The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1888-11-30

know him, judging from the small
portion of his face left uncovered by
the heavy muller and the long
peak Of fur cap drawn down over
his brows. / pushed the door catch,
and drew the curtain over the small,
unglazed window.
Now, sir, please be so kind as to
take a seat" said as turned.
1t was Jack Harkens! The same
Jack, older, more grave looking, and
with a calmer light in the eyes, and a
softer expression about the lips.
"WelI, Dick, it is I. Are you quite
sure we are safe from intrusion?" The
muller no longer disguised the tones
Of his voice-a voice that came to my
ears like some dear old familiar songs
echoes of the past.
Jack, in the name of Heaven have
care, man; you are running your
head into the lions mouth
Nonsense! after all these years the
lion must be sleeping"
Perhaps, but easily aroused, Jack.
Now sit down, and tell me why you
came here. We are wholly safe from
intrusion or interruption
Ten years ago, Dick, parted from
you under rather peculiar circum-
stances. How has the world used you
since then?''
''Well-until now" I groaned, as I
leaned my head upon my hand.
'And Claire, and and motherP"
asked he, falteringly.
Both are well; your mother is liv-
ing with u.s."
81 thank you for that, Dick" uttered
he warmly, as he reached out and
clasped my hand in a fervent embrace.
what seems to be the trouble now,
Dickp"
81 am upon the verge of failure"
"No! What? You fail?"
eyes; times have been close, and
several failures among some of my
creditors, all have combined to work
against me-"
"And you can not meet your indebt-
edness dollar for dollarP Is that what
you meanP''
1T is. Tomorrow morning the pa
pers will spread broadcast my ruin"
us there no alternative?" he asked.
1 shook my head.
Chow much do you owe, Dickg"
Fifty thousand dollars I groaned
in despair.
''A7ad you haze IN go1sder SGfe?''
I looked at him in horror. What
right had he, an escaped convict, a man
who had served a portion of his time
in Sing Sing for burglary, to ask me
such a question? But then he was my
wife's brother, my dear friend, Jack
Harkens, of my school-boy days.
Ten thousand dollars"
But a drop in the bucket. Why
sacrifice it to your greedy creditorsP"
Jack, you forget yourself. Your
life has been vastly different from
mine, you will recollect," said, as 1
rose and turned from him.
at will give you time"
Time? What do you mean?"
quickly asked, as again turned toward
him.
Listen to my plan. Sit down; 1
will tell it in few words" Ireseated
myself, and gazed upon his handsome
face as he revealed what he was pleased
20 call his plan.
ut is years since / did any job of
this sort, but I think my hands and
brains have not lost their cunpirs.
You are pressed by your creditors.
YOu ant to oos,le with them dollar
for dollar, but can not. You would
give them this paltry ten thousand
dollars, which would only whet their
appetites for more. To-night-nOw
listen and do not START a0iU crack
yOur safe! You will say that you had
forty thousand dollars in it. Your
creditors greed will turn to sympathy,
and they will give you further time.
Now, what do you think of my plan?"
He leaned back in the chair and fixed
his eyes upon my face, as though he
would fain read every thought running
riot through my whirling brain.
My safe broken open and forty thou
sand dollars taken from it! The whole
city would talk about it; the officers
of the law would take speedy steps to
capture the burglar, and my creditors
would give me time to retrieve my
losses because of my calamity. No
one would know but Jack-and my
God and conscience. Heavens how
could I face the phantom of my past
unblemished life, and still the little
voice which would, every moment of
my after life, confront me with that
name thief
"Jack-I-I-can not" I weakly ut
| tered, as I fell back, utterly bereft of
strength.
Spoken like man. All! Dick, old
boy, you withstood temptation, as I
failed to years ago; and now, beg
you to forgive old Jack for presenting
a plan he never intended to follow
You start. Well, perhaps you have
reasons. /, too, am an honest man,
and have been ever since we last
parted"
Thank God, you did not mean it, {"
1 gasped.
Crack your safe Do any thing
that would place me back where 1
was years ago? never! But l have
another plan to release you from your
present disagreeabIe emergency.
What do you mean?" 1 asked in
amazement.
This check T viii fill out for the
/ sum of fifty thousand dollars;" and as
! he spoke he drew out a check-book,
and proceeded to fill it out and sign it.
/ Then he handed it to me, and leaning
back, laughed heartily, as he saw the
/ look of wonderment which must have
| spread over my features.
This is not your name"
But that name, Edward Strange
! Winters, is good for half a million of
| dollars"
What the rich banker of San Fran
| ciscO?"
~ nAhnr. ninLr r-n1, L-r,n-r- Il