The Holly chieftain., 1914-12-25

hadn't any money m ats old clothes
but he would send It right down
oh. yes-the moment he got to the ho-
tel. It amt come and Harry. there.
says there amt no one up to the
hotel like that Harrys the porter"
"6ure." said Harry Importantly. Il
passed the feller ~ 1 vas coming
down aAd there amt any one like hin
TO he hotsl"
The Watermelon laughed heartily.
"A hobo. eh? Bunkoed you for fair.
You fealers oushtnt to be 20 dog
goned easy. Get wise. get wise!"
We are wise now" said the barber
ruefully. and added sternly. 'If you
want shave. you've got to show your
monsy Arst."
Sure want . shave" said the
Watermelon. and carelessly ratified q
few Old keys he carried In his pocket
They jlngled with the clink OF loose
coins and were pleasing to the ear If
not 20 much to the touch. II came
here for shave. but l pay for what
l want, see? Say. Ill bet that feller
busted your cash register" and he
nodded pleasantly toward the new,
shiny receiver Of customs ON the shelf
near the looking-slaAs.
The remark brought an agreeable
thrill Of excited expectation to all save
the barber. He shook his head with
boundless faith In his new possession.
Il bought that Just last week and the
drummer said 1t was practically thief
proof.'
do you want to bet?" asked the
Watermelon. "All there IL in the reg
lister. huh? Even money" and he
1tngled the keys in his pocket.
"Naw," said the barber. II know
he couldn't have robbed It It's i'm
possible. even II the thing could be
robbed. which It can't be. was right
here all the time"
Its near the lookin glass;" said the
Watermelon. "He went close to the
counter to see himself, didn't he!"
YES" admitted the barber slowly.
"He did look at himself for . long
time"
And some Of the time your back
was turned" added the Watermelon.
You were probably cleaning up or
looking for a whisk." n
Yes" admitted the barber again,
still more reluctantly. But nobody
can bust into one Of them cash regis
tiers, not without noise that would
be heard across the room"
I'll bet he did," said the Water.
melon. DO you take me?"
But they can't be busted" reiter-
ater the barber.
Then why the devil don't you betf"
demanded the Watermelon. "You are
Pettin' on sure thing"
Yes. go on. Don't be scared" en-.
couraged Wilton's gay youth In joyful
chorus.
The barber started for his precious
register. but the Watermelon reached
1t first and laid his hand on 1t.
Do you take mel" he asked. "You
have to say that before you can count
the change or the bets Say, is that
the galoot?" he nodded suddenly
toward the window and all turned
quickly, instinctively, to look up the
village street. The Watermelon hast.
lily thrust thin comb between the
bell and the gong 80 It would not ring
as ne gently pressed the TWENTY-FIVE
cent key. registering another quarter,
then he Joined the others. pushing
and struggling to see the man who
did not pass, and gazed languidly over
their heads.
There amt no one there" ex.
claimed the barber.
He's passed out of sight," said the
Watermelon, making. feeble attempt
to see up the street. HE was almost
by as saw him"
DO you take me?" he asked, as
they returned to the counter and the
subject of the cash register
"Aw, go on" urged Harry, who was
sport. what are you afraid Oft"
HE couldn't have picked It." insist.
60 the barber. whose faith in his reg
lister was really sublime.
Sure he could. They are easy to
guy who knows the ropes" declared
the Watermelon. "The drummer was
handing you a lot Of hot air when he
said they can't be picked. You don't
want to be 30 easy"
The slur on his mental capacity was
too much for the barber. His vanity
rose in defense of his register where
his faith had failed. II have some
brains," he ,snorted. II know the
thing is perfectly safe. Yes, l take
you"
He started to open the register, but
the Watermelon objected. Here" he