The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-10-08
Ills Vacation

and very red face was dlsputlnS
with the proprietor.
'T gave you a dime." he snarled.
''It wasn't a nickel, 1t was dime"
The proprietor of the booth, a mild
little man with weak blue eyes, shook
his head.
IL haven't taken in dime to-day"
he said. Here's my bank" And he
pushed an open cigar box toward the
big fellow.
'T don't care anything about your
bank" the big fellow cried. Il tell
you l give you a dime. I've had my
three shots-now gimme my change"
The little man looked about des-
pairingly. No park policeman was In
sight. The crowd was growing larger.
'You give me a nickel said the
little man, "but I don't want any
fuss"
The big man snorted.
'Do you mean to say I'm a liarf'
he demanded.
That's what you are" came q
voice from the rear Of the crowd.
The big man whirled around
"who said that?" he roared.
'T did," the voice replied.
The big man Strengthened up on tip
toe.
where are your" he cried.
Here" replied the voice. II
sounded from the left of the crowd,
which had now grown to considerable
proportions.
<vlk ha la
man.
And he pushed into the group.
"Look out where you're going"
cautioned a stout man as he thrust
an elbow into the fellows side.
EASY there" snapped little man.
You're on my feet" And he kicked
the big fellow viciously.
In an instant the sentiment of the
group changed. The loungers had en-
joyed seeing the little proprietor
baited by the red faced man. Now 1t
turned against the bully. 1t pushed
and buffeted him and when he was
clear of it he had lost all desire to
find the man who had impeached his
veracity. AS for the latter, he seemed
to have melted into the air.
The crowd broke up with the de-
parture of the bully, and in a mo-
ment or two there was no one left in
front of the booth save a boy.
He was boy perhaps nineteen, a
clear eyed lad with sunburnt skin
and dark curly hair. He was neatly
dressed, but his clothes were old fash
toned in cut, and he wore a broad
brimmed straw hat that had seen
other summers.
The boy looked up at the little pro-
prietor.
bad man." he said.
The proprietor nodded.
yep. He was out for trouble all
right. That was big bluff, Of course,
but what could I do? I couldn't af-
ford to have any trouble with him.
Business is bad enough as 1t is."
He sighed as he spoke.
The boy looked at him curiously.
bad season. eh?"
Worst I ever knew. An I've had
some pretty tough ones" His eye
wandered over the grounds. There's
that loafer. now. He's having fuss
over there at the chutes. He'd bet
ter not fool with those fellows. They'll
drop him in the pond" He softly
chuckled. II wonder who twas called
him a liar?"
81 did," said the boy.
"You! Why. you wasn't even look
in at him"
The boy laughed
Guess hadn't the courage to look
at him when l said it,"
"But the voice came from over
there" persisted the proprietor.
'It was my voice." The boy sud-
denly stopped as If to pick something
from the ground. AS he did so dog
snarled and barked at the proprietor's
heels.
Get out!" the little man shouted,
as he quickly looked around-and 10!
there was no dog there. He turned
to the boy. did you do that?"
"Yes."
The little proprietor pushed the
balls toward him.
'As many shots as you like" he
said.
Thank you,", said the boy. "Not
now. Business is bad, eh? Want a
partner"
There aint' livin' in it for one,
let alone two"
But suppose a partner could build
1t up and put 1t on paying basis?"
That's the kind o. partner I want"
The boy nodded.
'I'm looking round" he said.
you've noticed I'm from the country.
had chance to go on a farm after
I finished school. but thought I'd
rather go up to the city and see If
couldn't find some sort of opening. I
don't want anything permanent Just
yet-I've got too much to learn. At
the same time, I've got to get living.
Maybe you'd better take me on a sal
ary for spell. don't want to tie up
tor long. Wait. You needn't give me
a cent If I don't put your business