The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-16
copyr.el.e. .leIs. by ehe aobb.-lesesran ce..
tContinun.)
.ORGEa EaPANDOLPH CFTEsSTER

(Continued.)
 .sHe won't come till he gets ready.1 replied Blackie, and, whistIing softly, he began to calculate his shelf space. Gee, don't know where Pm going to put all these jugs" he observed, as he pushed the empty crate out of the way.
 sYou haven't more?' protested Sam.
 ssF'fve hundred, all told,' yawnsd B1ackie. They're for the liquor sale"
 Sam Bludgeon sat down in the cor- ner on a nail keg and thought.
 Colonel J. Rufus Walhngford came 1imping down to the store after awhile, with his clothing bagging curiously on him, but with great serenity in his soul, for the world was such 5 beau4 tiful place.
 Hello, Jiml' greeted Blackfe. 'sWe1- come to our emporium. Let me show you our new triple motion egg beaters,'' and he gayly thrust one of those clev- er1y ingenious implements into Wal lineford's hand. ''You see, you lead it up to the egg from the northeast cor ner; then you throw out your bait from this edge''-
 He paused, transf1xed by the stony absorption in Waningford's face, as J. Rufus examined the utensiI 'sHow much did we pay for these 7' he want ed to know.
 tseven forty-fve groes,'' returned Blackie humbly.
 s.That is, new store prices or from our own wholesale house?s inquired WaIingford, with increasing surliness.
 New store prices, sir,.i answered Blackie.
 1T thought sop dared WaIingford. falling into an immediate fury. ssThe minute I take sick the first class in jackassness gets right to work I thought you could be trusted with at least some of the smaller details of this business. and here [ find yong ing crazy on egg beaters, which you ought to know as well as you know whisky and rat traps and cheese
 sI'm sorry, sil,', faltered B1ackie, without daring to look at the spell bound Pete
 ouKe sorryi" sneered Wa1lingford, working himself into q white frenzy .sSorry. and billing these egg beaters l into our first store in Pinky county at seven forty-five. Daw, so help me Moses.-
 Blackie, apparently frantic with em- barrassment, was making violent mos tions in the direction of Sam Bludgeon. f Waningford, at last seeming to per ceive these signals. turned slowly to- ward the opposition
 T beg your pardon, sir, said l B1ackie. ttThis gentleman is the pro- prietor of the store across the way. | He has come to see you on businesss 1 Mr. Wallingford, permit me to intro duee MT. Sam B1udgeon.' '
 .tG1ad to meet you. MT. Bludgeon,'' said WaIlingford, repressing as much as possible his recent just annoyance. 'sI'm sorry we seem to be encroaching on your territory, MT. Bludgeon, but this really. looked like splendid open- ing for one of our 10 per cent stores. ssTts a pretty rich ccunty,'' admit ted Mir. Bludgeon.. who, familiar with Blaekie, seemed to stand in distress of WaIlingford
 .'so I made sure before we came here,'' declared Wallingford. You have, think. Mir. Bludgeon, an assort-
 ment of the very worst whisky ever tasted Suppose we go over and sam 1 pie it-,'
 That night, after the most elaborate l dinner which the Purity family was capable of cooking, or the Ladies Con etant Adviser of suggesting. BIackie turned cheerfully to Wallfngford as they sped over the white roads to Pin l ky county.
 .sWeI. Jim" he announced; fit was I highly successful trip
 "Successful?'' queried Waningford in surprise. You're plenty modest in your estimate of the value of our time, 1 B1ackie. We've been here over two
 weeks at fancy expense You didn't l clear anything on the actual store ven ture. I sold our stock and good will. with sworn agreement never to open
 another store in PinEzy county, for $3,- 1 GOO, and the stock itself invoices $1. 100.
 We're lucky. of course, to have made 1 anything, but you're a piker to call it I q successful trip.''
 s.Piker right back" retorted Blackie i ssWhy, you mercenary lollop, can't you I think of nything but money7 I call I this a successful trip because prom
 ised to reduce your weight and look at I your.