Brewster's
friends waited on him that evening with
the suit in question, and the money for a
new hat was also Forthcoming.
II shall want collar and tie," said
Joe. 81 can't go in a muffier. l should
disgrace Bills nice clothes"
'You shall ave it," put in the deputa-
ton eagerly.
"'E will also want" said Mrs. Brew
ster, "a pound of best mixed, pound of
moist, 'arf a pound of streaky rashers.
and tin of salmon"
''Will e want all that" asked Jumbo
slowly, "to go to see is brother in?"
"'E will" responded Mrs. Brewster
firmly