The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-08

that you nnayn't be- luckier yet. and he'll up and
die afore he gifts rid OF your money. But do
say you'll make him happy no,o-and ez reckon
you're about OF badly stuck after that chap OF
ever saw any woman. you won't be hurtin' your
own feelins eitherr"
The blood left Pegs face as she looked mp.
But that's whv can't give him the money
and he won't marry me without it,"
Mr. Hamlin's hand dropped from the last but
ton OF his waistcoat. Can't e-him-the-
money 2" he repeated. slowly.
No"
"why?"
Bocause--because l lore him."
Mr.. Hamlin rebuttoned his wastooat. ard sat
down patiently on the bed. Peg arose, and
awkwardly drew the portmanteau little nearer
to him.
when Jim Byways left me this yer property"
she began looking cautiously around he left
Il to me on conditions Not conditions ez waz In
his ,eriten will-but conditions OF waz spoken.
A promise made him in this very room. Mr..
Hamlin-this very room. and on that very bed
you're sittin' on. in which he died"
Like most gamblers. Mr.. Hamlin was
superstltious. He rose hastily from the bed,
and took a chair beside the window The
wind shook 1t az II the discontinued spirit OF
Mr.. Byways were without. reinforcing his last
Injunction.
II don't know II you remember him." said
Peg feverishly. " He was man OF he'd suffered.
All that he loved-wife. iammerly iriends-had
gone back on hlml He tried to make light OF II
aforo folks but with mo. being q poor gal. no
let himself out. l never told anybody this-l
don't know why he told mol don't know"
continued Peg. with a aniflle. why he wanted
20 make unhappy too. But he made me
promise that II he left me his fortune. I'D never
never. so help me God-never share II with
any man or woman that loved didn't think
II would be hard to keep that promise then Mr..
Hamlin. for was very poor. and hednh afriend
nor living ben' that was kind to me but him"
But you've as good as broken your promise
already" said Hamlln; you've given Jack
money. as know"
only what / made myself Listen 10 me.
Mr. Hamlin. When jack proposed to mo.
offered him about what I kalkilated | could
earn myself When he went away. and was
sick and in trouble came here and took this
hotel. knew that by hard work could make
II pay. Don't laugh Mt me. please. l did work
hard. and did make II pay. without takin' one
cent Of tho fortln'. And all I made, workin' by
night and day gave TO him did. Mr.. Ham
lin. I amt 80 hard 10 him as you think !;
though might be kinder. / know"
Mr.. Hnmlln rosc deliberately resumed his
coat. watch hat and overcoat. When no was
completely dressed again. he turned to Peg.
Do you mean to say that you've been gvin'
all the money you made here TO this Al FIRST
class cherubim p
Yes; but he didn't know where got 1t. Oh.
Mr.. Hamlin he didn't know that"
DO understand YOU that he's bin buckinR
agin Faro with the money that you raised on
hash7 And you maxim the hash 2"
Rut hp diduif know fhat-ha ,vouldnit hov
took II II I'd told him."
mo. he'd hev died fustl" said Mr. Hamlin.
Rravely. why. he's that sensitlve-is Jack
Folinsbee-that It nearly kills him 10 take
money even OF me. But where does this angel
reside when he isn't lghtln' the tiger. and In.
80 to speak. visible to the naked eyeS"
"He-he-stops here" said Peg. with IN Awk-
ward blush.
Il 500. Might ask the number OF his room
or should be a-dlsturbing him in his medita-
tionsl" continued Jack Hamlin. with grave po-
likeness.
oh. then you'll promise And you'll talk to
him. and make him promise 2"
"0f course" said Hamlin quietly.
And you'll remember he's sick-very sick
His rooms No. A. at the end OF the hall. Per-
haps I'd better 20 with your"
I'm find IT,"
And you won't be too hard on him ?"
I'm be n father 10 bin" said Hamlin. de-
murely. as he opened the door and stepped into
the hall. But he hositated a moment. and then
turned and gravely held out his hand. Peg took
Il tmidly: he did not seem quite in earnest
and his black eyes vainly questioned, indicated
nothing. But no shook her hand warmly. and
tho next moment was gone.
He found the room with no difficulty faint
cough from within and querulous protest an
swered his knock. Mr.. Hamlin entered with
ont further ceremony. A sickening smell Of
drugs, a papable flavor Of stale dissipation and
| the wasted figure Of Jack Folmsbee. hall
dressed, extended upon tho bed. greeted him
! Mr.. Hamlin was for an instant startled. There
were hollow circles round the sick mans eyes
there was palsy In his trembling limbs, there
was dissolution In his feyersh breath.
Whats up" he asked. huskily and ner
vously.
3" ! am. and I want you to get M too
81 can't. Jack. I'm regularly done up" II,
reached his shaking hand toward a glass half
filled with suspicious. pungent- smelling LIQUID
but Mr.. Hamlin stayed It,
Do you want to get back that two thousand
dollars you losti"
Yes"
We'll. get up and marry that woman dowr
stairs"
Foinsbce laughed half Historically. half sar
donicaly
"she won't give it to me-"
No. hut will"
"You?"
| Yes"
Folinsbee. with an attempt Mt reckless laugh
rose trembling and with difficulty to his swollel
feet Hamlin eyed him narrowly and then bad
him lie down again. Tomorrow will do" h
said. and then -"
III don't"
"lfyou don't" responded Hamin. why II
just wade in and cut you out"
But on the morrow MIR. Hamlin was spared tina
possible act Of disoyalty. For in the night tn
already hesitatng spirit OF Mr.. Jack Folinsbe
took flight on the wings OF tho southeast storm
When or how it happened nobody knew
Whether this last excitement and the nea
prospect Of matrimony. or whether an over
dose OF anodyne had fastened his end. wa
never known. l only know that when the
camo TO awaken him the next morning all tina
was loft Of him-a face still beautiful and boy
like-looked up coldly at the fearful eyes
Peg Molfat. 1t serves me rght-its IudG
ment," she said in low whisper TO Jack Ham