Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-08-11
By o. HENRY.

tions after free grass went out
Every spring Navarro. senior part
ner, fifty-fve, half Spanish, cosmopoli,
tan. able. polished. had gone on" to
New York to buy goods. This year he
SHE'D at taking up the long trail. He
was undoubtedly growing older, and
he looked at his watch several times a
day before the hour came for his
slesta.
John" he said to his junior part
ner, you shall go on this year to buy
the goods"
Platt looked tired.
"Im told" said he, that New York
is a plumb dead town, but III go. !
can take whirl in San Antoine for a
few days on my way and have some
fun"
Two weeks later a man In Texas
full dress suit-black frock coat, broad
brimmed soft white hat and lay down
collar three-quarters Of an inch high.
with black. wrought iron necktie-en-
tered the wholesale cloak and suit es-
tablishment OF Zizzbaum & Son on
lower Broadway.
Old Zizzbaum had the eye Of an
osprey, the memory Of an elephant and
mind that unfolded from him In
three movements like the puzzle Of the
carpenters rule. He rolled to the
front like brunette polar bear and
shook Platt's hand.
And how Is the good Mr.. Navarro
In Texas?" he said. "The trip was too
long for him this year, so? We well
come Mr.. Platt instead"
"A bullseye," said Platt. land I'd
give forty acres of unirrigated Pecos
county land to know how you did it."
II knew" grinned Zizzbaum. "just as
| know that the rainfall in Ell Paso for
the year was 2S5 inches. or an Increase
Of fifteen inches. and that therefore Ma
'varro & Platt will buy $4,000 stock
of suits this spring instead of SlO,0O0,
as in dry year. But that will be to-
morrow. There is first cigar in my
private office that will remove from
your mouth the taste OF the ones you
smuggle across the Rio Grande and
like-because they are smuggled"
1t was late in the afternoon and busi-
Cess for the day had ended. Zizzbaum
left Platt with half smoked cigar and
came out Of the private office to son.
who was arranging his diamond scarf
pin before a mirror, ready TO leave.
ABBEY" be said, you Will have to
take Mr.. Patt around tonight and
show him things. They are customers
for ten years. Mr.. Navarro and we
played chess every moment Of spare
time when he came. That Is good, but
Mr.. Platt is young man. and this is
his first visit 10 New York. He should
amuse easily"
"All right" said Abey. screwing the
guard tightly on his pin. "I'll take him
on. After he's seen the Flatiron and
The head waiter at the Hotel Astor and
heard the phonograph play Under the
Old Apple Tree it'll be half past 10,
and Mr.. Texas will be ready to roll up
in his blanket I've got supper en-
gagcment at ll:30 but he'll be all to
the Mrs. Winslow before then
The next morning ut 10 Platt walked
into the store ready to do business.
He had bunch of hyacinths pinned
yn his lapel. Xizzbaum himself wait
ID ON hin. Navarro n platt were good
cuStoMcrs and never failed to take
their discount for cash.
And what did you think OF our lit
tie town." asked ZlZzbaum. with the
ia:uo.s smile of the Manhattanite.
Il shouldn't care to live in it." said
The Texan Your son and knocked
around quite bit last night. You've
got good water. but Cactus City Is bet
ter lit up"
We've got few lights on Broad
way. don't you think. Mr.. Platt?'
And a good many shadows" said
Platt. Il think like your horses best
haven't seen crOwbait since I've
been in town."
Zizzbaum led him upstairs to show
the samples Of suits.
ASK Miss Asher to come" he sait
to a clerk.
Miss Asher came, and Platt Of Ma
varro g. Platt felt for the first time the
wonderful bright light Of romance anc
glory descend upon him. He stood still
as a granite cliff above the Canyon Of
the Colorado. with his wide open eye:
fixed upon her. She noticed his looi
and flushed a little, which was con
| trary to her custom.
Miss Asher was the crack model ol
Zizzbaum & Son. She was OF the blont
| type known as medium" Her meas
urements even went the required 80
25.42 standard little better. Sh'
had been at Zizzbaum's two years ant
knew her business. Her eye wa
bright. but cool, and had she chosen t
match her gaze against the optic o
| the famed basilisk that fabulous mon
ster's gaze would have wavered ant
softened first. Incidentally she knew
buyers.
"Now. Mr.. Platt." said Zizzbaum
T want you to see these princes
gowns In the light shades. They will
be the thing in your climate. Thi
first, II you please. Miss Asher"
! Swiftly In and out Of the dressing
room the prize model flew. each tim
wearing new costume and LOOKING
more stunning with every change. Sh
posed with absolute self possession be
fore the stricken buyer. who stoo'
tongue tied and motionless while Zizz
baum grated oilily Of the styles. Ol
the models face was her faint. im
personal professional smile that scenes
to cover something like WEAKNESS o
contempt.
| When the display was over Plat
seemed to hesitate. Zizzbaum was
little anxious, thinking that his cue
toner might be inclined to try else
where. But Platt was only lookin
over In his mind the best building site
in Cactus City. trying to select one ol
which to build a house for his wife t
be. who was just then in the dressing
room taking off an evening gown o
lavender and tulle.
"rake your time, Mr.. Platt," SAT-
Zizzbaum. think 1t over tonight
You won't find ANYBODY else meet ou