The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-06-04

We hurried downstairs so fast that l
lost one of my bedroom slippers. 1t
went clattering on ahead of us, making
| a shameful racket on the bar stones,
but Britton caught it up in time to
save it from the clutches of the curio-
vandals. My workmen were lolling
about the place, smoking vile pipes and
talking in cultural whispers. All opera
tions appeared to have ceased in my
establishment at the command of the
far from idle rich. Two portly gentle
men in fedoras were standing in the
middle of the great hall, discussing the
merits of dingy old spinet that had
Ibeen carried out of the music room by
two lusty porters from the hotel. From
somewhere in the direction of the room
where the porceiains and earthenware
were stored came the shrill, excited
voices of women. The aged Schmicks
were sitting side by side on a window
ledge, with the rigid reticence OF wax
Figures.
j AS l came up, l heard one of the
; lstrangers say to the other
"Well, if you don t want it, III take
lit. My wife says it can be made into
; a writing desk with little"
81 beg your pardon, gentlemen, y said
) I confronting them. "Will you be good
enough to explain this intrusiona"
They stared at me as if | were a
servant asking for higher wages. The
speaker, fat man with bristly
) lmustache and red necktie, drew him
Iself up haughtily.
, "Wbo the devil are youl'' he de
manded, fixing me with glare.
i / knew at once that he was the kind
; of an American | have come to hate
, with zest that knows no moderation
1.-The kind that makes one ashamed OF
the national melting pot. glared bacf
lat him.
81 happen to be the owner of thl'
place. and you IL oblige me by clearing
lout.
, "What's thats Here, here, none o
that sort of talk, my friend. We re her
' to look over your stuff, and we meal
business, but you won't get anywher
' by talking like"
Il "There is nothing for sale here,
said shortly. "And you've got lot o
IS nerve to come boiling into prlvat
, house.
s. "Say.n said the second man, ae
II vancing with most insulting scow
"we III understand each other right OF
( the reel, my friend. All you got
|do is to answer us when we ask 1c
prices. Now, bear that in mind, an
= don't try any of your high-and-might
. Tactics on us"
u "Just remember that you re Junl
|dealer and we II get along splendidly,
Re said the other, in tone meant to crus
ls me. "What do you ask for this thlngf
tapping the dusty spinet with his wall
is ing stick. =,
le It suddenly occurred to me that tt
lie situation was humorous.
lie "You will have to produce yol
" references, gentlemen, before 1 can di a
euss ANYTHING with you" l said, aft
swallowing very hard. It must ha'
# been my pride.)
=, =; They stared. "Good Lord!'' gasp'
Is Is the bristly one, blinking his eye
80 ~ ''Don't you know who this gentlem'
% /. isl You-you appear to be an Amel
:" lean. You must know Mr.. Riley -Wer
- - heimer Of New York"
# "I regret to stay that 1 have nev
,c. heard of Mr.. Riley -Werkheimer. l d
as not know that Mrs. Riley Werkheimer
he husband was living. And may a
all who you aref"
We ooh. I am also a nobody" said
with wink at his purple jowled CO
le- panion. ~ am only poor old Roci
he worth, the president of the"
ito ooh, don't say anything mora, \
a Rocksworth," cried. ~ have hea
of you. This fine old spineti Well,
RS, has been reduced in price. Ten tn
lck sand dollars, Mr.. Rocksworth. ="
aid "Ten thousand nothing! I'll take
ID r...a JoIo,o nd oouw 10