American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-22
A FRIEND IN NEED.
BY ALBERT r. WEBSTER.


THE following story was told me by
woman well known in the city of b
ms dealer in diamonds and as a money
lender. She is gifted with great percep
tive faculties, and she has gained by he
long experience in nice and pcrilou
business a deep insight into human na
ture and also gracious tact that enable
her to accomplish her will in spite of al
ordinary obstacles:
1 was sitting behind my counter in my
shop at four O'Clock on very dark ano
stormy day of January last, when Il boy
entered and handed me note. He die
not ask question of either me or my
brother, who stood near by, but he raI
off ut once.
The note was very prettily written up
on fashionable note paper 1t read thus
Will Madame R kindly obligc one who
i in very great distress by going. without hesita
ton or delay. to the corner Of Bayard place and
Eustis street. where she will find coupe with 4
coachman who Is already instructed whittier to
drive herr. The writer IL in immediate sad terri
Bile want OF money and if Madame will
bring 5000 with her she will greatly facilitate
the Negotiation of an unhappy but necessary
transaction
There was a certain directness and
conference about the letter. said Madame
R, that ut once put me on my guard.
1t seemed to me to he the work either of
Il designing man or of an unusually clear
minded woman, and, as the latter is some
what rare. to judge at least from the
notes ladies commonly write, | felt that
to be particularly careful in this case was
my best method.
/ confess that at first was not inclined
to respond to the letter ut all, but my de-
sire to do a good stroke of business, if
possible, together with some curiosity,
perhaps, made me yield eventually and
! accordingly dressed for the eXpedi-
ton.
called in boy to remain in the shop
with my brother, who took my place be-
hind the counter then left the place
and proceeded at once to the spot indi-
Gated in the note, accompanied by the
policeman whom l employ regularly as
my body-guard. l found the coupe.
The horse was large and beautifully
harnessed, and the coachman was well
trained.
Iasked him where he was instructed to
drive me to. He replied:
:" To the rear of No. - Longworth
street, if you please"
BY which way do you intend to go:"
He gave me the most direct route.
asked him to take another. He assented
l did this in order to see if his conduct
had been arranged for him, which would
have been the case had there been any
thing wicked in the matter. l felt reas
sured. Longworth street is in the best
anu TlCHcSt part Vi the CITY, anu, though
its nelghbOrhOod is secluded and quiet, it
is well protected and well lighted.
We performed the journey in fifteen
minutes.
We drew up in an alley-way which led
in the rear of the dwellings and descend
ed amid the snow and hail and saw be-
fore me a high brick wall, which ran
on either hand as far as the eye could
reach. l had no sooner stepped upon
q walk than III door m nf mo
opened, and a young maid, with IA cloak
over her head and shoulders, looked out
and babe me enter.
did so and crossed a wide-fagged
courtyard and entered at a door in the
basement of d handsome and lofty house.
The entries were almost dark and all
the doors were closed; and, / thought,
purposely. The girl led me up the
servants stairs to the first floor. and then
up another flight to the second floor.
Here we stepped out of the staircase into
the hallway.
1t was among the most beautiful that 1
had ever seen. The carpets were rich
and very thick; the walls were VAIN
scoted and were hung above with Span
ish leather The air was warm and per-
fumed, and a soft light was shed down
ward from huge Chinese lantern, whose
parti-colored and jangling pendants
swung to and fro, throwing moving
shadows over the walls.
Come this way" said the maid, and
she led me with son.e haste into pas
sage which led to the left, and upon
which there opened two tall, dark doors
At one of these she knocked softly,
and then entered, directing me by a nod
To follow her
found myself in a well-lighted and
luxurious apartment, and surrounded by
articles and furniture of great beauty
and elegance
Standing beside small and delicate
table was young lady.
She was tall and slender, and her car
riage was striking for its graceful ease
Her face WAS regular, and it was ex-
fremely handsome. She at once ap-
preached me with great haste, and, seiz-
ing my hand, she cried:
oh, madam how glad am that you
have come, I was afraid that you would |
be offended because was so peremptory,
but did not mean it-indeed, l am so |
sad that have not the courage toto |
ask my bird to sing to me-"
She fixed her eyes upon mine, and ii
saw that they were red with weeping.
% am in great trouble" she pursued |
and only you can assist me. l must |
sell you something. | must persuade |
Jewels. Look, See them, have made |
quite a collection for you to choose |
FROM
She turned her head and gaZed in an
understandable way upon heap of rich |
garments which lay upon the floor
felt singular compassion for my |
customer, and INDUCED myself IN some |
little speculation upon the probable |
causes of her misfortunes
Perhaps | displayed this interest in
my face in some way. At any rate she |
suddenly altered her manner toward me |
and treated me as confidant
a. l have a BROTHER" she whispered |
who has done wrong He likes pleasure,
and he has maze us much trouble, but |
yet we love him. He is the under treas
urer of the Trust and Deposit Company |
of B.. You know of it, for learned |
that you have safe in their vaults |
Well, the President came here Yesterday.
and ! saw him. He told me that il had !
been discovered that Allan had convert
ed f1S, 900 to his own use, and that, as "a |
regular examination of the books and |
funds of the institution was to be made |
tomorrow afternoon, it would be neces- |
sary that the money be returned AT once !
if the disgrace which would accompany |
exposure was to be avoided He said |
that he had known my father from child |
hood and that he felt it incumbent upon !
him to save him from such flood of
shame as would pour upon him should |
the disclosure be made He had white |
hair, and he wept, and he kissed me when
he went away
7, whose duty it is to know everything, |
tI.af thn Of fha OF