Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-26


some first-class sport there. don't say,
neither. that you mayn't be in luck enough
to reform him. don't say, neither-and
it's a derned sight more likely!-that you
mayn't be luckier yet, and he'll up anu
die afore he gifts rid Of your money but
/ do say you'll make him happy no'o; and
ez reckon you're about ez badly struck
after that chap ez ever saw any woman,
you won't be hurtin' your own teelln's
either" ,
The blood left Pegs face as she looked
ND. But that's trhy l can't give him the
money-and he won't marry me without
Mr.. Hamlin's hand dropped from the
last button of his waiscoat. "Cant-give
him - the - money!" he repeated
slowly.
"No."
''Why?"
.'Because-because lore him."
Mr.. Hamlin rebuttoned his waisteoat
and sat down patiently on the bed. reg
arose and awkwardly drew the portman-
teau little nearer to him.
''When Jim Byways left me this yer
property" she began, looking cautiously
around, ''he left it to me on conditions;
not conditions ez waz in his l1riHen Will,
but conditions ez waz spoken. A promise
made him in this very room, Mr.. Ham,
lin-this very room, and on that very Deu
you, re sittin' on, in which he died.
Like most gamblers, Mr.. Hamlln was
superstitious. He rose hastily from the
bed and took chair beside the window:
The wind shook it as if the discontinued
spirit of Mr.. Byways were without, re-
enforcing his last injunction. >,
don't know if you remember him,
said Peg, feverishely. HE was man ez
he'd suffered. All that he loved-wlte,
fammerly, friends-had gone back on HIM
He tried to make light Of it atore folks,
but with me, being a poor gal, he let him.
self out. | never told anybody tins.
don't know why he told me- don
know" continued Peg, with a smile,
why he wanted to make me unhappy,
too. But he made me promise that, If he
left me his fortune, I'd never, never-so
help me God never share it with any man
or woman that lOred. didn't think II
would be hard to keep that promise then,
Mr.. Hamlin, for l was very poor and
hedn't friend nor living beln' that was
kind to me but him."
but you've as good as broken your
promise already" said Hamlin. You've
given Jack money as 1 know"
"Only what made myself. Listen to
me, Mr. Hamlin. When Jack proposed to
me, offered him about what kalkilated
could earn myself. When he went away,
and was sick and in trouble, | came here
and took this hotel. knew that by hard
work could make it pay, Don't laugh
at me, please. did work hard, and did
make it pay-without takin' one cent OF
the fortin'. And all l made, workin' by
night and day, gave to him. l did, Mr.
Hamlin. / amt so hard to him as you
think, though l might be kinder, know. "
Mr.. Hamlin rose, deliberately resumed
his coat, watch, hat and Overcoat. When
he was completely dressed again he turned
to Peg.
"Do you mean to say that you've been
givin' all the money you made here to this
Al first class cherubim?"
eyes; but he didn't know where | got
it. Oh, Mr.. Hamlin! he didn't know
that"
"Do l understand you, that he's bin
bucking again faro with the money that
you raised on hash? And maxim the
haSh?"
But he didn't know that. He wouldn' t
hev took it if I'd told him."
mo, he'd hev died fust" said Mr..
Hamlin gravely. "Why, he's that SEN
sitive- is Jack FOlinsbee-that it nearly
kills him to take money even of me. But
where does this angel reside when he isn't
tightin' the tiger, and is, so to speak,
visible to the nakd eye?"
"He-he-stops here" said Peg, with
an awkward blush.
IL see. Might ask the number of his
roonl-Or should be a-disturbing him
in his meditations?" continued Jack
Hamln, with grave politenesS.
''Oh! then you'll promise? And you'll
talk to him, and make him promise?"
"Of course" said Hamlin quietly.
And you'll remember he's sick-very
sick? His rooms No. "A, at the end OF
the hall. Perhaps I'd better 60 with
you?'
cpl find it,"
"And you won't be too hard on him?''
"I'll be a father to him" said Hamlin
demurely, as he opened the door and step,
ped into the hall. =. But he hesitated a
moment, and then turned and gravely
held ont his hand. Peg took it timidly.
He did not seem quite in earnest; and his
black eyes, vainly questioned, indicated
nothing But he shock her hand warmly,
and the next moment was gone.
He found the room with no difficulty.
A faint cough from within, and q
querulOus protest, answered his knock.
Mr.. Hamlin entered without further cere-
mony. A sickening smell of drugs, pal
pable flavor of stale dissipation, and the
wasted figure of Jack Folinsbee, half dress
ed, extended upon the bed, greeted him,
Mr. Hamlin was for an instant startled.
There were hollow circles round the sick
mans eyes; there was palsy in his tremb.
ling limbs; there was dissolution in his
feveriSh breath.
"What's .up?' he asked huskIy and
neryously.
Il am, and want you to get up too. u
Il can't, Jack. I'm regularly done
up" He reached his shaking hand TO-
ward glass half filled with suspicious,
pungent smelling liquid; but Mr.. Ham,
lin stayed it.
''Do You want to get back that $40
you lost?'
Yes
"Well, get up, and marry that woman
down stairs"
Folinsbee laughed half historically, hal
sardOnically.
''She won't give it to me-
mo; but will"
"You?"
Yes"
Folinsbee, with an attempt at reckless
laugh, rose, trembling and with difficulty,
to his swollen feet. Hamlin eyed him
narrowly, and then bad him lie down
again. Tomorrow will do" he said
and them
"IfI DON'T
"If you don't" respond Hamlin, why
I'll just wade in and cut you out!'
But on the morrow Mr.. Hamlin wa:
spared that possible act OF disloyalty; for
in the night, the already hesitating spirit
Of Mr. lack Folinshee took flipht on thu