The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-08-16
NOTHING BUT NlckELs.
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Sneffens stepped from the Pull
man, his six feet of stalwart sturdi-
ness clad in tailor-ftted garments OF
explanatory pattern, his feet shod
in highly polished, inch-soled shoes
of alligator hide, and swung himself
savagely through the crowds throng-
ing the street.
Had a census enumerator-female
or otherwise-just at that moment
demanded his history and condition,
he would have. answered sullenly:
Name of Sneffens, age 81, never
married, drug clerk out of a job
and broke"
For at that instant his right hand
trousers pocket contained lonely
quarter and solitary dime, which
coins constituted his entire cash.
In q strange town, no money, no
credit, no acquaintances-and no
job" he muttered, now, what the
deuce will do neXt?"
AS if in answer to his own query, he
halted so abruptly that a man who
was following him unceremOniOusly
bumped against his shoulder. Each
apologized as they made their way to
the edge of the sidewalk to repair
possible damages; and then, his mind
treverting to the cause of his absent
minded halt, Sneffen demanded:
whats that?" pointing toward a
building standing in the center of a
half block of vacant ground.
On either side all other buildings
had recently been razed, and more or
less excavating had been done. The
two-story brick building, standing
alone amid the wrecks of others of
it's kind, seemed lonesome and for
lorn, it's walls covered with huge
canvas banner telling Vie public that
the entire stock of drugs, chemicals
and toilet goods of 1.-The Dutton Drug
Company" worth thirty thousand dol.
lars, was to be sold at auction to the
highest bidder.
| Looks like cracker box marooned
in the playground of Kansas cy-
clone,' commented Sneffens, as he
waited for his companion to frame a
reply.
"Oh, that" said the man, sis what
is left OF long fight to hold up the
people who intend building a new
ten-story block there.
Its like this. The DuttOn drug
|people would not move out when ev-
eryone else did. Claimed their lease
was to run another year. Fought it
out in the courts and lost. Went
broke, and the stock is sold to salts.
|fy a seven-thousand dollar judgment
The two buttons skipped out to escape
prosecution for perjury. Is said they
forged the lease. Big bargain there
worth looking into"
"How long can the buyer occupy
the building" asked Sneffen, a dim
and hazy project running itself into
shape in his mind.
Court granted five days after pur.
chase; that will mean all this week"
| when does the sale come OFF,"
AT two o'clock today-half an
hour from now. Why don't you bid?''
"By Jove! that's just what I'll do, y
announced Sneffens, and he strobe
away without thanking the man for his
information.
Sneffens entered the building, and
was astonished at the size and mag
Influence of the stock. Twenty years
behind drug counters enabled him
to estimate its quality and quantity
with ease, and he became enamOred
with it's possibilities for profit
then he thrust his hand in his pocket,
felt the two lonesome coins and came
back to earth again.
After few minutes idling, he
started on another tour OF inspection
| looking into a case here, pulling
out drawer there, and shifting at
the various mixtures in the compound
ing room. He sighed disgustingly as
the hopelessness of it all forced itself
upon him and then he pulled open a
small drawer concealed beneath the
prescription counter and stood para
lyzed.
Recovering himself, he looked ware
fully about, and discovered that no
one was in position to watch his move
ments. He thrust his hand into the
dra wer and drew forth small, leath-
er-covered book bearing the imprint
of the State National bank. A sheaf
of banknotes peeping from its leaves
set his nerves tingling with delight.
A hurried computation showed Snef-
fens that he held more than eight hun
dred dollars in his hand. Some one
had prepared the money for deposit