The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-08

store day before yestfddy, and they wasn't nobody come in for noth1n' while I was there. He don't do no | business to speak of.' How long was you there, Hi?"
 "From 9 o'clock to noon." | "What doin'?'
 ] "Nuthin'-jes' settin' round" q seen him today goin' into the bank. Guess he must we gone to see Lockwood bout that note.'' Well, I don't envy him his call on | Blinky Lockwood none" "Mebbe he went in to deposit his coupons" Watty chuckled. Hiram snorted. and there was silence while he filled and lit his pipe. "I hearn tell this mornin',' he re stunned. "that Josie Lockwood's goin' to give party next week."
 "Yes; hearn it too. Angie Tuthill up to Leonard & Calls. She said they was goin' to have the biggest time this town ever see-goin' to decyrate the grounds with lanterns and have ice cream sent from Phillydelphy, and cakes too. Can't make out what's come into Blinky to let that gal of his waste money like that"
 "T' figger," says Hiram after sa- pient pause, ''she must be gettin' it up for that New York dood." Duncan"
 "Uh-huh."
 .T didn't know he was 'quainted with the Lockwoods.''
 q didn't know he was 'quainted with nobody"
 Nobody 'Geptin' Homer Littlejohn and Hetty Carpenter. and they don't him darn cur'us. Hetty says he's allus a-settin' in his room a-studyin' and a-studyin' and a-studyin'."
 "He goes walkin'' mornfn's. Hetty told me"
 "Waal. be don't come downtown much. Nobody hardly ever sees him 'cept to church.
 Hiram ponders this profoundly, final ly delivering himself of an opinion which he has never forsaken. 'I claim he's a s'picious character"
 Don't look to me as though he knew 'nough to be much of anything"
 "Waal, now, if he's real student and they ain't no outs bout him. what in tarnation's he dofn' here? That's jest what I'd like to have somebody tell me, Watty".
 ''Hetty sez he sez he wants quiet place to study"
 Hiram shorts with scorn. "Oh, id dlei You don't catch no Moo York young feller a-settlfn' downfn Radville unless he's crazy or somethin' worse"
 "'Tain't no use tellin' Hetty Carpen- ter that"
 .'No. If anybody sez a word ag'in tim she shets 'em right up."
 "'Tain't only Hetty. but all the wim- min s on his side" f
 That's proof enough to me he ain't light"
 .'Wimmin." says Watty as the result of a period of philosophical considera- tion, 'is all crazy about clothes. When a feller's got good clothes you can't make them see no harm into him, no matter what he is. pressed some of Duncan's last Satiddy. I never see clothes-such goods and linin's. They was made for him, too-made by a tai Tor on Fifth avenue, Moo York. fer git the name now"
 "Waal, Roland Barnette sez they ain't stylish. Hersez they're too much like an undertaker's gitup."
 "Waal, Roland oughter know. He's the fanciest dressed up feller in the county"
 "Yes, l guess he be-
 The subject apparently languishes, but know that it still occupies their sage meditations, and presently this is demonstrated by Hiram, who expec- torates liberally by way of preface. i. When this cuss Duncan fust come here" he says, with a self contained chuckle, "ev'rybody but me fingered he had stacks of money. Guess they be singin' different tune now sinst he's been gOin' round askin' for work"
 This is news to me, and I sit up, sharing Watty's astonishment.
 "Be he a-doin' that, Hiram?"
 'That's what he's been a-doin."
 Funny I missed hearin' about it."
 ''He only started this mornin' He went to Sothern & Lees and Leon ard & Calls and Godfrey's, and then I guess he must we quit discouraged, They wouldn't none of them give him nothin'. Leastways that's what they said after he'd gone out. He didn't give anybody reel chance to say any thing. I was in Leonard Ss Calls. and he came in and asked for job, but the minute Len looked at him he turned right round and slunk out without a-waitin' for Len to say a word" Hiram smoked in huge enjoy ment of the retrospect. Hes the curiousest critter we ever had in this town"
 "Yes," agrees Watty; "I guess he be-"
 At this juncture comes an interrup- ton. Tracey Tanner returns hotfoot Either he has been running or his breathlessness is due to excitement. Before the two upon the bench he pauses in agitated glee, a bearer of tremendous tidings.
 "Hellop' he pants.
 Now, you Tracey Tanner" Hiram cuts in sharply. you run Tong and don't be a-botherin' round. Seems like a body never can git a chance to rest with you children allus a-buttin' n''-