Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-12-24
A FELLOW
FE { IL N G
Why Wexford VIII Keep Dobbs' Story Secret


Mr.. Dobbs was sitting ashes in tn,
back yard of his comfortable littl,
suburban home when Mr.. Welfor,
came out of his house next door AM
eaned over the fence.
How do you do this morning, Mr.
Oobbs?"
Mr.. Dobbs ceased operations anc
looked up through a cloud of whit,
dust mot very WELL" he said. I've
lost four pounds. Now l weigh only
1877"
PITY about you," shifted Mr.. Wei
ford. you ought to have a tonic
Il know it," the emaciated man re
piled
You ought not to work so hard"
You're right" Mr.. Dobbs assented
Shorter hours. ="
Yep
And more pay"
Now you're making fun of me. It's
40 laughing matter" Mr.. Dobbs was
getting nettled and he wiped a bead of
perspiration from his brow.
e Pom my honor, Pm not" denied
Mr.. Wexford.
oh, put it on some sounder basis"
said Mr.. Dobbs seeing a chance to get
back at his neighbor
"A prophet is not without honor,
save to the man who lives next door,"
M. Wexford paraphrased, knowing
tull well that Mr.. Dobbs would not be
able to perceive the liberties which he
had taken with the verse, nor the rich
sarcasm Of the remark, but feeling,
nevertheless, that he had scored a
point.
Depends some on the prophet" an
swered Mr.. Dobbs, in a vaguely refec-
tive manner. If you knew all my
feelings"
I'D write book that would be one
Of the six best sellers"
Il say, if you knew all my feelings
maybe you'd think even less of me
than you do" Mr.. Dobbs was be.
coming retrospective.
Tell me some of them, and see
what effect it will have on me-" Ell.
couraged Mr.. Wexford.
So in the confidential manner of one
who lays bare his innermost heart Mr.
Dobbs began:
We'll, I'm rather suspicious Of peo
pie | have always made it a boast
that have never been swindled, had
ny pocket picked, or been robbed in
any way. I've never had much sym
oathy with these people who get swim.
died by green-goods men, because it's
only dishonest people that get swim.
lied"
"By green-goods men," Mr. Wexford
lnterjected.
Eyes, of course, that's what I
mean. Now, look here, Wexford, all
this is confidential. l wouldn't have
my wife know this for anything
Il won't tell soul"
Z We'll, this is how it was. l was
IN the city last week, and as l was
walking across a street l caught
sight of ten-dollar bill fiuttering
along just a few feet in front of me
Of course, l was not going to let that
slip by me If | could help 1t, so made
a dive for it. A rather poorly dressed
cuss spied it as | was about to reach
to pick it up, and the result was that
we stopped for 1t together. There was
no doubt about the money being mine,
because l had seen it first, but l felt
sorry for the man. He looked cold
and the wind was sweeping across the
square pretty freely, so said to him !:
Zee here, this is mine by rights, but
I'll let you have half of it. He grum-
bled bit, but | fished flyer out of
my pocket, gave it to him and proceed
ed down Broad street"
He waited a moment to allow M.
Wexford to speak word, but Mr.. Wei.
ford kept silent, SO Mr. Dobbs coz
tlnued:
Il kept on until l came to a cigar
store, where I stopped to get pack
of cigarettes. l didn't have any
change, so l gave the clerk the bill |
had picked up He looked at it and
handed it back to me, saying it was a
counterfeit. He asked me where ]
got it, and when l told him he said
the same game had been worked on
one Of his friends"
Mr.. Dobbs again paused, and this
time Mr.. Wexford spoke:
"Dobbs, old man" he said, I'm not
likely to tell your wife, or anybody
else about that. l had the same ex.
perience myself"