The Washington critic., 1888-01-07
A BIG MISTAKE.
BY WALLACE P. REED.

with pride as self-made business
man.
But while everybody had a good
word for Henry Dyson, very few
people spoke well of his brother Tom.
On the night our story opens the
merchant was waiting for his grace
less brother, and as the hours rolled
on the frown on his face grew deeper.
''I can do nothing with Tom," he
said, MS he paced the floor impatiently.
81 have given him every possible
chance, but he grows more idle and
dissipated every day. Perhaps 1
ought not to wait for him, but he was
so urgent in his request for an inter-
view tonight that / could not refuse.
Poor fellow What new trouble can
he be mixed up in?'
The front door opened and young
man entered quietly, and after fur
tive glance around the store, pro-
ceeded TO the Office.
'Well, Tom?' said Henry Dyson.
81 am here, you see" replied Tom.
81 suppose" said Henry, "that it
is useless to ask why you are so late,
or where you have been during the
past two days"
Tom looked little nervous and his
eyes fell.
'"That is neither here nor there"
he answered in staggering way, 81
have had some business of my own
TO look after, and / knew that you
were not short of help in the store"
"Well, what is itY' asked Henry
abruptly.
Brother" Tom broke out hur-
IL, fol-
must have some money, two hundred
dollars or So"
"I wonder where you will get it,"
Henry rejoined, "You will not get
another cent from me-that is certain.
Why should toll here and econo-
mize in order to furnish you with
funds to be lost at the gaming table ?"
"If do not get this money" said
Tom, turning very pale, 81 shall have
to leave the country"
ga good thing for the country,
then," snapped Henry. "Don't let
me interfere with your travelling
plans"
Tom seemed to fall all to pieces at
this reply. He made one more effort.
81 hope you are not hard up, your
self" he said.
81 was never getting along BETTER"
responded the merchant, "but that
has nothing to do with the case.'
He pulled open the door of the iron
safe, and pointed to little tin box.
"Do you see that?" he asked, "Well,
that box contains twenty crisp one
thousand dollar bank notes. drew
the money from the bank to-day for
an investment. No, Tom, am pros
pering, but l am tired of your endless
drain upon my purse. II must stop,
and now is the time"
Henry rose from his chair and went
into little closet for his overcoat.
In an instant, before q man could
count three seconds, Tom had drawn
the flat tin box from the safe and
slipped it into the breast of his heavy
overcoat.
His brother slowly emerged from
the closet and put on his wrappings.
Then he closed the door of the safe
with click. =
1T am ready to CO." he said. "You
have no further business with me,
presumed"
"No, sir" Tom responded, with q
pale, determined face. Neither now,
nor later, goodbye
Goodbye, old fellow" said Henry,
with a yawn.
Tom walked out of the store with
out another word, banging the door
after him.
81 know him." soliloquized the
merchant. "He will not leave here.
He will be around tomorrow with q
new proposition. Perhaps, after all,
/ had better look into his affairs, and
give him another chance"
He walked slowly out of the build
ing, and locked the door. A glance
up and down the street showed him
that Tom was not in sight, and he then
quietly made his way to his hotel,
where he straightway went to bed.
After leaving the store Tom hugged
the tin-box to his breast, and walked
at a rapid pace.
''It was an awful thing to do,n he
muttered, "but had to have money,
and worked to make some of it,"
The young man sped onward
through the deserted streets until he
reached the river He crossed the
bridge and started up the hill on the
other side.
His plan was plain enough. He was
take the train for the West.
Suddenly he pulled up with jerk.
He took the tin box from under his
coat.
"The devilw he exclaimed. 81
must have been mad. / am no thief,
and will cut my throat before / will
become one. There is but one thing
TO do. will take the box backto my
brother, confess my folly, and then
leave him."
He turned and retraced his steps.
When he reached the bridge he
paused a moment and looked over into
the dark waters below.
81 may find peace there" he said,
gloomily.
He leaned over the railing and lis
tened to the swift-rolling current.
"My Godv' he cried. "The box
the box p
II had slipped through his fingers,
and already the rushing waters were
carrying it to the sea
Tom ran in the direction of his
brothers hotel, and then wheeled
about and ran back to the bridge. His
first impulse was to throw himself into
the river.
81 am fool" he said. "Suicide
will not restore the money. must be
man now if there is any manhood in
meW
Across tile river and over the hill,
into the thick darkness of the night,
the guilty fugitive fled. Mile after
mile he walked like mailman.
The lights of the city disappeared
from view, and Tom found himself
WANDERING in an nnfanniI iIiar lo0olifxr