The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-12-25

marked that she would attend to the
packing herself. While she was thus
occupied the strange purchaser with
difhculty lisinterred from well con.
cealed pocket small bag.
"1 know exactly how much there IL
In here" he said to me, with smile
Ia which posittveness aud sadness were
quantity mixed. Just $26. IS. So the
quickest way for me Is to take out ST.
rs"
He craned up till he managed to
empty his little bag on the glass.top.
ped case. The assortment of money
that fell out was very varied. There
were some neatlyf0lded bills, few
silver dollars, some smaller silver, sew.
eral dve.cent nickles, and even few
coppers. He counted out Sl.75 from
the smaller denominations, and then
put one dollar back In his bag aud the
seventy.five cents In his waistcoat
pocket.
81 shall need some of that" he said
."for messenger boy" Then, looking
up at me and noting the look of amaxe-
ment, that know pervaded my face,
though strove to repress 1t, he added,
tyou are surprised to see such man
az buy such doll?"
81 am indeed" replied, "I can't
understand 1t at ALL"
81 would like to tell you, Mr.. Rob-
erts, because you have often bought Of
me when didn't know which way to
turn for something to eat, aud
wouldn't like you to think me an
impostor."
"You shall tell me," answered, "it
you will; but not here. The girl is
coming back with your box. It Is q
cold night q glass Of something warm
will do you good: We will 60 and get
one; Then you can sit down and tell
me what you WILL"
81 do not drink anything, sir, ex-
cept very occasionally, when my pains
get too great for me to bear. will be
glad to 90 with you where can get
cup Of coffee. Tonight, Of all nights,
] must not drink, for must see he,. to,
morrow"
AS he uttered the last words, look
of almost ecstasy illumiued his worn
features.
"Here Is your parcel, sir"
"And there, think you will find
the right amount"
It took the girl u few seconds to
count the money.
"Quite correct, sir (; much obliged"
she said when she had finished.
"Let me carry the box" suggested
as we left the store together, evidently
to the astonishment of all therein.
"No; thank you, sir, l can manage
it very well, and it's a pleasure to me
to feel it,"
"Very well. Where shall we 60 ?"
"I know a nice, quiet little place.
1t isn't where you would 60 by your
self, sir, but itll be better for you to
60 there than to draw notice by TAX.
ing such an object as I am into bet
ter one. And then I'll ask you to put
an address on this. 1 can't write very
easily now, and besides, bad as my
writing is 1t might be recognized"
A few minutes later wo were seated
in restaurant, the existence of which
had been previously unknown to mo.
1 found, however, that it deserved the
character that had been given II, while
the scale of prices was marvelously
reasonable.
SNOW, Mr.. Roberts," he began, when
he had flushed the light meal, that
was all 1 could persuade him to take,
"I'll tell you my story, and I'll make
1t as short as can, for, as you may
imagine, it Is not q pleasant one.
81 received an ordinary education,
and when was about 10, my uncle,
who was the only near living relative
1 had, got me into large dry goods
house. My name is John Crane, but
1 was there always called Jack, and
later on, when l became drummer
Cor the house, sJack Crane got to be
pretty well known in nearly every I'M
portant city. Our house was good
one, having exclusive control of certain
tiines,' and as was lucky enough TO
develop into "A first class salesman, /
made plenty OF money for myself and,
of course great deal more for the
house. In those days l was pretty
good-looking fellow, though you
wouldn't be likely to think 1t when
you look at me as am now. was
q little above the average height, and
my face had no prewarnings of the
lines and seams and wrinkles that dis.
figure it tonight. Probably You would
say am getting well on in years, but
/ am not yet SO.
"There were four partners in our
house, and when / began to prove my
self very valuable, they took me up
socially and often asked me to their
houses. The second partner-I won't
mention his name, though IL you want
to, you can Gnd out from the address
which ! will by and by ask you to put