The guardian., 1940-02-03
Happy Syracuse
Mudd
By VIvIENNE c. CHADWICK
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

! -
owy, tucked away bookstore
and looked about him with inter
est. Julius Sadler left his type
writer, pushed his spectacles back
upon his silvery hair and came to
the front of the shop, smiling.
I'm Benchley D. Rugg. You re-
Gently sold my grandfather, same
name, in the city, a bible. A bible
was an odd thing for man of my
grandfather type to want. wished
to inquire about the order.
Mr.. Sadler shook his head slowly.
I'm most sorry. I'm afraid /
haven't it any longer"
The young man raised his eye
broWs. "You haven't his letter."
The old gentleman smiled regret
fully. "You see" he explained, 81
keep no help and have no time
for any but the simplest forms of
bookkeeping and filing. I keep
my orders until they're filed, and
then l destroy them, merely max
ing a small notation in my ledger.
| should be glad to show you that,
If you like. I will give the date,
and the price"
His caller interrupted, trife
impatiently. THAT I know. I paid
the C, o. D. myself. And you
haven't the letter?"
I'm sorry. But remember it.
The rather odd name impressed it.
self upon me. l have an eye for
unusual names. There was nothing
but the order"
The young man was frowning.
1t was totally unlike Granddad." "
Mr.. julius Sadler smiled sooth-
mgly. "At an advanced age, you
know, people begin to feel the need
of spiritual reinsurance.
That's what my aunt said. Thank
you very much" Abruptly the
young man was gone.
The little bookseller looked after
him. He certainly did remember
the name of poor old Granddad.
Benchley Davenport Rugg Such an
absurd, house-furnishing sort of
! name!
He went back to his desk and
! looked over his morning mail. It
contained four out of town newspa-
pers, each representative of a diff
ferent locality. Oddly enough, on
ly one section of each paper
seemed to interest Mr.. Sadler. The
obituaries. Carefully he scanned
them and copied one name out of
each paper.
From accompanying articles in
the papers, and once from a handy
directory, Mr. Sadler obtained ad-
dresses. Each received the same
letter.
1--WE are in receipt of your letter
of the 10th ultimo, for which we
thank you.
"As requested we are today for
warding under separate cover one
de luxe edition bible, c. o. D. S4.98.
Please accept our apologies for the
delay, but these books were out of
stock at the time your order was
received, and we were obliged to
await delivery.
Trusting this has not inconven-
! fenced you and that we may be
favored with further opportunities
to be of service in the near future,
we remain"
1t invariably amused Mr.. Sadler
to write that last sentence.
1t was some ten days later when
he again saw the reformed Mr..
Riggs grandson. Mr.. Sadler
watched the young man stroll by
on the opposite side of the street,
and smiled to himself Benchley
Davenport Rugg! There had been
an even better one the other dav.
which had reminded him instantly
of Mr. Rugg. Happy Syracuse Mudd!
This one had charmed Mr.. Sadler
completely. He had sent him a
bible instantly and hoped that the
addressee was someone whose be-
lated reformation would bring ease
to the minds of the bereaved.
The door to the shop opened to
admit three men, and Mr.. Sadler
rose to his feet. His welcoming
smile faded from his round face.
One of the arrivals was young Mr..
Rugg. The other two we're police
men!
This is the man, officers. / pre-
sumo you can get any further proof
you need from the store records,
such as they are He swung on
the paralyzed bookseller and his
voice was like knife. 80 you
have an eye for UNUSUAL names!
Well, you made two mistakes, my
friend. My grandfather was one.
4 He was hard-living, hard-drinking,
hard-dying sea captain, and a swell
egg"
I'll made two mistakes?
! What"
A chilly smile passed over the
young mans face like the mo-
mentary gleam of winter sun.
Happy Syracuse Mudd," he said
slowly. 81 invented him for you.
Thought he'd get you'll"