Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-07-17

the boys, and don't allow myself to be
insulted if l can help it. As to being out
of the store, there was no customer to
wait upon, and | went to the door for a
breath of fresh air. have never been
accustomed to confinement BEFORE"
"You say Joshua insulted you. How
did he insult youT
II was asked if would 60 to the pic
mic on Saturday afternoon He didn't
wait for me to answer, but said at once
that couldn't CO."
"Was that all?"
"When l objected to his answering foi
me, he charged me with being beggar,
and said that but for you would have
been obliged to go to the poorhouse. II
this had been the first time he had IN
noyed me, | might have passed it over,
but it is far from being the first; 80 l
knocked him down."
Mr.. Drummond was by no means a
partisan of Walter, but in the month that
our hero had been in his employ he had
found him a very efficient clerk. What
ever Walter undertook to do he did well,
and be had mastered the details of the re-
tail dry goods trade in a remarkably short
time. so that his services were already
as valuable as those of young Nichols,
who received eight dollars week. There
fore Mr.. Drummond was disposed to
smooth over matters, for the sake of re-
tanning the services which he obtained so
cheap. He resolved, therefore, to tempor-
| izc.
"You are both of you wrong" he said.
Joshua, you should not have called Con-
rad a beggar, for he earns his living. You,
Conrad, should not have been so violent.
You should have told me, and | would
have spoken to Joshua"
Excuse me, Mr.. Drummond but l
don't like talebearing. | did the only
thing | could
"Ahemw said Mr.. Drummond, you
we're too violent. l would suggest that
you should each beg the others pardon,
shake hands, and have done with it."
Catch me begging pardon of my faith
er's hired boyv' exclaimed Joshua, scorn-
fully. 81 haven't got quite as low as
that
"As for me-" said Walter, IF thought
I had been in the wrong, | would beg
Joshua's pardon without any hesitation.
| am not too proud for that but | think
| | acted right under the circumstances,
and therefore l cannot do it. As for
being a hired boy. / admit that such is
nv position. and | don't see anything tc
be ashamed of in it."
"You are right there" said Mr.. Drum
mond; for this assertion chimed in with
his own views and wishes. well, it
seems to me you are about even, and you
may as we'll drop the quarrel here"
Walter felt satisfied. He felt that he
had won the victory and maintained his
self-respect. There was one thing more
he desired, and that was to go to the
picnic. He would not have urged the re-
quest, but that he was well aware that
Joshua would report that he was kept at
home by his desire.
1T won't be very convenient for you
to be away Saturday afternoon" said Mr..
Drummond, who was princpled against
allowing clerks any privileges. You
know we have more trade than usual on
| Saturday afternoon"
81 don't think we shall have next Sat.
urday," said Walter; everybody will be
gone to the picnic"
''If you insist upon going" said Mr..
Drummond. reluctantly, II must try to
let you CO."
Walter felt no scruples about insisting.
Meanwhile Joshua went home in very
unhappy frame of mind. He had not sue
ceeded in humiliating Walter as he in
tended, but had an unpleasant feeling that
Walter had got the better of him. He
was very angry with his father for not
taking his part, and was not slow in MAX
ing his feelings known to his mother.
Whats the matter, Joshua?" asked
Mrs. Drumlnond, observing the scowl
upon his face.
Matter enough! That beggar las
been insulting me-that upstart, Con-
rad. He pitched into me, and tried to
knock me over"
what for? am surprised to hear it,
he seems so polite and well bred"
Nothing at all. lie sprang at me like
tiger, and all for nothing. He took me
by surprise, so at first he got the nd
vantage, but | soon gave him as good
as lie sent.
81 am really sorry to hear this" said
Mrs. Drummond, distressed. Are you
sure you didn't say something to pro-
yoke him."
II only said, when he was invited to
60 to the picnic Saturday afternoon, that
he wouldn't be able to leave the store"
II am afraid you said it in such
way as to offend him."
Seems to me you think a good sight
more of him than of me in the matter"
gIumbled Joshua. ''That's just the way
with father. He wanted us both to beg
each others pardon. Catch me begging
pardon of a beggarly hired boy!"
HE isn't any worse because your
father hires him, Joshua"
"Oh, yes, of course, you stand up for
him." said Joshua, sneerng.
"Now, Joshua, you know l always take
your part when you are right"