The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-09
Continued.)


to faint A stern haggling COM
menced-one of frenzied excitement
on the part of the Jew, who was met
by Smithers. a foeman worthy of his
steel, with an air of banter and self
possession which nearly drove his OPP
ponent to actual madness. Ronald
seated himself on some bales OF cloth,
lit a cigarette, and enjoyed the fun.
In the end Smithers was declared the
victor. Ronald exchanged his clothes
behind partition, and emerged look
ing a very smart mate indeed; so
smart that Smithers could not sup
press his satisfaction, which he ex-
pressed by low whistle Of admira-
ton.
Some other purchases were made.
with the same wordy warfare, anu
they were leaving the shop. the Jew
enchanting woefully that he was
ruined man, when Smithers. happen
ed to glance round. caught a smile on
the. oily countenance of the Jew, who
was examining the clothes Ronald
had discarded.
did w think to empty yer pock-
cts, sir?" asked Smithers swiftly.
mo. by Georger' replied Ronald.
Smithers made dart at the cloth
es, and, with calm elaboration. took
the contents from the pockets; the
Jew, with acute disappointment. and
an overdone air Of injury, exclaiming:
well, of all the suspicious cush-
toners I ever 'ad, s'welp me, you
take the cake! Did you think want,
ed to rob you? was just goin' to
feel In the pockets myself"
II know you were-when we'd
gone, said smithers, as he handed
the almost miraculously recovered
{ property to its owner.
That would have been q good days
work for our friend inside there, sir, !"
he remarked fcheerfuliy. '"rhat gold
4 rest Of 1t, would have set him up
for life. as the soldier said when they
stuck him. up against the wall to be
a-T
shot att
II think the fellow met his match
with you, smithers." remarked Rom
aid.
well, sir, It was a pretty tough
Wight; but you can always get even
: with 4 Jew. If you observe the fol-
lowing rules: never to give him more
than a quarter he arsts, and to keep
yer wool on. A Jew as is really
Jew worth the name allus arsts dou-
bic what zee means to take, and
would rather let you ave what yer
trying to buy at small profit than
not to sell at all. You see sir its
the selling Of the things they enjoy;
it's the only object they live for; and,
if they can sell you at the same time
why. it's simply 'eaven to them"
"You appear to have pretty ex-
tensive knowledge Of human nature.
Smithers." said Ronald.
We'll. just bit. SIR admitted
tSmithe-s' modestly; ''but I've found
sir, that all sorts Of men are very
/. much alike; there's only one numbs,
they care for. and that's Number
One"
They made their way through
somewhat dirty and crowded thor
cughfares and narrower and still dir
ty streets. until they came to a little
square which. in its Quietude ami
comparative cleanliness. was like an
oasis in the sordid desert they had
traversed. The houses were small
grey, grim. and sober. but they had
an air Of modest responsibility. In
most of the windows was visible a
card. inscribed with 'Apartments''
and. as the two men made their way
down one side Of the square. the oc-
cupants Of the houses, mostly women
came to the windows or doors and
eyed them eagerly and hungriiy.
''This is where most Of the sea cap
tains and mates stop when they're
ashore. sir" said Smithers. TITS like
the country to them" He glanced
as If In explanation, at two or three
stunted, blackened. and melancholy
trees, which were mailing a hard
struggle for existence in the enclosed
place In the centre of the square
-They must be near their ships; but
they like to see the grass and heal
the birds singing; and you'd be sur.
prised what q lot o. birds there are 1,
London besides sparrers. You can hear
them singin like one o'clock in some
of these squares on a summer even.
ing. Here We are, sir. ALI a mol" he
added, pausing at the entrance to one
Of the houses, the exterior of which
was 30 clean that it looked as if il
had been newly painted. Gave you
thought of q name, sir?''
"a name?" said Ronald.
1T won't do to use yer proper one
If. you'll excuse me, sir, it's got toe
aristocratic sound; to say nothin' II
its always bein' better to change vel
name when you get the opportunity
as the old maid said.''
Ronald laughed.
Yes; ] suppose you're right" lie
said. Upon my word, I can't think