The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-08

cautiously followed up my man when he
went on his way from the jewelers. shop.
At the top of the lane he seemed to hes
itate for half a minute, then he turned
to the right and went up Long Acre.
still followed cautiously, about dozen
yards in the rear.
al will put you to simple test, my
friend" | thought, land as you come
out of it, SO will adjudge you innocent
or guilty"
Hurryng up behind him, tapped
him lightly on the arm. al beg your
pardon" said, "but did you drop this
pencil-case just nowt"
He started as touched him, and for
a few seconds he seemed as if he could
not take in the meaning of my question.
Whether he recognized me as one of the
passengers by the mornings bus could
not determine. We had halted opposite
large shop, and the light from the
window shone full on my silver pencil
case, ON which at length, when he was
apparently satisfied with the scrutiny
OF my face, his glance was fastened
greedily.
picked it up, did you say :" he asked,
as he began to tumble with his thumb
and finger in his waistcoat pocket.
"Just behind you," I answered. but
if it's not yours l shan't bother any more
about it, but pocket it myself"
But it's mine," he put in, eagerly.
"How stupid in me to lose it"
l put the pencil-case in his hand with
out hesitation.
Il am really much obliged to you,"
he went on, " for your kindness in secu-
ring it. As you grow older, young gen
tleman, you will find that honesty is
the exception in this world, and not the
rule"
"Well, am glad to have found the
owner I said, with Il laugh. "You
seem to value the case?'
- do value it, young gentleman"
answered the old hypocrite; LESS, per-
haps, from its intrinsic worth than from
the fact that it is the sole relic now left
me of very dear friend. Friendship
ever let us cherish. A truly noble SEN
timentw
"Then, if you value it so highly" ]
said, "you can hardly object to stand
half go of brandy for its recovery"
Half 60 of brandy !" he said, in a
Mortified tone. "Young man, young
man. I'm very much afraid"
l had taken out my watch, a valuable
gold lever, and as his eye fell on it his
intended remonstrance came to an ab-
rupt conclusion.
"Well-ah-yes, you are quite right"
he resumed, "and l shall be very happy
to treat you to go of brandy. TO what
place shall we adjourn"
ITO the nearest house, please. l
want to go home to dinner"
SO we went into the nearest tavern,
where my new acquaintance ordered a
glass of brandy for me and a glass of
stout for himself. Not to be behind
hand, 1 ordered a couple of cigars.
been in London long:" asked my
companion, as was lighting my weed.
"No-only few months. Fresh from
the country"
"At the risk of being thought imper-
tinent, may l just inquire to what par
ticular line of business your talents are
devoted :"
ITO no line at all, just at present.
The fact is" added, lowering my voice
to the proper confidential tone, Il had
IA little money left me a year ago, and
am up in London looking out for
sound business investment. But I've
met with nothing to my liking 50 far;
in fact, I'm getting tired of town, and
have half II mind to go back home and
take my money with me-"
could see the old scamp's eyes
brighten as he drank in my words ea-
gerly
My dear young friend, if you will
allow me to call you So" he began, in
blandly persuasive accents, "let me
counsel you to do nothing rashly. There
are thousands of excellent investments
in London. But what you want is
man at your back who knows all the
ins and outs of this great city; who
knows how to separate the wheat from
the chaff; and who can distinguish, al
most us it We're by instinct, sound in
vestment from a rottt II one.'
IAN very fine. But where is a green
horn like me to find such a man Z"
The gesture with which my scampish
friend bowed to me and lald his hand
on his heart had in it touch of the
sublime. at is not for modest man
like me to vaunt himself or his qualifi-
cations, but have lived in London all
my life, and have not lived with my
eyes shut. Although 1 am just now
why attempt to deny it:-in some
measure under a cloud, my fortunes, l
am proud to say, have not always been
ut their present low ebb. My wife-she
is dead now, poor creature at one time
kept her brougham and pair; and l
had my hack for the park and
hunter down to Melton. But those
days are gone, never to return. Drink
up, sir, and let US have another glass;
l was ruined in the year of the great
panic. All the more, then, am fitted,
after passing through such bitter ex-
peIienee, to fill the part of a judicious
mentor to inexperienced youth with
capital at its back. Sir, my humble SER
vices are yours to command"
"Well," l said with dubious air, sit
is just possible that you might be able
to put me up to useful wrinkle or two.
But, in any case, this is not the spot to
discuss such matters. Come and have
bit OF dinner with me at my rooms, and
we can talk things over afterwards, with
the assistance of pipe and tumbler."
"A bit of dinner, IA pipe and tum-
bier. Ha, ha / will attend to. you,
my young friend, with the utmost salts
faction"
1 hailed the first cab could find, and
we ratified off to my lodgings. No con-