Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-02-27
CHAPTER VI


young man of twenty-five. who wore a
cravat of immense size. and ostentatiously
displayed in his bosom a mammoth breast
pin. witha glass imitation diamond. which.
had it been real, would nave been equal
in value to the entire contents of the
store. This young man, whose name was
Nichols. received from Mr.. Drummond the
munifcent salary of four hundred dollars
per annum. Having a taste for dress, he
patronized the village tailor to the extent
of his means. and considerably beyond,
being at this moment thirty dollars in
debt for the suit he wore.
Besides this young man there had for
merly been a younger clerk. receiving a
salary of four dollars weekly. He had
been dismissed for asking to have his pay
raised to five dollars a week, and since
then Mr.. DIummond had got along with
but one salesman. As, however. the bust
ness really required more assistance, he
WIS quite willing TO employ Walter on
board wages, which he estimated would
not cost him, at the most. more than two
dollars a week.
Mr.. Nichols" said Mr.. Drummond. 81
have brought you some help. This is
Walter Conrad a distant relative"-llad
Walter been rich, Mr.. Drummond would
no doubt have styled him a near relative
las he knows nothing of the business,
you can take him in charge, and give him
some idea about prices, and so forth"
Yes. SIR said the young man, in an
important tone. I'll soon break him in. y
Mr.. Nichols, who gave up what little
mind he had to the subject of clothes, be-
gan to inspect Walters raiment He had
sufficient knowledge to perceive that our
hero's suit was of fine fabric. and taste
fully made That being the case, he con-
cluded to pay him some attention.
I'm glad you've come" he said. II
have to work like dog I'm pretty we'll
used up to-day. l was up till two o'clock
dancing"
Were you?"
Yes. There was ball over to Cramp-
ton. | go to all the balls within ten
miles. They can't do without me-"
Cant they?" asked Walter, not know
ing what else to say.
No. You see there isn't much style at
these country balls-I mean among the
young men. They don't know how to
they try to initiate me. | don't trust any
tailor entirely. | just tell him what
want and how | want it. Higgins, the
tailor here, has improved a great deal
since he began to make clothes for me"
Just then customer came in, and Mr..
Nichols was drawn away from his disser-
tation on dress.
Just notice how | manage" he said
In low voice.
Have you any calicoes that you can
recommends" asked the woman, who ap-
pcared to be poor.
Yes, ma'am, we've got some of the
best In the market-some that will be
sure to suit you"
He took from the shelves and displayed
n very ugly pattern.
Il don't think l like that" she said.
~'Have you not some with a smaller fig
ure?"
1.-THE large figures are all the rage Just
now, ma am. Everybody wears them"
II should like to look at something
else"
I'm show you something else, but this
Is the thing for you"
He brought out piece still uglier and
finally, after some hesitation, his customer
ordered ten yards from the first piece. He
measured it with an air of triumph and,
folding it up, handed it to the customer,
receiving in return two-dollar bill.
which the poor woman sighed as she rem
dered it. for she had worked hard for it.
When the customer had left the store,
Nichols turned compacently to Walter.
ssIIox, Ala ro,, lilo that rplipnGr he
asked
at seemed to me very ugly
Wasn't it, though? It's been in the
store FIVE years. l didn't know as we
should ever get rid of it"
Haven't you got any prettier pat
terns?''
PLENTY. / wanted to get off the old
rubbish first 1t isn't everybody that
would buy it; but she swallowed every
thing l said"
"She seemed like a poor woman, who
could not afford to buy a dress very
often"
NO, she doesn't come more than twice
year"
Il think you ought TO have given her
the best bargain you could"
counter. and put them back on the
shelves" said Nichols. Customers put
ms TO a great deal of trouble that way
sometimes Mrs. Captain Walker was in
Yesterday afternoon, and l didn't know
but | should have to get down all the
stock we had before we could suit her"
why didn't you pick out something
and tell her it was all the rage?" asked
Walter. smiling.
.sTvhat wouldn't go down with her. She's
rich and she's proud. We have to be care
fuI how we manage with such customers
as she is. That reminds me that her bun
die hasn't gone home yet. I'll get you to
carry it up right away"
Ii had been considerable disappoint-
ment TO Joshua to find that Walter was
poor instead of rich, for he had proposed
10 make as free use of Walters purse as
the latter would permit. Even now it oc-
CURED to him that Walter might have a
supply of ready money, part of which he
might borrow. He accordingly took an
opportunity one day to sound our hero on
this subject.
Walter, have you couple of dollars
about you to lend me for a day or two?"
lie asked, III Il TONE VI assumed careless
ness.
YES, | have that amount of money,
but l am afraid l must decline lending.
You know my circumstances, Joshua. and
that am in no position to lend anybody
money"
Joshua stalked away in fret. angry
that Walter would not permit himself to
be swindled. From that time he cherished
a dislike for our hero. and this he showed
by various little sights and annoyances
OF which Walter took little notice. He
thoroughly despised Joshua for his mean
ness and selishness, and it mattered very
little to him what such boy thought OF
him.
This forbearance Joshua utterly misin-
terpreted. He decided that Walter was
deficient in courage and spirit, and it en-
couraged him to persevere in his system
of petty annoyances until they might al
most be called bullying. Though Walter
kept quiet under these provocations. there
was often warning flash of the eye