Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-25

Like to give 'er q kiss?" asked
the little man. rs he pulled up the
sack. The policeman did not reply,
but walked. or rather doomed away,
as Is the habit OF his profession.
The little man gave me Q wink:
THAT shut is mug for I'm. didn't Il.
guv'nor? These cops. you know.
they're that official"
Yes. they are bit officious,-
said. "Still. IT'S their trade"
"And a dirty trade Il Is. too" said
the little man. as he fastened the
sack over the uncanny burden. Now
I got to hoist this on my back again"
His short arms struggled help.essly
with his burden. So, seizing the
bundle. which was not heavy. but
rather clumsy, I managed to get Il
on to his shoulder again.
Thank you, guv.nor," he said.
looking at me with interest. obvious
~ not accustomed TO the assistance
o. men in tails and white wa!stcosts.
Expect me an Ind be talking
now II you admit 'appened along.
Those coppers. they don't mind what
they do TO pore man; ed ave
wanted to know this ere, and that
ere, wasting 'alt the night"
Somehow we were walking along
together toward the west; I had my
reason for this already; the little
man talked ahundantly. bat from
time TO time he looked up to me-
puzzled, and perhaps annoyed. Prob
ably he would have told me to let
him alone, II Il had not been for my
size. lie was a small man. and
happen to he one OF those people who
cannot get into an omnibus with thc.e
hat on. And am broad In proper
ton. eliminated over tho littlc
man Ike mountain; no doubt this
embarrassed him. St!u. after a while.
we crossed the road; at tho corner
OF n street he attempted 10 get rid
me. remarkinG: 80 long. guv'nor."
and paused. That's where l turn
| or" he remarked.
"Indeed?" / said. You're going
out OF your way. That goes north.
Acton lies west"
lie flung me a malevolent glanced
well. now you mention II, that's a
| funny thing. cot II into nay cad
that l nd TO turn or ere. Thank
you for mentioning II. guv'nor. SO
long" lie went on westward. but [
| followed him. His now became q
sulky mood; he refused to talk. and
SO We went for several hundred
yards. At last. however. deter
mined to play my card. So l sAids
you're n hair-drcsser. aren't your"
YES"
els yours good busincss?"
80. So"
What do you dor"
Shaving, undressing. ladies
mostly"
Indeed, How IA II that the ladies'
don't mind the state your hands are
Iin?"
What's the matter with my
| 'ands?" asked the little man. stop
ping puynaciously.
Now. don't try and make fool
OF me- You haven't got the hands OF
a hair,ircsscr. My good man. nearly
All your mills ARE broken. and you've
rot machine oil into the skin Of every
finger"
We'll, I never! One nosey parker
after the other! And what's II got
TO do with you. Ia like TO known"
Nothing. That's why I'm intcrfer-
Ing with it. Look here. ! don't want
TO do you n bad turn. II Id wanted
to, had my chance ten minutes ago.
only had to point out 10 the police
man that you said you wcrc hair
dresser and that you had the hands
OF a laborcr. He'd have wanted TO
know more; he'd have wanted to
know why n man with machine oil
over his fingers pays ten shillinGS
for lay .lgure7"
We'll, I'd have told him l fnncied
IT"
lie wouldn't have believed you.
And | don't believe you"
Then you can do the other
thing"
IAN right" said amlably. sud
denly clasping his left shoulder In
grip that surprised him. IF you
feel 30 comfortable about II, come
with me to lAdbroke Grove poiics
station. and II I've Judged you un
fairly. I'll give you i've pounds"
~ don't want your---money."
II thought ar much. Now. tell ms
the truth: II you don't III have u
take you to the station, and then you
won't get the five pounds anyway"