Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/25

 it," observed the porter, who had taken a good look at the customer and heard all that passed between him and his employer.

"I hope he will not hurt himself with it," answered the latter. "What does he want to go into the woods for? He doesn't know a woodcock from an ostrich."

"He goes because it is fashionable, I suppose," said Rube; and I afterward found out that that was just the reason. I saw him in the wilderness a few weeks later, and had an opportunity to exchange a word or two with the Brummagem breech-loader. The latter looked decidedly seedy. He was covered with rust, his locks were out of order, and he had been put to such hard service that every joint in his make-up was loose. The second time I met him he could scarcely talk to me, because there was not much left of him except his stock. His ignorant owner—but we'll wait until we come to that, won't we?

The next customers who came into the store were an elderly gentleman and a young lady. I certainly thought my chance for freedom had come, for when the gentleman said that his