Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1910-09-17
The Tray Of Rings
By W. R. ROSE

A4EpNe Az Ss~ASAs
shake hands and say it together.
The grimy paw rested in the
smooth white hand.
Merry Christmas! the man and
the boy cried together.
Gee, but dat sounds foolish,
chuckled the lad. And then he
stared at the order for the shoes.
Mebby it amt so foolish as it
sounds, he muttered. He pushed
the order into his pocket. Well,
so.long, he briskly added. IN
be back a little later. Youse is
goin' to have a lively day an
mebby l kin make meself worth
while. If had some better rags
on me / could tend door. An it
amt right fer youse to be all
alone in de shop here, see ?
Dere's too much good stuff lynn
around.
The jeweler smiled as he
glanced up at the clock.
In ten minutes, he said, my
brother.in.law and my niece will
be here to help me. After that I
will not be alone.
Good, he said, I'll wait around
on de outside wit me papers till
de family party comes. See you
later.
The door closed behind him and
Immediately his shrill voice was
heard crying his papers.
The jeweler softly laughed.
It is not a bad boy, he muir.
INJURED. 1 must do what it is ]
can for him. It is such a pity he
must be so tough.
It was a busy day for the jew
eler and his assistants. The
store was q small one and he
could hope to pick up but little
transient trade. Most of the
buyers were his friends and
fellow countrymen, old patrons
who knew him personally, and
while they were carefuland mod
est buyers, the total of his sales
began to assume handsome pro-
portions,
He had just turned away from
a group of satisfied buyers when
a stout man, very we'll dressed
and very red Of face, came into
the little store.
He looked about him curiously
and then advanced to the pro
prietor.
What's wrong with that? he
demanded as he placed his gold
watch in the jewelers. hands.
| The proprietor glanced at the
timepiece, sprung up the cap and
turned to his work table. In g
moment he was back, and after
setting the watch by the big clock
behind him, handed it to its
owner.
You will find it all right now
he said. The Lecasseur is fine
watch.
The stout man stared at him.
| What was the matter with it ?
A little jar-it was dropped
perhaps-and there was a benz
pinion. lis an excellent watch,
The stout man thrust his hand
into his pocket.
How much do I owe you? he
asked.
Nothing for that, the jeweIel
replied. It was no more than
| winding it.
i The stout man made q queer
noise in his throat.
Il Vernon would have kept the
watch q week and held me for 9
fiyer, he growled. Got any
ladies' watchesH he abruptly de.
Imanded. Something good?
The proprietor smilingly nod
ded.
\ MY imported watches are al
selected for me by my uncle Frery
of the Maison Frery in Geneva.
The stout man stared again.
Maison Frery, he repeated
Why I've been there. It's 8
great store. Let nae see the
watches.
Presently he found what he
wanted and drew out a roll Of
bills.
Hold on, he said; put in thai
9th or one, too. I'm sure
can't do better.
/ It was the best sale Of the day
4 AS the jeweler neatly wrapped
the two cases the stout man sud
denly laughed.
4 I was told to mention Blinky tc
i you, he said, but I don't seem tc
have found it necessary.
Blinky! repeated the ieweler.
Don't you know your own pub
IlicitY AGENT the stout man de-
i rnay.r7oa V7hv IL Ia IN Rliulxv