Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-01-30
UP TO THE STYLE
No Gossiper, But Tells All About
the Bonnet Deacon Bag
shot Bought.
By HAvpEi. cARRuTH.


| Says Pickelson, looking at me as
set in his store by the stove. says
he: "Jeb Hatch, you do seem to know
everything that's going on in Hawley-
burgh. and that's a fact. Now wot's
the rights of all this talk bout Dea-
con Bagshot got for his wife-T hear
various and mizellaneous and non
agreeing stories?"
Pick" says |, Il leave gossip to
them as takes pleasure in the same.
I'm no talker. and you know 1t. l
don't have to take no course in these
here physical culture schools with
the big arm muscles to be able to
keep my mouth shea. Not, however.
that I'm no wonderful phenomenon.
flt to be showed afore the crowned
heads of Europe, as can keep my
ears shet Them are always open.
Pick" says /. hut these here lips
are hermetrickly sealed on gossip"
Then Pickelson went back and begun
sprinkling the brown sugar and didn't
say no more, and KEN home and am
going to write out them facts in con-
nection with the bonnet, It being my
igee to sell 'em to the newspapers.
You see. old Deacon Bagshot took
notion to go down to New York for
little visit. Hadn't never been there
before. Few of us has. Dangerous
place Wot with them there cable
cars chasing each other bout foot
apart and them elevated cars hopping
on the track and the engine exploding
on the sidewalk like a torpeter, and
the ughtohmowbeels getting their
backs up and running away. and the
policemen a-swinging their clubs. and
these here green goods men waiting
for you and scandalously overcharg-
ing you. and the whole place dug up
boiler with tunnels, it's no place for
an honest man.
However, old Deacon Bagshot said
he had business there and he was
a-going. Mrs. Bagshot lowed she'd
go along. too. Now. Mercy" says
the deacon, don't you want to get
no such romantic notions into your
head. You just wait till I go down
on pleasure some time, and you shall
go along This time I'm going to fool
around none. You just stay to home
and I'll fetch you back something
most anything you say In reason"
Why" says Mrs. Bagshot. II amt
overly sot on going. Expect I'd get
scarf out O. my wits. But l thought
I'd just like to pick me out new
spring bonnet and have the latest
thing for once in my hfe-down at
the store l do believe they get far
Their and farther behind the style
every year"
There, now, don't you say another
word" says the deacon. 'I'll get you
bonnet-iatest thing"
why, what do you know about
bonnets?" says Mrs. Bagshot.
well. no great heap, that's fact"
one OF them big stores and I'll tell the
manager that want the latest thing
In bonnets for my wife. and he'll
know just wot to give me-"
The end of 1t was that she said all
right, and he started on
me not being no talker. nature hay-
ing certainly give me way to keep
still, but just as certainly having neg
lected to provide any trapdoor for my
ears. l can't help knowing a thing or
two. AS which the deacon did stay
week longer than he let on he
should and his business called for.
That he did certainly take along s12
more than his expenses could posi-
bly, eat up, counting In the extra week.
That he did certainly get home dead
broke and without red cent in his
pocket. That he did certainly look
thin and drawed when he got back.
and his eyes was red. BY which. put
ting two and two together and get
ting the result, and none to carry.
and proving the whole operation. and
looking up the answer in the back
OF the book. i do find that the deacon
had been having gay time In New
York, and losing sleep and drinking
shandygaff and stuff and smoking CT
gars. All of which don't say a
word about. but which know well
enough.
Well when the deacon at last APP
peared In the buzzum of his family
you better believe Mrs. Bagshot looked
at him some. You amt here. are
your" says she, regular sarcastic.
Il didn't forget the bonnet, Mercy.
says the deacon. not letting on as he
heard her outrageous observation.
We'll. you took time enough to
think of whole millinery store.
says she.
at cost" says the deacon. like all
get out. but was bound you should
have a good one. It's the latest thing.
They'll be cheaper-aft awhile and
the deacon sot the pasteboard box on
the table.
Mrs. Bagshot opened the box and
takes out the bonnet, and holdg 1t OF
and looks at II. We'll. now" she