The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-02-09
TWENTY POUNDS STERLING

flgnCs Our mutual Tf1enQ AlarXWeIt Ollg1
to have sailed for Brazil, but felt con,
fident { had seen him In the street, bu
Staining said it was nonsense, and he be
me G20 to Is was wrong. He had hard
| ly finished speaking when Maxwell came
in. Staining pulled out of his poke
a G2O note and handed 1t to me.
E'There you are, old fellow. a fool anC
bis money! etc. Another illustration O.
that wise adage."
'Not exactly: for you don't expect
shall take you money!"
Eyes lido; and shall be extremely an
noyed Il you refuse
protested, but presently lie said, in
considerable irritation:
''Then be my almoner, and give the
money away in charity"
He left presently, and as there are OBJ
jections to standing i'll the pnblio high
ways with 8 bank note in yonr hand and a
puzzled expression In your face, the note
was transferred to my pocket, and I went
my way wondering, when was met full
tilt by a clergyman whom [ knew.
'Hulloa!" he cried. ''Mr. Smith, you
and seems to have our minds SO much
occupied that we cannot take care Of cur
| bodies." 1~-
mo grave matter Of mine,' said s'but
you look sad. Nothing wrong with you
and yours?"
"No, thank you; but have just left a
depressing scene. A young couple, married
in haste, have come to grief. The wife
and child are i'll, Relatives and friends
have receded into the remote background.
| And worse than all, the husband
"Hag become Incorporate or has gone
mad.'
''Neither one or the other"
Something worse?''
| Yes, for to be dishonest is worse than
going mad. And it is such mere trif1e
that is needed, apparently, to put all
straight, that I groan at my inability to
find it.''
"What's wanted 20
swell, it's only E2O.''
F'There's the money you require. Haste
away, and do all the good you can with
it." -
Ny friend looked astonished. He even
hesitated moment.
''It is very good Of you," he said,
nervously, "but really"
II have the power to give this away.
Good-by." And I hurried off. Then I
fastened back to him.
"May request that you will on no ac-
count mention my name?"
GAS you wish it. I won't; but you
should know the objects Of your bounty"
And he told me. Then we parted I had
only gone dozen yards when there passed
me young man with flushed face and
q frightened, anxious look in his eyes. He
caught Up to my friend and spoke to him.
'"That Is the man." [ said to myself,
''whose proceedings have been dubious,
and who will, I trust, be rescued by Stain
ing's G20. Well, if the wheel should turn
and this poor man should ever be in
position to deliver a fellow-creature from
such trouble as he himself is now in, by
the surrender Of f20, wonder whether
he'll do it? Smith, you surely know
human nature we'll enough to answer your
own foolish question. Not he--not bit of
it.'
This incident was soon swept from my
mind by q sudden call to 60 abroad, even
to the place where Maxwell did not go
Brazil. Nothing hampered me then; I
was young bachelor, and could start for
the antipodes at two days notice. When
I take my wife and children--I forget the
number-for our autumnal trip, in these
later years of my life, I require weeks
preparation.
Away, then, to Brazil; away to new
life, new companions, new hopes and
fears; away to fortune and the yellow
fever! Here occurs in my tale an interval
oftwenty years (my story deals in TWEEN
ties). I doubt whether I should have
come back had not young English lady
one night sung in my hearing an old home
ballad, so well remembered in connection
with some loved ones who in this world
viii sing no more, that a craving for my
native land mastered me at once, and in a
very short time was on my return
home.
On the way had one night frightful
dream. I fancied terrible. enemy had
me down and clutched my throat. Tighter
grew his grasp and fainter my breath. My
staring eyes scanned every feature of my
murderer. Slowly and painfully did I
call to my mind the face above me. It
was Staining-but he was reckless, des-
perate. gasped an entreaty rmercy.
s'Giveitf me- I want it, T must have
it instantly-instantly was the hoarse
reply.
'sWhat--What can he mean 2y'
"What!' he shrieked, in maniacal
frenzy. My G20!''
s had quite forgotten about the bet and
the $40; but the dream set me thinking Of
what rumors had heard respecting Stain
ing since / left England-that his money
had wasted, that he had fallen In position
and even into poverty.
Poor felloWp' | thought, '<there may
be something il that dream. If his pride
will accept it he shall have that money
back, and very glad I shall be to restore