The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-14
AT SIMPSONS.

. AL SlMpSUN>S.
b.. Amy letters for F. F. Van Cleef?" III
n nervous, anxious voice, was asked by
4 well-fed, well-clothed, close-cropped
young fellow of the hotel clerk.
- "Ah! what namep" demanded that
elegant functionary, not because he had
not heard perfectly well, but to find time
70 lounge over the ten feet Intervening
between himself and the letter boxes.
The name was repeated in a sharp,
quick tone.
"No: nothing"
~ r"Please look in &C."
The clerk stared; wondered what was
, rlp: reflected that the new conner had
brought but little baggage; mentally re,
solved to keep an eye on him; shutf1et
over the letters in the &C" box; shook
his head, and then relapsed into an ann
chair overcome with the exertion.
Frank took the elevator, let himself
into his room, lit a cigar, reflected, and
then sighed.
Eight years in Europe, home at last,
summer well under way, a fair inherit
ance, principally in Chicago property,
and prospect Of being independent OF
his brush for ,he rest Of his lite-sucli
were the time and circumstances under
which he found himself. Nothing to
sigh at in that.
But expensive living in Europe
had exhausted the gold remaining in his
pocket after he had paid his passage
money. His lawyers and the executors
of his late Aunt Miranda's estate had
been instructed, however, by the previ
Gus mail to remit money to him at the
Brunswick, so that was p matter of no
moment. But the remittance had not
arrived. Most of his baggage had been
expressed to Chicago from the hold OF
the big Cunarder, and in it the address
of his new lawyers. -.
ss "'My lawyers sounds WELL" he re.
fected, ''but wish to the deuce they't!
send me some money"
Tuesday came, but with it no letters.
1t became annoying, but still he could
wait. Presently he went out for stroll.
found it warm, and deplored the luck that
kept him from getting away from the
heat and dust to Newport, where he was
to join some friends with whom he had
spent the winter in Rome.
's Entering the hotel, the clerk handed
him letter. All! money at last! No:
it was % note, addressed in an Anglo
Boston hand:
DEAR Mir. VAN CLEEF:
Come and dine with us tonight We saw
your arrival III the Parthia's passenger-list III
( the morning paper, and are anxious to know
how you. are and where you are going to spend
the summer. Come at seven. Dining by sun
light is like "playing tea," SO we eat late.
Yours, sincerely, MARIE.
No. % West 44th street.
Now, who the deuce!-Marie, Marie
I don't know any Marie, especially any
Marie who is particularly interested in
me, and who writes charming note,
Says things which with women pass fol
wit, and" smelling of the paper, "who
uses extract of violet literally. Well.
I'll be sure to 60; it may divert my mind
from my pecuniary embarrassment. III
have to make clean breast of it to the
clerk soon, and probably be arrested fol
a swindler. A man who expects remit
tances and don't know his lawyers ad,
dress, who has no baggage and wants
money to get to Chicago with, looks like
! asub1imely-c a cheeky confidence man."
Evening dress claw-hammer coat
etc., but no gloves, no ties; why, money
is momentary necessity, by Jove!" SAID
Frank, as he took these articles from his
: trunk = '~.- 49, 1<
"I can't 60 to dinner and find out my
unknown friends if don't have gloves
Oh, if there was only Mont dc Pete il
New York! By Jove, Simpsons!
will arise and so unto my uncle ant
say, Uncle, lend me $l0.'' .
Frank laughed, then grew sober again
There was a sense Of degradation in tllt
mere idea. Then, with a shrug, h(
took out bon of jewelry, none of it ex'
pensive, and turned it over.
Hello, here's just the thing" he
. thought, as he took out a locket. 1t was
an odd cameo. Around it coied a COLDER
, serpent, with brilliantly-enameIed scales
and pair of pigeon's-blood" ruby eyes
Frank had picked it up in little shop in
London Just before he sailed for home
1t was one of the fancies in which he haC
begun to indulge himself when he re-
ceiyed the first remittance from his new
lawyers and new property.
"This bauble is principally accountable
or my being short of money" ne
hought. Il will make it remember
me-" On the back of the quaint ole
locket were the initials, "V. D. w." anc
below them, NJ. E." There had beer
81 picture in it once, but there was lef
onty the marks of the knife with whicl
it had been pried out. 1t was CROWN!
late. and calling hack, Frank jumped
in ana told the driver to take him to tllt
new courthouse. Arrived there, he tolt
the man to, wait, passed through tn.
building and out the other door, walked
briskly to Simpsons, hesitated moment
bolted in the door, and in a momen
4 stood in box at the counter, where ;
poor woman was pawning some clothln!
for food. Frank shuddered, drew out TIN
locket and laid it down. :.
"A dark man took it up, looked at it
turned it over, scrutinized the initials
tested the gold on a corner, and said
alconically:
"How much?"
{ i Zen dollars = ! -.
& The man turned, away, made out tn
ticket. handed Frank the money and hi
duplicate ticket, and turned to the mex
% conner. - .-...
With a sigh at the atmosphere Q
" misery hanging around the place. iron
the dark corners of which the hollow
faces of the specters of want and starva
Gtion seemed leering at him, Frank passe'
quickly out the door, regained his cab
p. said to the driver, "Brunswick-quick!
and rolled away. ...
Two little red lips quivered percepti
bly,, and two big black eyes filled wit
tears. To be hungry - absolutely, un
POLITICALLY and practically hungry-was
novel experience to Bessie Prang. To b
hungry in a fashionable lodging house
with plenty down stairs in well-flle