The Wrong Man — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BAR-ROOM GOSSIP. 27 “FO Beeey. 5. _ most of them, las ‘New Orleans’ stamped onto the outside _ He told me when he fust come here that he didn’t expect to stay _ Ho longer than two or three weeks; and it’s now more than _ twomonths. I doesn’t wish to meddle with other folks’ husi- ‘ness, _ it does strike me queer that he should stay around so long.” ee >) tingly natural, beyond all peradventure, that it should strike 7 thus,” said Mr. Perkins. _ “ What was that you observed, Mr. Perkins ?” asked the post- |. Master, who had heard every word, but was afraid the others bad not The teacher repeated his remark. i “You have saw the gentleman, then, Mr. Perkins ?” resumed _ the postmaster. “JT have observed him several times.” _ “T've hearn tell,” commenced the shoemaker, who, it was _ Roticeable, had “hearn tell” of many nameless things, “that __ Mr. Dudley stays here for his own good.” Several drew great sighs at this ne gtwee | intelligence. “I have s’picioned that too,” added the tailor, who again got - Up and sat down to throw off the embarrassment. “ What is _ your opinion, Mr. Perkins ?” “My opinion of what?” ___ The tailor was thrown into such consternation by this point- _ €d question—the teacher looking directly in his face at the _ Same time—that he blew his nose several times, coughed, and " = | -vigpeineaceliy out that he thought it was bad weather out FS, “What name does he go by ?” asked the shoemaker with a Very innocent look. _“ Mr. Charles Dudley.” “Wonder if that’s his name. I’ve hearn tell that it wasn't.” __ “Who told you so?” demanded Dodge, with considerable - ‘asperity. _ . “Perhaps it wouldn’t be best to tell. Folks don’t like to * their names in everybody’s mouth.” “I guess if Nathan Dodge may be allowed to express his _ Opinion, Charles Dudley would think he was getting his ina many mouths, and none of them over-clean at that.” “Folks as does as he does must expect to be talked about,” _ Said the postmaster, with great severity. ie “Most ; itis an immutable iaw in human science, _ Most remarkaby exemplified in numerous instances which have my cognizance during the past few years,” added philosophical - : come under d Bg? anion y a ~~ this last remark, all, with the exception of his chair pees against the wall, looked at the Ver 4 } they e him to sink out of sight before the the schoolmaster. But the peddier bore reddened slightly az he added: aa icomicbooks: 7 ~~ i. ae”