Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23

are who would gladly throw themselves into your
arms you make them understand what you are
ready to sacrifice for them. You might get some
old fellow to adopt you as his son who is worth
times as much as am"
Certainly this young man was fool as well as
rogue, for he accepted every word spoke Us the
utterance Of sincerity.
Why waste more time" he asked, with com.
placent glance at that portion Of my stock which
was displayed to attract customers, among which
were six fine fat gold lever watches, eighteen carat
hunters six Others open faced; four ladies' dainty
toys, with enameled cases, set with diamonds; a
couple Of dozen silver watches, with perfect move
ments, and one marvel of workmanship, which told
not only the time, but the day and the year the
name and date OF the month, and the changes Of
the moon. Then there was a fine collection Of
trinkets, chains, and fngerrings, brooches and
the Eke-all paid for with the labor Of nv hands
Then there was my patent fire proof safe, which
contained articles worth something, / can tell you
my bank book, for one thing, showed good bal
ance Aud Nicolas Brand was standing beneath the
fruitful vines, with his mouth wide open, waiting
for the grapes to fall into it, But he vas not The
only fox in the world who met with disappointment
why waste more time 2 he asked; 81 am mar
to be trusted, and what say mean. After all tn,
years have passed in your house it would be black
ingratitude in me to deser. you in your old age"
"Am l so old, Nicolas ?" l murmured.
You are.not young Master Fink"
" But feel sometimes as if still had little
strength left in mel do, indeed. Nicolas"
THE strongest are cut down"
There is Anna" said /; my voice by this time
had grown very feeble "She has been with me
long time. She would take care of me-"
of what use are womenY' exclaimed Nicolas
scorntully. "They only playthngs."
sighed " Alas for poor Katrine," and then said
" You have heen well and justly treated in my
house, Nicolas; you acknowledge it,"
Yes, Master Fink, acknowledge it."
Fair wages all the time you were my apprentice
This home is not to be despised. The rain doesn't
come through the roof ; and your.bed, it is a com
Portable bed, Nicolas"
Yes, it is comfortable bed"
"1hen Anna is good cook-one in thousand
You have always had plenty to eat"
81 have nothing to complain OF, Master Fink
nothing whatever. You have been a good and
kind master, and am going to show my gratitude
1t is bargain, then-you consent to my proposition
We commence from this day."
"Nay," l said, 6eeming it time to end the comedy
Ct it takes two to complete bargain" And rose
and made him bow, just the kind of bow made
to Pretzel, the mIser, good many years ago, when
he came into my shop, accompanied by lawyer,
with my bond in his hand ready to strip me OF
every stick was worth g. / will never consent to
he ,Vonld he a renroach IpNn N,
days. No, Nicolas, l will not be adopted as your
father; will bear my burden alone You shall grow
rich in better way in an easier way. You will find
it, have no doubt, for you are sharp customer.
Perhaps miser Pretzel will make you his her,
(Nicolas' face, at tie mention CT PTetzers name,
was white as white wex) "He is rolling in
money, and so very, very generous. He once tried
to do me q good turn. Or perhaps the invisible
gentleman you play cards with in the middle of the
night may, some time other, lose q large sum of
money to Sou, and bring it to you in a number of
sacks. How wonderful that would be, would it not
So let what has been spoken between us be forgot
ten, as though it had never happened And when
you are rich" said, closing the book in which his
account was entered, 'when you are rich, and
riding in your carriage, you shall pay me what you
owe me, and get out Of my debt. l hope you will
give me your custom slight return for the just
treatment you have received in my house."
His face was dreadful to look at Rage, terror,
venom, in their fiercest aspects, expressed in
his features. Had been weak, old fellow | think
ne would not have restrained his impulse to put his
fingers round my throat but he was aware of my
strength, and we were both spared unpleasant con-
sequences.
So" he said, slowly "ycu have been playing
with me- you have been mocking me; you have
been acting the part of spy, and eaVesdropper.
Because you are rich and am poor you think you
have the right to crush me under your feet. o, ii
had the power = and he ground his teeth and left
me, without another word.
1t was hard punishment had dealt out to him,
but he deserved it; he rascal, from the hairs
Of his head to the soies Of his feet