The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-04-09
A CONSCIENCE STILL.


luck" said Martin Hale, as he hung his
hat and coat behind the door, and drew
up to the fire. ave heard of it up at
the foundry. Fifty pounds from that
old aunt of his who died last week.
Well, it'll help him to pay off his scores.
and get fair start"
''Scores, indeed" said Mrs. Hale,
who, with her daughter Maggie, was
busted about the supper. ''Why, the
first thing Mrs. Burton did was to 90
and buy baby-carriagc. Probably
she'll want one for herself next" she
added with laugh. Think of her
setting up with baby-carriage.
''The baby's sickly. mother" said
Maggie, "and too big for little Nellie to
carry in her arms. I've often heard
Mrs. Burton wishing for q carriage in
which the baby could be drawn about
comfortably"
They're us delighted as if the fifty
pounds were thousand" continued
her mother lit isn't much to be proud
of-ffty pounds"
''Well, only wish l had half as
much" said Martin with sigh.
"Were owing two months rent now,
and what made down ut the furnaces
won't go far to say nothing of the
chambers score. think George is in
good luck"
They had always been good neigh
bors, the Hales and Burtons. The two
men worked at the iron mills in the
town, and were known rs steady honest
fellows; but it often happened that work
was slack, or even Mt a standstill, and
then those who were turned off had TO
be idle or look for Job at the fur
naces, some thirty miles up the railroad.
Both Hale and Burton had just re-
turned from one of these expeditions
the latter to claim the 'good luck" that
had befallen him." and the former to
repine that no such luck ever came to
himself
About week after this, Martin Hale,
on his way home from work, overlook
George Burton, who had paused outside
the window of one of those variety
shops" where anything is sold, from
box of matches to o suit of clothes, or
set of cheap jewelry.
He was gazing at a girls jacket of
dark cloth, neatly trimmed.
Thinking of buying your wife dia-
mond ring, George9" said Martin, stop
ping beside him.
'.Not yet WHILE" he replied good
humoredly. Il was looking ut that
little affair'-nodding towards the jack
et-"and thinking l would like to buy
it for Kitty, if it isn't too dear. know
she needs something warm for winter,
and to-morrow's her birthday"
Suppose you go in and ask the
pricep"
The two stepped into the shop. The
women who helped to keep it were elo-
quent in setting forth the merits of the
garment and its wonderful cheapness.
When Burton hesitated at sixteen
shillings she brought down the price to
twelve, and he pulled out leather purse
and paid the money.
You're spending your fortune pretty
freely, George" remarked Hale, as his
companion closed his purse.
"Well, yes, in this instance; but you
see Kitty's seventeen tomorrow, and
girls like to be nicely dressed. Besides,
I've cleared off my little debts, and this
ten pounds that's left goes into the bank
tomorrow"
The woman, anxious to get as much
rs possible out of her customer, pro-
duced some woollen socks, and Burton,
in examining them, laid his purse on
the counter, where it was speedily COW
cred by the goods.
Concluding not to purchase the socks,
he took up the bundle containing the
jacket, and with never thought of his
money, left the shop.
Ao,.t;o uo1o took 4Io ,.,,rsa f,0,,,
under the goods, unseen by the woman,
who had turned to replace the things
on the shelf
~ will give him little scare" he
thought. 1.-THE lesson won't hurt him."
When Burton reached his own door
and paused to wish his companion
goodnight, the latter raised his hand to
his breast-pocket. But suddenly dark
thought whispered TO him. Burton had
not missed the money; Burton would
never suspect him. And while he
hesitated, his companion had gone into
the house and closed the door.
"l'll give it to him to-morrow-yes,
certainly tomorrow, said Martin to
himself, "and explain that it was
joke. He will see that none of the
money is missing"
But next morning. when alone, he
opened the purse, just to sec that the
money was there all safe.
He counted 1t out-exactly ten pounds.
With that amount he could clear of his
score, and pay his months rent; and it
so happened that just at this time
Martin Hale was more in need of money
than ever he had been in his life. He
had made but little tho past summer,
and winter was coming with its mani
fold needs.
That day the workmen were all talk
ing about George Burton's loss. He
must have placed his purse, containing
the money, in his coatpocket, he said,
for upon reaching home he had found
it gone, and a hole at the bottom of the
pocket.
He was so absent-minded at times.
and he remembered that he had forgot
ten to tell his wife of that torn pocket.