Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-25

who did their best to make the quarrel
incurable. To crown all. one night he
was run over by cab, was carried to a
hospital and lay there for months. and
was, during several weeks of the time
unconscious. A message to the wife by
the hands Of one of his debauched COM
panions, sent by humane surgeon, OBJ
tanned an init nation that 'if he died, Mr..
Croak, the undertaken to the family, had
orders to see to the funeral, and that
Mrs. Molinos was on the point of start
ing for the continent, not TO return for
some years. When Fitz Roy was dis
charged he came TO me, limping on two
sticks to pawn his court suit. and told
me his story. was really sorry for the
fellow. such a handsome, thorough. bred
looking man. He was going then into
the West somewhere to try to hunt out a
friend. What to do, Balance he said.
Il don't know. | can't dig, and unless
somebody will make me their gamekeeper
| must starve or beg, as my Jczebel bade
me when we parted p
II lost sight Of Molinos for a long
time, and when next came upon him it
was in the kookery of Westminster, in a
low lodging house, where was searching
with an officer for stolen goods. lie was
pointed out to me as the gentleman
cadger,' because he was so free with his
money when in luck He recognized
me. but turned away then. have seen
him and relieved him more than once,
although he never asks for anything.
How he lives, heaven knows. Without
money, without friends, without useful
education of any kind, he trsmPs the
as you saw him, perhaps doing
= hop picking or hay-making, only happy
when he obtains the means to get drunk.
have heard through the kitchen whis-
pers. that you know come to me, that he
is entitled to some property, and expect
if he were to die his wife would pay the
floO bill | hold; at any rate, what
have told you know to be true, and the
bundle of rags l relieved just now is
known in every thieves lodging as the
gentleman cadger."
This story produced an impression on
me. am fond Of speculation and like
the excitement of legal hunt as much
as some do fox chase. A gentleman.
a beggar, wife rolling in wealth, rumors
Of an unknown property due to the hus-
band: it seemed as if there were pickings
for me amidst the carrion of pauperism.
Before returning from Liverpool ! had
purchased the gentleman beggars &C.
ceptance from Balance. | then inserted
in the Times the following advertisement.
'' Horace Molinos Fitz Roy. II this gen
tleman will apply to David Discount.
Esq., Solicitor. St. Jsmes's. he will hear
Of something to his advantage. ANY
person furnishing Mr.. F's address shall
receive FL Is reward. He was last seen.
ETC." Within twenty -four hours had
ample proof Of the vide circulation Of the
Times. My Office was besieged by beg
gars Of every degree-men and women,
lame and blind, Irish. Scotch, and Eng
li.h. some on crutches, some in bowls,
some in go-carts. They all knew him
as the gentleman" and must do tie
regular fraternity Of tramps the justice to
,ay, that not one would answer ques-
lion till he made certain that meant the
- gentleman no harm. :7La
One evening, about three weeks after
the appearance of the advertisement. my
clerk announced another beggar-' There
came in an old man leaning on staff.
,lad in a soldiers gray coat all patched
and torn, with battered hat, from un-
der which mass Of tangled hair fell over
his shoulders, and half concealed bis face.
Pho beggar In weak, wheezy, hesitat-
ing tone said:
You have advertised for Molinos Fitz
Roy. ! hope you don't mean him any
harm he is sunk. think, too low for
any enmity nowi and surely no one
could sport with such misery as his"
These last words were uttered in a sort
Of piteous whisper.
l answered quickly: Heaven foroid
that l should sport with misery; l mean
and hope to do him good as well as my
SELF"
Then, sir. l am Molinos Fi;z Roy"
While we were conversing. candles
had been brought in. ] have not very
tender nerves-my head would not agree
with them-but l own | started and
shuddered when | saw and knew that
the wretched creature before me was un-
der thirty years Of age and once gen.
tleman. Sharp, aquiline features. re-
duced TO literal skin and bone, were be-
-. a. g.. kas~