Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-08-03
The Missionary

market and contemplated the keg OF
oysters that stood near the door.
Don't you want to try these, sir!
They're specially choice" The white
aproned clerk stirred the oysters in.
willingly with the long handled wooden
dipper.
mo thank you," said Tucker. II
was just wondering whether the oys-
tiers were any fresher than the sign.
Good morning."
AS he walked the block to the for.
lists, where his next errand was, Tuck.
er grinned at the memory of the
clerks astonished face. perhaps Il
was little rough" he said to himself
but that Fresh Oyster sign certain.
ly shows traces of long service"
After he had selected the Boston
fern for his apartment he studied tho.
flowers on the counter.
What is the name of these pretty,
tawny roses?" he asked. Aren't they
something new"
"Yes, but l don't know the name,"e.
answered the florists assistant.
"That's too bad," said Tucker. II
should think you'd find out. Good
morning"
His walk to his office took him by
large department store, where he
glanced at a really wonderful window
display of toys. He was thinking that
the manufacture of toys had developed
amazingly since the old days of the
l1 vi hof
of wooden soldiers made him shake
his head disapprovingly. At luncheon.
when the manager of that store Joined
him in the crony corner of his club din.
ing room, Tucker said: "Ive got q
bone to pick with you, old fellow.
about your toy window"
1.-THE toy window? Why, that's the
hit of the store! It attracts more at
tention than any other display we've
had this year"
swell, you know in these troublous
times we've been cautioned to main;
tain strict neutrality in regard to the
war"
"Great Scott! What's our toy win.
dow to do with neutrality, I'd like to
know, s,.s~ ,;;;.a;;..&ks'*.''.>:,"'"'
IF You must have soldiers in that
window you ought to have the Allies
as we'll as the Germans. I'm neutral
and don't like your partiality."
"Oh, CANNON! Those little wooden
men don't represent either SIDE"
when you go back to the store you
look little more carefully than you
have before and l think you'll agree
with me that those spiked helmets are
Teutonic."
The coming of another crony stop
ped the argument. This arrival had
no more than taken his seat when.
with boylike enthusiasm he drew from
his pocket design for a book plate
which he was having made for his re-
verend fathers birthday.
what do you think of that? Isn't
that some class? That easy chair by,
the open fire is my own idea, and the
words are just the thing for dad =.
ITS very good, indeed, but you've
got the quotation wrong, my boy" said
Tucker Reading maketh the full
man not lHo wise udu.
Lucky to have an infallible author.
ity present" remarked the young man,
putting the little design back into his
pocketbook with an air of finality. -.,,.:,,
Its a matter of small importance"
said Tucker, pleasantly. Sorry I
spoke" This little attempt at an apol-
ogy was not received graciously and
Tucker regretted that he had married
the good feeling of the lunch by his
gratuitous information
On his way home from business he
took another look at the toy window
to make sure that he had been right
about the nationality of the little
soldiers, and 10, there were no soldiers
there. That section which they had
occupied had been clevely rearranged
SO that an ordinary observer would
not have noticed their absence Tuck
er whistled and passed on
When he came to the florists shop
which he had visited in the morning
the girl at the door beckoned him in
brightly.
"Oh, I'm SO glad l happened to see
Vou," she said, "fOr I've found out the
lame Of those roses. They're the New
Gold of Ophir'"
Il congratulate you on finding out
'uch pretty name, and please send
hree dozen to this address" Tucker
cribbled on card and the florists as
istant dimpled and smiled at the
result of her research work.
She's a nice child" Tucker said to
imself as he left the shop.
At the end of the block he stepped
nto the market to add another item to
is mornings order and his eve was
attracted by an immacu-
ite sign calling attention to the fact
nat the oysters in the keg by the
cor were fresh. He knew that with
lie seaboard 1000 miles distant they,
Duldn't possibly be as fresh as that
listeningly clean and neatly printed
office, and he smiled.
Much obliged, sir, for the hint you
ave us this morning." said the same
ERIK who had served him earlier in
le day. I'VE get used to things and
areless, but we're always thankful
n folks interest"