Evening star., 1918-05-19

the terrier when We starts for the
white-and- gold dinin'-room. It's two
or three minutes before he can get a
head waiter to see him. He SHES at
the silver framed menu-card like he'd
been handed n bomb. and when the
hus-boy fills his water glass he says.
Much obliged" and then eiggles
nervous. 1 helps him out by sug-
gestin' what We shall have for lunch.
When we gets to the black coffee.
though. and he lights a forty-cent cigar.
Bartholomew begins TO buck up. He
shoves back a dollar tip at the waiter
and demands an ashtray real rough.
81 amt told you the big news yet."
says he. waggin his head.
Let IL come" says L.
lie looks over at Luella and winks.
About Spratt." says he.
What" says 1 You've been around
and unloaded your mind?"
"Better'n that says Bart. 1--WE
bought him out
You don't mean IT." says l.
"th-huh.' says he, I'm the propri-
etor now. I'm runnin' the store. Spratt
we'll, Sprat;s workin' for me"
You could see the buttons strain on his
vest.
Say" says I. chucklin'. that's get
tin back at him. Got him right under
your thumb now. I expect. maxim him
squirm.''
Bartholomew mods
Course" he goes on. 'fI don't need 30
bother with any such picayune business
as that. ! wanted 10. that's all. u
don't pay. Not now. I can make IL pay,
though ] always had lot of good
ideas that Spratt would never listen to.
He'll listen now. I guess You bet he
viii ! amt sprung 'em on him yet.
But wait. I'm going to change the
whole thing-put in a line OF electric
light and bathroom stuff. shift the
counters all around. hire a lot Of clerks
and make things hum. You'll see. And
say, when ! get it all planned out | want
you to drop around some day--I'n tip
you off when-and hear me tell Spratt
what's what and where he gets off. Will
you?"
l said I'd be delighted. Well. the word
came yesterday. / was there. Some of
the new force was on hand, also a con-
tractor who was goin' to juggle the lx-
lures.
See here" says Nurn. struttin' inn
portant. 81 want this side counter run
across the middle. right here"
Why" breaks in Spratt. that would
spoil the whole effect. Now. what We
want
'We?" comes in Nurn, gaspy.
Say, Bart" protests Spratf. droppin'
heavy paw friendly on his shoulder.
you know you're no more of business
man than you're a he-angel. Now. Just
leave this to me. I'll tell McCarty how
to fix it,
But the bathroom stuff" says Surn
Bah" says Spratt This is a hard
ware store. not plumbers shop.
Forget it. What We need to put in
for this trade is full line of cheap
junk-tack hammers. glass knobs
patent corkpu1lers. picture hangers
all that. Anything that can be used
in a fiat or an Office. / had IL all
thought out years back. and I'll make
a go of il for you. All you got to
do is keep out. Now run along while
/ tell McCarty what to do
Bartholomew didn't run. Not quite.
He stood there. openin' and shuttin'
his mouth and twiddlin' his fingers.
But see here, Spratt,". he begins:
"I-'
"Oh, don't bother me now," says
Spr9tt. brushin' him one side as he
starts to tow McCarty to the Office.
Then Bartholomew looks up and
sees me standin' there. He don't say
a word until he's Joined me and we've
fetched the sidewalk.
It's no use, l expect" says he. Hes
still old Spratt. and I'm just Nurn.
I'm the boss. though. really. I ain't
goin' to let him forget that"
That's talkin'w says /.
Yes. and that's about all il was.
amt spillin' any sympathy for Barth-
dog now: and some day, after he gets
little more used to 'em. he's goin'
to look a head waiter square between
the eyes.
Copyright. 1915. by seweu Ford)