The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-03-21
"Poor young mani I'll take thorn all,
please, sir. What's he doner'

"Poor young mani I'll take them all
please, sir. What's he doneP'
Where does no liver
al know where he lives" she said, "be
cause our Bill rode away with him at the
back OF his cab, and saw where he go,
out. He's married now, and his wife sings
at tho Music Hall, and he lives on hei
earnings Quite the gentleman he is now
and smokes cigars all day long. There's
his address, and thank you for the money,
Oh" she said with gasp To think that
people can earn five pounds so easy"
May the gold procure you happiness
such happiness as you desire" said Lala
Roy.
at will nearly pay tho quarters rent
And that's about happiness enough for one
morning"
Joe was sitting in his room alone, hall
asleep. l fact. he had head upon him.
saw Lala Roy.
How the devil did you find out my address,
There was not only establishment, but
some alarm upon his countenance.
Never mind. want a little converse
ton with you, Mr.. Joseph"
"Wel, sit down and let us have 1t out.
say, have you come to tell me that you did
sneak those papers, after all' What did you
get for themf'
81 have not com, to tell you that. ! dare
say, however, we shall be able, some day, to
tell you Who did steal the papers-if any
were stolen. that is"
Quite so, my jolly mariner. II any were
stolen. Ho, hol you've got to prove that
first, haven't youl How's the old manr
"He is i'll; he is feeble with age; he is
weighed down with misfortune. lam come,
Mr.. Joseph, to ask your help for him"
MY help for him' Why, can't he help
himselff'
-Four or five years ago he incurred debt
for one who forged his name. He needed
not to have paid that money, but he saved
man from prison"
who was that2 Who forged his nGmef'
81 do not name that man, whose end will
be confusion, unless he repent and make
amends This debt has grown until it is too
large for him to pay it. Unless it is paid,
his whole property, his very means OF living,
will be sold by the creditor"
"How can pay him backl 1t is three
hundred and fifty pounds now" said Jo-
seph.
"Man, thou hast named thyself."
Joseph stammered but clustered still
"We!l then what the devil dc you
mean-you and your forgeryN
Forgery is one crime; you have since
committed, perhaps, others Think. You
have been saved once from prison VIII
any one save you second timel How have
you shown your gratitudef viii you now
do something for your benefactorT
"What do you mean, l sayi What DO you
mean with your forgery and prisonl Hang
ME. il oughtnt to kick you out Of the room.
would, too, II you were ten years younger.
Do you know, sir, that you are addressing
an officer and gentlemanT
'There is sometimes, even at the very end,
door opened for repentance. The door is
open now. Young man, once more, consider.
Your grandfather is old and destitute. Will
you help himf'
Joseph hesitated.
=" don't believe he is poor. He has saved
up all his money for the girl; let her help
him"
"You are wrong. He has saved nothing.
His granddaughter maintains herself by
teaching. He has not penny. You have
got from him and you have spent all the
money he had"
He ought to have saved"
"He could, at least, have lived by his call
ing but for you and for this debt which was
incurred for you. He is ruined by it. What
will you do for himf
II am not going to do anything for him, VI
said Joseph. "Is it likelyl Did be ever
have anything but scowl for mef'
"Hs who Injuries another is always In tn
wrong. You will, then. do nothingi Think.
1t is the open door. He is your grandfather
he has kept you from starvation when you
were turned out of Office for drink and dis.
honesty. hear that you now have money,
have been told that you have been seen To
show a large sum Of money. Will you give
him someT'
As matter Of fact Joe had been the nigh
before having festive evening at the Music
Hall, from which his wife was absent, owing
to temporary indisposition. While there h'
took so much Scotch whisky and water tina
his tongue was loosened, and he became
boastiul and that to so foolish an extent
that he actually brandished in the eyesof the
He now remembered this, and was greatly
struck by the curious fact that Lala Roy
should seem to know it.
al haven't got any money. 1t was al
brag last night. couldn't help my grand
father if l wanted to-"
"You have what is left Of three hundred
pounds" said Lala Roy.
"If | said that last night" replied Joe,
81 must have been drunken than thought