Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-07

purposes. GOOu-nlght. YET Stay-lahe lnlS
lcUer-therc's money in it-a large amount
put it in the post-ollice with your own
hands as you 90 home"
"And you can't lot me have trne7'
easred Simon.
mot cent ~ snarled the lawyer; and
he slammed the door behind him, and
went heavily down the stairs.
81 wonder how it feels TO punch mans
head" said Simon, as he stood rooted TO
the spot where Mr.. Lalitat left him. "Irs
illegal-ts aclionable, there are. fines and
penalties provided by the statute but il
seems as if there were cases that might JUS
lfy the oreration-morally. But then
again-what good would 1t do to punch his
head? Punching his head wouldn't get
me money-and-if / was to try it on, find
ing that the licks didn't bring out the cash,
/ might he tempted to help myself TO the
cash, and that would be highway robbery
ald when the punchee ventured TO sug
gest that, the puncher might be tempted to
silence him. o Lord that's the way that
these murders in the first degree happen
aud / think that | was on the point Of TAX
ing the first step. i really think ! look
like Babe, the pirate" added the poor man,
gllncing at his mild but disturbed features
in the glass; cor like Captain Kidd, or
lcastwise, like Country McClusky-a regu-
lar bruiser."
Sitting down before the CRATE and stir
ring II feebiy with the poker, he tried to
devise some feasible plan for supplying
tae vacuum in his treasury. lie might
borrow, but then his friends were all very
poor and hard up-at this particular sea-
son of the year. The bui's eye watch might
have been "spouted," if he had foreseen this
contingency but every avuncular relative
was now, al this hour Of the night, snug
abed to dead certainty. Purchasing un
credit was not TO be thought OF, and the on
ly shop which kept open late enough for
his purchases, was Kept by a man to whom
he was totally unknown. Time galloped
on, meanwhile, and the half hour struck.
"I'll Slip that letter in the post Office and
then 90 home," said Simon, sorrowrully,
ising as he spoke, and graspins his insep-
arabic umbrella.
"liallo! shipmate! where away?" cried
a hoaise voice, aud Mr.. Quillpen became
aware Of the presence OF an "ancient mari
ner," enveloped in a very rough dread
bought, and finished oil with large
amount Of tarpluin and whiskers.
81 was going home, sir" replied Simon,
with the deilereniial air Of a very little 10 a
very big man.
"Ay-going to clap ON hatches and dead
lights. Well tell me one lhing-where-
away may one find Mr.. Latitat-a shore 60
Ing cove, regular land shark, dye ?"
This is Mr.. L1tilars office, SIR said
Simon.
"Ay-and is lie within hail ?"
mo, sir, he has gone home.'
"Slipped his cable-hey? Just my luck!
We'll, one might snooze comfortably on
this here table-migh he? You eau
clear out, ami I'll take care Of the shop till
morning.
THAT would be perfectly inadmssable,
SIR said Simon, 1.-THE idea OF a stranger
sleeping here"
- slranger!' ciied the sailor. "Why,
sbipmatc, 90 you happen to know who l
am? Look at me. Don't you see some
what OF a family likeness to Lucus in my
old weather beaIen mug2 Why, man alive,
Tm his hrother-hi, own blood brother.
YoI mL,t a heard him speak of me. Been
cruising round the world in chase OF For
tune, but could never overtake her. Been
sick, shipwrCckod, and now come back as
went. But Lucius Las got enough for
both Of us. How glad he'll be to sec me to-
morrow, hey, old lux and Taper"
Simon had his doubts about that matter,
but told the sailor 10 come in the morning
and see.
"Thal will" said the tar, "and start
him up with rousing Happy New Year.
But say, shipmale, don't want to sleep
in the watch house. Have you never a
shilling about your trowsers?"
Simon answered that he hadn't a cent.
"Why don't that brother of mine give
you good wugos9"
"Enormousw said Simon.
"W hat becomes ofit?"
II spend ii all-Im very extravagant,"
said Simon shaking his head. "And then,
I'm sorry 10 lay, your brother is not al
ways puncIual in his payments. Tonight,
for instance, l couldn't get cent from
him."
,
mate,' said the sailor, contidenlially, "Pd
overhaul some of his letters. Steam will
loosen wafer, and hot knife blade wax.
I'd overhaul his money letters and pay
myself. Ha ha Do you take?" Now,
that letter you have got in your fin, my
boy, looks woundy like a dokiment choek
full of shinplasters. What do you say. 10
making prize of'em? wouldn't il be a
jolly go?"
"Stand onw said Simon, assuming
heavy round ruler and commanding at
titude. "Don't you come nigh me, or there
will be a case of jusliiiable homicide here.
How dare you counsel me to commit rob
cry on your own brother2 | wonder you
amt ashamed TO look me in the face"
"A chap as has cruised as many years as
have ip the low latitudes, ain't afraid to
look anybody in the face" answered the
"dncient Mariner" grimly. ~ made you
a fair offer, shipmate, and you rejected it
like longshore jackass as you are. Good
night 10 ye."
Much to his relief, the sailor took himself
of, and Simon, after locking aud double
locking his door, went to the post Office
and deposited the letter with which he had
been entrusted. As he lived a great way
up the Neck, he did not reach home until
after all the clocks in the city had struck
twelve, 50 that he was able TO surprise his
little wife, who was sitting up for him with
a a"Happy New Yearp
lie cast rueful eye at The line of stock
ings hung along the mantle piece in the
sitting room, and then sorrowfully an
nounced to his wife his failure to obtain