The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-12-29

-NN 5OAhN iobSht LiOl al lOE Ills OW III
Improvement, he resolved to treas
ure up every word he heard, and
everything he saw, and especially
to observe the shadow of himself
when 1t appeared. or he had an
expectation that the conduct of his
future self would give him the
clue he missed, and would render
the solution of these riddles easy.
He looked about in that very
place for his own image. but an
other man stood in his accustomed
corner, and though the clock
pointed to his usual time of day
for being there, he saw no likeness
OF himself among the multitude
that poured in through the porch.
1t gave him little surprise, how
ever. for he had been revolving In
his mind a change of life, and
thought and hoped he saw his new
born resolutions carried out In
this.
Quiet and dark, beside him
stood the Phantom, with its out
stretched hand. They left the
busy scene, and went into an OBJ
scure part of the town, where
Scrooge had never penetrated be-
fore, although he recognized it's
situation, and It's bad repute. For
In this den OF Infamous resort,
there was low-browed,, beetling
shop, below penthouse roof
where iron, old rags, bottles,
bones, and greasy offal, were
bought. Sitting In among the
wares he dealt in, was a gray
haired rascal, nearly seventy years
of age.
Scrooge and the Phantom came
into the presence of this man,
just as a woman with a heavy
bundle skunk into the shop. But
she had scarcely entered, when
another woman, similarly laden,
came in too; and she was closely
followed by man in faded black,
who was no less startled by the
sight of them, than they had been
upon the recognition of each
other. After a short period of
blank establishment, in which the
old man with the pipe had Joined
them, they all three burst into a
laugh.
Let the charwoman alone to
be the first" cried she who had
entered first. LET the laundress
alone to be the second, and let
the undertaker's man alone to be
the third. Look here, old Joe,
here's a chancel II we haven't
all three met here without mean
ing It'll"
You couldn't have met in a
better place." said Old Joe, re-
moving his pipe from his mouth.
Come into the parlor. You were
made free of it long ago, you
know; and the other two ant
strangers. We're all suitable to
our calling, we're we'll matched.
Come into the parlor."
The woman who had already
spoken threw her bundle on the
floor. and sat down on a stool,
looking with bold defiance at
the other two.
What odds, then? What odds,
Mrs. Dilber?" said the woman.
Every person has a right to take
care of themselves. He always
did"
That's true. indeed" said the
laundress. mo man more So"
why. then, don't stand staring
as IL you war afraid, woman;
who's the wiser? We're not going
to pick holes In each others coats,
/ suppose?"
mo, indeed!" said Mrs. Dilber
and the man together. I'VE should
hope not"
Very well, them" cried the
woman. That's enough. Who's
the worse for the loss of a few
things like these? Not a dead
man, I suppose?"
mo, indeed" said Mrs. Dilber,
laughing.
"If he wanted to keep 'em after
he was dead, a wicked old screw"
pursued the woman, why wasn't
he natural in his lifetime? If he
had been, he'd have had somebody
to look after him when he was
struck with Death, instead of ly-
Ing gasping out his last there,
alone by himself"
IT'S the truest word that ever
was spoke" said Mrs. Dilber. tits
a judgment on him."
IL wish 1t was a little heavier
Judgment" replied the woman
land 1t should have been. you
may depend upon 1t, IL I could
have laid my hands on anything
else. Open that bundle, Old Joe,
and let me know the value of 1t.
Speak out plain. I'm not afraid
for them to see It. We knew pref
ty we'll that we were helping our
selves, before we met here, be-
lieve. It's no sin. Open the bum
die, Joe."
But the gallantry of her friends
would not allow of this; and the
man In faded black, mounting the
breach first. produced his plund.
er. 1t was not extensive. A sea-
or two. a pencil-case, q pair oil
sleeve buttons. and q brooch Of
no great value, were all. They
were severally examined and ap
praised by Old Joe, who chalket
the sums he was disposed to give
for each, upon the wall, and add
ed them up into q total when h
found there was nothing more t
come.
That's your account" sait
Joe, "and wou1dn't give another
sizpencs. e I was 70 be boiled fol