Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24


Whose turn" asked Jack, laconically.
It was an ancient arrangement now that on
the advent OF dun only one of us should re-
ceiye him, the others being in the city-that is,
Your own" cried Hal as we decamped leav-
ing the door ajar to watch the course of events.
II wish you joy, Jack: it is old BlunderSon,
snOrting like q grampuS, as usual.
Old Bunderson was general provision mer-
chant, who had let himself be begued into
supplying miscellaneous goods until his bills
really frightened me. He was the exception
that proved that Old rule. Laugh and grow
fat as crusty, ill-conditioned a wretch as ever
read one particular portion OF the Lords Prayer
backward. modern Fastan, minus the wit,
he always assembled slowly, resting on each
stair.
We were safe for about five minutes. Jack
employed them in preparing for his reception.
and we watched proceedings with amused
curiosity.
pouch, taking from it about half an ounce of to-
bacco. From this he filled q long clay pipe
Jacks merscnaum had preceded our clothes to
carefully upon the table.
IAN alarming sacrifice." murmured Jack.
shaking his head over it with a regretful
sigh.
The next grasp was to grasp the fire shovel
and tongs.
weapons of offence whispered Harry. He
meditates assault and battery"
Hal stopped abruptly in sheer amazement.
Jack was deliberately removing live Goals from
the fire to the shovel, and upon these he swept
shovel upon the bottom lodges Of two chairs at
the further corner OF the room, threw himself
into the one nearest the fire, and compacently
lighted his long clay.
or course the room filled fast with smoke and
q most pungent 0dOr.
"Old Blunderson hates tobacco as certain
parsonage hates holy water" grfnned Hal.
Bad policy, though, to frritate him, y grum-
bled /.
BY this time our enemy was in the doorway.
gasping for breath, and shaking a great hairy
fist Jack by OF filling the interval
speech returned.
You abandoned young profigate."
Jack removed his pipe, nodded, and quietly
where he-other-scamps?"
zone gone for the doctor; the other and a
jerk of the speakers thumb toward the door
behind which we stood completed the sentence.
Old Blunderson made TWO unwie!dly steps to-
ward us.
Better not" said JACK.
s.Eh?,
Typhoid fever bad case - contagious"
fibbed Jack between his puts.
We saw Old BlNnderson'S lace turn CHASTITY
green with fear. Still he looked incredulouS;
We had played So many tricks before.
Cannon he .gasped at length.
Jack rose slowly. walked TO the corner, and
produced the SHOVEL.
Fumigat!ng the ROOM said he. Better
have pipe
with such CELEBRITY that he gained the next floor
in seconds instead of minutes
We were laughing over his discontinue,
II thought I'd tell ye gintleman, the mis-
thress is just comm. The saints purtect ye,
for she has been rampagin' like haythen ali
our faces fell. Mrs Callaghan, our worthy
landlady, was not foe TO be so readily dis
lodged, and her powers OF inyectiye were sim
ply unriyaled. Hal was the only one who
could soothe her, and he came to the rescue.
MY turn he said, with look OF comic dis
gust. You fellows get into my room and
clear out OF the house as soon as she is seated"
did GppinU Hal hand a chair
glfded by with the deepest OF mock reyerenceS,
and an expression OF extreme devotion on his
the old beast" as he would have elegantly ex-
pressed 1t.
1t was evening OF the same day-a dull No.
vember evening. much in harmony with my
thoughts, as leaned against the door post OF
cur house and recalled the good Old times when
life was merry farce for us all.
had no heart to work. All that day had
hawked my manuscripts from one publisher to
another, yalnly hoping 10 get a'loan upon them.
Ny threepence half-penny had been carefully
invested at dirty cook shop and was glad 10
think there must have been just enough cold
meat to satisfy the boys at dinner and tea
Presently would go in and hunt for any
fragments that remained, for was desperately
hungry.
Through the fog came a slender female figure
disguised in q waterproof. She did not notice
me until quite abreast. when the light fell upon
her face Then as she gave one frightened
glance, saw two thtngs-how pale and beauti-
iul IL was, anu VIM uCpGL VI uutotly iIs III
1t was low neighborhood in which we lived.
though separated by but long alley from
fashionable West End street-a dangerous local
ity for young girl at that hour. | crossed the
road in order 10 accompany her unobseryed,
and had hardly done 50 ere saw her brought
up by some man, looming unsteadily in the
mist.
Come here, my pretty dear" said he.
she gave faint scream and tried TO slip by
him, but the drunken wretch caught her by the
loose WATERPROOF, In another second he mans
ured his length on the pavement; but, strange
10 say, the girl sank down also insensIble. drop
ping something that looked like a jewel case.
My PROSTATE friend was relieving his feelings by
round volley OF obscene abuse. Not daring to
await the arrival OF policeman, / caught up
his victim and her case, and made a haSty re-
treat At the foot OF the dilapidated stairs
hesitated should -, ! C, carry my fair burden into
Bridget in ful flight, pursued by shrlil invcc.
tive, decided the point.
"a Bridget" said /, this lady has tainted
Come and help me-"
All, sure. sor. Poor dear.'
We carried the stranger 10 the common sitting
room, and eSsayed to bring her round. Pres
emily she opened her eyes, and began to speak
"Dellrious!" said l. 1t was great relief to
near Halls Springing step. He gave a low
whistle OF establishment as he entered, and felt
the patients pulse, while gave brief expla-
nation.
Fevel1sh-very. She must be put to bed at
once. Where does she liver"
"a have not an idea. Search her pockets
But the search was fruitless
Call cab, and will take her to the hospi-
tai" suggested Harry.
looked at the flushed face and thu bright.
beautiful eyes, and my heart gave a great. sense,
less thrOb OF diSapproval
mo; We cannot turn her away Fetch n
nurse, Hal, and she shall have my room. You
will take me in for night or two?"
"Of course. old man" and Hal flew on.
Then thought OF our landlady.
Bridget" said ], show about Mrs Callag-
han ?"s
81 am the misthreSS, s0r! Sure, I'll tell her
come nigh ye."
One more dif1iculty remained and that the
greatest-the money problem. Well, my coat
and vest might go.
So for three days battered about the apart
ment in an old tattered dressing gown. being
supposed to be down with fever; meanwhile the
real patient had careful attention and strength
eDfDg nOur1Shment.