Lower coast gazette., 1913-11-01
POINTE-ALA-HACHE, LOUISIANsATURDAY, NOVEMBER i, 1913.

aged man with ragged whiskers,
which partially concealed a queer,
pinched ~countenance, but failed to
hide the very ~quizzical expression it
bore. It was not until Tom had
stood for two minutes that the clerk,
swinging slowly round in the revolv-
ing chair, looked his visitor over with
deliberation. Tom did not speak; ne
looked the mar in the eye. Finally
the clerk stared upon the sample-case
and affected to start with surprise,
while his queer countenance assumed
a most sarcastic smile. Then, as if
having completed his investigation,
he looked into Toms face, and ex-
claimed in a sharp tone:
"Well?"
"Is the head of the firm here?"
asked Tom.
"Who do you mean!
"Mr. H. A. H%ardeyman."
"No," replied the clerk, turning
half.round to his desk again, mot
much he isn't"
"Where could ! find him." asked
Tom, preparing to beat a retreat.
"Hard to say. Some churches say
one thing and some another. He's
been dead about twelve years."
81 asked for the head of the firm
said Tom.
"You want to see the other Mr.
Hardeyman, do you Humph! II yor
really have important business-O
K" and here he glanced at the sam
pie case again with a provoking
twinkle in his eye. ooh, yes, II
show you in to the other MI. Hard
eyman, young fellow. Just step thi
way" and the clerk led him towar'
the private office. He carefully open
ed the door a small crack, an
thrusting his head in, said in an oh
sequious tone:
"Mr. A. NJ, are you busy jus
A now"
There was a long pause, broke
NJ only by the faint whir Of distant ms
III chinery.
NJ "Sir?" persisted the clerk, submis
N sively.
Nj "What in thunder do you want?
III came the roar.
"Why, sir, a young gentleman
here whom l presume represents
= Boston house"
IN cub we don't want anythin
der. -
:. "But he's very insistent upon Sc
ing you," said the clerk, lookir
- round at Tom.
"Well, send him in, then; I'll col
vince him." and Tom went in, feelir
e less confident than he looked.
If this was the ogre's castle, thougl
he, there sat the ogre himself. I
be sure, he was only writing at
s desk, but had be been drinking II
y blood of an Englishman," To
would hardly have been surprised.
: "Sir," he said, Il represent SEQ
& Co., Of Boston, and | have son
- Innings and leather here to which
= should like to call your attention
- The ogre never wen glanced up Fl
- an instant or so much as paused
: his writing.
:. al" said Tom, growing despera
:, under the suspense, Il would like
But the ogre, that combination
florid countenance, thick nose, 10
brow and big spectacles, gave To
a dire look that stopped him, al
said: :
"Wait-not another word!"
Finally-in maybe half an hour
the writing ceased. There was
blotting and folding Of paper. TIL
the ogre, whirling half round, diret
ed on Tom a terrible look over h
spectacles.
"Humph!nn he CALCULATED, betwe'
a sniff and a snarl, and turin
back to his desk, he pigeonholed Il
papers in the twinkling of an eye.
"And now what in blazes ha,
you got to show me, young fellow
Nothing | want, / khoww he grur
bled savagely, rising from his chai
Before Tom could move, the og
4 snatched up the case, and opening
4 on the table, grabbed out a handf
i of samples.
1 mo, no, no-don't want any
] that, or that" he continued, fierce
| throwing the samples on the tab
| one after the other, 'or that,
wouldn't have that rubbish in Il
house; and this, couldn't pay me
take it-inferior quality, rotten
! that's a crude imitation-wouldr
4 have any of that. And what ira!
have you in this other side? O
! trying to sell these? Wouldn't ha,
any of that at any price-you coul
mt give me any Of that"
] But" expostulated Tom.
] ooh, rank nonsense! You cann
I tell me anything about it; you ha
II 1 ont ~~H<kra. -.